As with schools, the year for the performing arts begins after Labor Day, and ends soon after Memorial Day, while summer is a unique period, when everyone tries to do something ''out of the box.''
We have been saving this column for some time, to tell you about the new season of programs to be broadcast by WNED, the public television station which most area residents are able to follow. As it turns out, we weren't able to get a list of the new shows, nor a description of their content, in time for this column.
Some weeks, that might make for a tragic situation. However, my desk is so overloaded with announcements of events and exhibits, I'm happy to devote this week's column to a full page of ''Winks.''
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Classical guitarist Roland Dyans will perform a concert on Sept. 25 at 4 p.m., in Rosch Recital Hall. He will also offer a master class the following day at 2 p.m.
I do have a few promotional facts about WNED, and will share them with you, before moving on to the short announcements:
Next Sunday is, of course, Sept. 11, and this is the 10th anniversary of that horrible Tuesday when our country was attacked and so many innocent people were murdered. Among the programs in honor of that grim anniversary will be a news program, at 8 p.m., titled ''America Remembers - 9/11'' which will feature memorials and events in honor of the date.
Immediately after that program at 9 p.m., the New York Philharmonic will perform a concert in memory of those events. featuring Gustav Mahler's ''Symphony No. 2,'' which is usually called ''Resurrection.'' Alan Gilbert will conduct, and featured soloist will be soprano Dorothea Roschmann, mezzo-soprano Michelle DeYoung,'' and the New York Choral Artists.
On Sept. 11, at 10:30 p.m., the famed PBS science series ''NOVA'' will feature a program titled ''Engineering Ground Zero.'' If you've been confused about the efforts to replace the destroyed buildings and the political and social maneuvering which have taken place since the great destruction, the program promises to sort much of it out for you.
Turning to more normal programming, Thursday at 8 p.m., see ''Chefs of Toronto,'' a program which visits 10 of the top chefs in fine Toronto restaurants, and shows them preparing a specialty or two of theirs, while discussing their techniques of cooking, their general policies toward food, and just about anything else you might want to know about their art.
The chefs will be donating 50 of their featured recipes for a cookbook, which will be available for sale, or as a ''thank-you'' gift for donors to the station.
On Sept. 25, the many fans of singer Barbra Streisand can see her perform for 90 minutes in a program titled ''Barbra Streisand: For One Night Only, at the Village Vanguard.''
Those with different tastes in singers may want to hear the late John Denver's gentle takes on nature in a re-running of his program ''The Wildlife Concert.'' See it next Saturday at 2 p.m.
Yet a different style and sound, hear the late Frank Sinatra on Sept. 25 at 6:30 p.m., perform a program called ''My Kind of Town.''
Sept. 12 at 8 p.m., spend two hours with the Bee Gees in concert.
I'm choosing these programs from a listing for the entire month. Since the station sometimes broadcasts programs more than once, you may find them at other times, in addition to the ones I'm quoting.
Now, let's examine a sampler of what else is available for arts lovers, in the days ahead.
WINKS
A word of explanation to readers who follow this column via our online publication: The ''Winks" at the bottom of the column in the print edition, often don't make it into the electronic edition.
I've had numerous readers complain that we failed to announce this exhibit or that performance, when we certainly had done so. I only recently learned that there was a difference between the versions. I'm afraid there is nothing I can do about that, but I do apologize for the situation.
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The Metropolitan Opera has announced its season of live broadcasts, to be presented in theaters all around the world:
Oct. 15 at 12:55, hear beautiful Anna Netrebko sing the title role in Donizetti's ''Anna Boleyna.''
Oct. 29, also at 12:55 p.m., Polish Barihunk Marius Kwieczen sings the title role in Mozart's ''Don Giovanni.''
Nov. 5 at high noon, enjoy the Met's brand new production of Wagner's ''Siegfried,'' from the famed Ring Cycle of operas. Gary Lehman, Deborah Voight, and Bryn Terfel head up the stellar cast.
Nov. 19 at 12:55 p.m., hear Philip Glass's hypnotic ''Satyagraha,'' which is an operatic examination of Mahatma Gandhi and the concept of peaceful resistance to tyranny. Tenor Richard Croft sings the role of Gandhi.
Dec. 3 at 12:30 p.m., the stunning Renee Fleming headlines the cast of George Frederick Handel's ''Rodelinde.''
Dec. 20 at 12:55 p.m., enjoy a production of Gounod's moving ''Faust,'' directed by Stratford Festival Artistic Director Des McAnuff and starring handsome Jonas Kaufmann.
Jan. 21 at 12:55 p.m., the current trend of ''juke box musicals'' makes its way from Broadway to the stage of the Met. ''The Enchanted Island'' is an opera based on Shakespeare's play ''The Tempest,'' which has been set to music from a variety of the finest Baroque composers. Placido Domingo heads the cast.
Feb. 11 at noon, return to Wagner's Ring Cycle for the last of the four: ''Gotterdammerung,'' featuring the same cast as the Nov. 5 broadcast.
Feb. 25 at 12:55 p.m., enjoy Verdi's ''Ernani.'' Russian bass-baritone Dmitri Hvorostovski is the headliner.
April 7, at noon, Anna Netrebko returns, this time in the title role of Massenet's ''Manon.''
April 14 at 12:55 p.m., Natalie Dessay dons the courtesan's costume in Verdi's ''La Traviata.''
The nearest place where area audiences can enjoy any or all of these productions is at the 1891 Fredonia Opera House. Others enjoy making a day of it for shopping and meals in Erie or in Buffalo, together with the grandest of operas. Opera lovers, mark your calendars!
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While you're marking your calendar, draw a ring around Dec. 2, when the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford will be presenting a holiday concert by the Chicago Brass Quintet, joined by the vocal group Table for Five, in the Bromeley Family Theater.
Tickets are $24 and $28 for the general public, and $10 or $12 for students. To purchase or for additional information, phone (814) 362-5113.
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Reviews in these pages described this season's production at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival of the Bard's ''Twelfth Night,'' which was joined to a contemporary music score, composed by artistic director Des McAnuff and by Michael Roth.
Actor Ben Carlson, who played the jester Feste, was the lead singer. Due to public demand, the festival has now released a compact disc of 11 of the musical works from the production. The CD is now for sale in the official gift shop of the festival. You can purchase from afar at their website: www.stratfordfestival.ca, clicking on ''gift shop,'' or by phone at (800) 561-1233. The music may be downloaded through CD baby.
Cost of the CD is $19.95, in Canadian funds. The news release doesn't mention shipping and handling, which might be extra.
Speaking of the Stratford Festival, the company has added three additional performances of their successful production of the musical show 'Jesus Christ: Superstar,'' by Andrew Lloyd Webber. If you wanted to attend and found the show sold out, you can try to get seats on Friday of the coming week or on Oct. 4 or 16. All added performances will begin at 8 p.m.
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American Repertory Theater of Western New York announces their opening production of the 2011-12 season will be their first musical: ''Floyd Collins, by composer Adam Guettel.
The musical is the tale of the Kentucky miner who in 1925, was trapped underground, and was unable to be rescued.
The composer won much attention and many awards for his creation of ''A Light in the Piazza,'' which had a long, successful run at Lincoln Center. Guettel is the son of Mary Rodgers, composer of ''Once Upon a Mattress,'' and the grandson of Richard Rodgers, probably the most successful composer of music for Broadway, in history.
Performances run from Sept. 16 to Oct. 2, at the company's performance space, at 1410 Main St., in Buffalo. Tickets are $20 for the general public, and $15 for students and veterans. Phone them at 634-1102.
Famed cave explorer Roger Brucker will speak to the audience from 6:45 to 7:45, before the performance on Sept. 17. Signed copies of Brucker's book ''Trapped! The Story of Floyd Collins,'' which inspired the creation of the musical, will be available for purchase.
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Classical guitarist Roland Dyans will perform a concert in Rosch Recital Hall, on the campus of the State University of New York at Fredonia, on Sept. 25 at 4 p.m.
Tickets are $15 for the general public, and $10 for students. Purchase them by phoning 673-3501, or by computer at www.fredonia.edu/tickets.
The artist will offer a free master class in the same hall, on Sept. 26 at 2 p.m.
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Beginning Friday, and running through Oct. 9, the Kavinoky Theatre Company, on the campus of D'Youville College, in Buffalo, will be performing a production of the major musical hit, ''42nd Street.''
Performances are Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 4 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $36, with discounts for seniors, students, groups, and members of the military. Purchase them by phone at 829-7668, or by computer at www.kavinokytheatre.com.
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The Center for the Arts at the University at Buffalo will present singer/songwriter Colbie Caillat on Sept. 13 at 7:30 p.m. Andy Grammer will be the opening act at the concert.
Tickets are $29, and may be purchased by phone at (800) 745-3000 or by computer at www.ticketmaster.com. They may be purchased in person at the University's box office and at all Ticketmaster locations.
Speaking about the center, save Sept. 24 at 8 p.m. for the third annual ''Back to Buffalo'' performances by alumni of the university's Department of Dance. ''Back to Buffalo 3'' will include a performance by the university's famed Zodaique Dance Company, performing choreography by alumnus Jon Lehrer, founder of Lehrer Dance. Among those who will return to perform are members of classical companies, jazz companies, dancers from professional shows, cruise line companies, a Rockette, and many more.
Tickets are $26.50 for the general public and $11.50 for students. The performance will take place at the University's Drama Theatre.
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Tickets are now on sale for the Oct. 8 performance of country/western singer Rodney Carrington, at Erie's Warner Theatre. The concert will begin at 7 p.m.
The phone number for ticket sales on the release is (814) 452-4857. No prices are given.
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Singer, lyricist, composer, Western New York native, and Fredonia State Alum, Marcus Goldhaber has had a most impressive list of performances at public sites around the New York City area.
The next performances on his schedule will be Sept. 26, at 7 and 9:30 p.m., at Opia, 130 E. 57th St., in Manhattan. Marcus recently got a rave review from Jazz Magazine.
It's always a pleasure to update you on the success of the many talented artists from our area.
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O'Connell and Company will present a production of ''Elegies: A Song Cycle,'' by William Finn, beginning Thursday, and running through Oct. 2. Finn is known for the musical show ''Falsettos,'' and for the ''25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.''
Performances are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 for the general public, with discounts for senior citizens, students, groups, and members of the military.
For information or to reserve tickets, phone 848-0800 or go by computer to www.oconnellandcompany.com.
The company performs on the campus of Erie Community College, in Gleason Hall, 6205 Main St., in Williamsville. The address gets you to the building, but the entrance to the theater is on Youngs St.
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Thank you on behalf of the entire community to Rotary, which has given a generous grant to the wonderful Regional Youth Symphony, which provides instruction and performance experience for instrumental music students between ages 13 and 20.
The young artists will begin rehearsals soon, for a performance in November.
