Coming up in Philly music: Start the season with Bach and Lehár

When does the new music season begin? One obvious date would be the Philadelphia Orchestra’s first subscription concert on Thursday, September 22. Another would be the Orchestra’s official opening night on Friday, September 30.

But you don’t have to wait that long. On the weekend of September 17-18 you can take in concerts by one of Philadelphia’s most prestigious musical organizations and one of its most entertaining.

Astral Artists provides career guidance and performance opportunities for a rigorously selected roster of promising young performers. For its opening concert September 17, six Astral Artists will present Bach Varied, a Bach program that features a piano concerto that Bach originally wrote for the violin, and a string trio version of one of his most famous keyboard works, the Goldberg Variations.

The concerto will showcase pianist Henry Kramer in a work noted for its melodies and challenges. The Goldberg string trio transcription has become a popular work in its own right since Russian violinist Dmitry Sitkovetsky created it in 1984. String arrangements add an extra warmth to Bach’s keyboard scores and Sitkovesky’s personal take on the original adds another level of interest.

Astral Artists presents Bach Varied on September 17 at 7:30pm at the Church of the Holy Trinity, Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia. Tickets are $20 ($18 for seniors, $5 for students) and they’re available online, by calling 215-735-6999, and at the door.

Concert Operetta Theater offers concert versions of the operettas that tantalized audiences from Vienna to Broadway in the first third of the last century. Franz Lehár’s 1924 hit Paganini romanticizes the love affair between Paganini and Napoleon’s sister, Élisa Bonaparte, the wife of Prince Felice Bacciocchi of Lucca. Should the Princess keep Paganini in Lucca or let him bring his music to the world? Polish tenor Piotr Buszewski sings Paganini’s love songs; Chamber Orchestra violinist Joseph Kauffman plays the violin solos that beguiled an art-struck princess.

Concert Operetta Theater presents Paganini on September 17 and 18 at 4pm at the Academy of Vocal Arts, 1920 Spruce Street, Philadelphia. Tickets are $30 ($20 for seniors, $10 for students, free for anyone 16 and under), and they’re available by calling 215-389-0648, and at the door.