Shanghai Quartet
World Premiere of Dick Hyman's Quartet in C
Camp Concert Hall, Booker Hall of Music
October 1
The Shanghai Quartet displays an unrivalled facility for melding the delicacy of Eastern music with the emotional depth of Western repertoire. Such facility enables its musicians to fluidly traverse a repertoire whose global breadth runs the gamut from traditional Chinese folk music to cutting-edge contemporary pieces. Celebrating its 25th anniversary this season, the Shanghai Quartet sought to honor its quarter-century together by soliciting commissions from several of the world’s most highly acclaimed composers. In the first of two Modlin Center appearances, the ensemble showcases one of those commemorative works—performing the world premiere of Quartet in C by pianist/composer Dick Hyman. Also included on the evening’s program are Schubert’s Quartettsatz and the first of Beethoven’s Razumovksy quartets.

Tickets: $32 adults, $30 seniors, $16 children
On-Sale Date: September 3, 2008

Swingin' in the '50s
Camp Concert Hall, Booker Hall of Music
October 3
Continuing a thriving career that spans more than 50 years, Dick Hyman enjoys unparalleled success as a pianist, organist, arranger, music director and composer. His sparkling virtuosity in these roles has yielded film scores, orchestral compositions, concert appearances and well over 100 albums recorded under his own name. A frequent guest at the Modlin Center, Hyman returns with his friends for a tribute to the 1950s and features songs such as “Misty,” “I Love You, Samantha” (from the movie High Society), “Mack the Knife” and “Kansas City.” Don’t miss this nostalgic journey down memory lane, led by a tour guide whose astounding artistry helped to define a fabulous musical decade.

Tickets: $36 adults, $34 seniors, $18 children
On-Sale Date: September 5, 2008

Gesangverein Virginia - Oktoberfest 5K
October 4
Richmond is known to the place for cultural festivals, charitable walks/runs, restaurants of downtown and mighty James River, why not celebrate all those in 1 event. The Oktoberfest 5K is a mid-day walk/run stopping at English, Irish, Mexican restaurants, Italian Coffee shop, American Sports Bars and Micro Breweries, over 2 bridges and continues to 2 cultural events. The run benefits the Gesangverien Virginia, formed in 1852. The $15 ticket include a ticket with reserve seating to the 40th Richmond Oktoberfest, t-shirt and event wristband. Enjoy the entertainment and exercise of this downtown run around. 11am to 2 pm.

Brian Jones and Friends
Camp Concert Hall, Booker Hall of Music
October 5
University of Richmond faculty member Brian Jones (drums/percussion) presents a concert featuring several of his friends from the Richmond jazz community. The program will highlight original works from Jones’ CDs on the independent label Slang Sanctuary Records.

David Sedaris, author & humorist
Richmond Landmark Theater
October 6
For those who relish laughing until your stomach hurts or rolling, teary-eyed with hilarity, in the aisle—no need to fear public humiliation, you’ll have plenty of company—David Sedaris is back. His sold-out, rip-roaringly funny performance at the Landmark Theater in 2006 was so popular that it left our audiences begging for more. Happily, we managed to book a return engagement with Sedaris, just in time for the release of his latest collection of essays, When You Are Engulfed in Flames. One of the most original comedic talents on the scene today, Sedaris is renowned for his wry narratives about family, friends and those chance encounters with strangers. While Sedaris’ writing makes for a supremely satisfying, belly-aching good read, his stage delivery heightens the gratification a hundred-fold.

Tickets: $28-$38 with discounts for seniors & children; through Ticketmaster at (804) 262-8100 or ticketmaster.com
On-Sale Date: August 18, 2008

The East Village Opera Company
Alice Jepson Theatre
October 20
You’ve heard opera, and you’ve heard rock—but you’ve never heard opera that rocks like the East Village Opera Company. This powerhouse group—five-piece band, a string quartet and two outstanding vocalists—brings the towering emotion and glorious musicality of opera into the 21st century with its inventive, hard-hitting arrangements of such timeless arias as “La donna è mobile” from Rigoletto, “Habanera” from Carmen and “Nessun dorma” from Turandot—performed in the original languages and at full-length and full throttle. The East Village Opera Company infuses classical music’s greatest operatic moments with electricity and heavy metal to offer audiences a high-adrenaline rock extravaganza.

Tickets: $34 adults, $32 seniors, $17 children
On-Sale Date: September 22, 2008

Unhappy Hours in the Enchanted Garden
Edgar Allan Poe Museum, 6-9 pm
October 23
Come enjoy live music, free admission to the museum, light refreshments and exhibit openings.

Thomas Mapfumo and the Blacks Unlimited
Camp Concert Hall, Booker Hall of Music
October 24,25
“The Lion of Zimbabwe” Thomas Mapfumo and the Blacks Unlimited bring their soul-inspiring, joyful and rhythmic chimurenga (Shona for “struggle”) music to our stage. During the 1970s, as the white minority tightened its grip on Rhodesia’s crumbling colonial empire, Mapfumo rallied a long-oppressed nation with songs of revolution and resistance. In 1980, the birth of Zimbabwe brought hope and celebration to the singer’s once troubled homeland. However, it was not long before Mapfumo realized that the calls for change expressed by the sounds of chimurenga remained as viable and urgent under Robert Mugabe as they were as they were under the fallen British regime. Today Thomas Mapfumo and the Blacks Unlimited courageously continue their musical mission to transform their beloved Zimbabwe into the land of peace and freedom they envisioned decades ago. Mapfumo is currently living in exile in America while his group’s recent release Rise Up has been banned on Zimbabwe’s state radio.

Tickets: $34 adults, $32 seniors, $17 children
On-Sale Date: September 26, 2008