WEEKENDER I MUSIC

Musical events celebrate Protestant Reformation

The Echoes of Poland Folk Song & Dance Ensemble's Golden 50th Anniversary Gala is Saturday in the Radisson Hotel University of Toledo. The event is in celebration of October as Polish-American Heritage Month.

October marks the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, which began when Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses of dissent to the door of the All Saints Church in Wittenberg, Germany, on Oct. 31, 1517. In commemoration, many area organizations are hosting musical events.

The Toledo Chapter of the American Guild of Organists hosts Scott Hyslop, director of music at St. Lorenz Lutheran Church in Frankenmuth, Mich., in a free lecture and demonstration of the music of Lutheran organist and composer Paul Manz at 10 a.m. Saturday at Community of Christ Church, 6517 Finzel Rd., Whitehouse. For more information, call 419-877-0607.

Organist Dan Boyle presents a free recital based on hymns by Martin Luther and others at 3 p.m. Sunday at Solomon Lutheran Church, 305 W. Main St., Woodville, Ohio. For more information, call 419-849-3600.

The Toledo Symphony offers two neighborhood concerts, which include movements from Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 5 “Reformation.” The first is at 8 p.m. Thursday at St. Michael the Archangel, 750 Bright Rd., Findlay. Tickets are available by calling 419-422-2646. The second is at 8 p.m. Oct. 19 at Corpus Christi University Parish, 2955 Dorr St. For tickets, call 419-531-4992. 

Pamela Stover will give a series of three organ lectures on the hymnody of Martin Luther and organ music using his tunes Oct. 21: Hymns and Music of Martin Luther’s time (10 a.m.), Martin Luther’s Teaching Hymns (11:30 a.m.), and A Hymn Fest on “A Mighty Fortress” (1 p.m.). The free event happens at Hope Lutheran Church, 2201 Secor Rd.

The University Choral Society will join BGSU faculty soloists and the choir of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in a free program featuring J.S. Bach’s Cantata No. 80 “Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott” at 4 p.m. Oct. 29 (Reformation Sunday) at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 315 S. College Drive, Bowling Green.

■ The Toledo Opera Association presents Bizet’s The Pearl Fishers at 7:30 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Valentine Theatre, 410 Adams St. Tickets are $30 to $80 at 419-255-7464 or toledoopera.org.

The Echoes of Poland Folk Song & Dance Ensemble's Golden 50th Anniversary Gala is Saturday in the Radisson Hotel University of Toledo. The event is in celebration of October as Polish-American Heritage Month.

■ To celebration October as Polish-American Heritage Month, the Echoes of Poland Folk Song & Dance Ensemble presents a Golden 50th Anniversary Gala. The event includes a buffet dinner, a Polonez (Polonaise) led by current and former dancers, and costumes and photos cataloging their history. John Gora and Gorale will provide music for the event. It begins 6 p.m. Saturday in the ballroom of the Radisson Hotel at the University of Toledo Medical Center Campus, 3100 Glendale Ave. For tickets and more information, call 419-244-2512.

■ The University of Toledo Gospel Choir presents a concert 7 p.m. Thursday and the University of Toledo music faculty perform at 3 p.m. Sunday on the free Great Performances in the Great Gallery Series at the Toledo Museum of Art, 2445 Monroe St. For more information, call 419-255-8000 or visit toledomuseum.org.

■ The Toledo Jazz orchestra welcomes vocalist Ramona Collins performing in Your Favorite Things from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Registry Bistro, 144 N. Superior St. Tickets are available by calling 419-242-2787 or at toledojazz.org.

■ The Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble performs with guest artist Matthew Murchison at 8 p.m. Thursday in Bryan Recital Hall. The BGSU Concert Band performs at 8 p.m. Friday in Kobacker Hall. Tickets are available at 419-372-8171 or bgsu.edu/arts. Both events happen in Moore Musical Arts Center on the campus of BGSU.

■ The St. Tim’s Discovers concert series begins with two events. A free lecture by composer Samuel Adler titled The Classical Period into the Romantic Era begins at noon Sunday. A soup and salad lunch is available at 11:30 a.m. The cost is $10, and reservations are required; call 419-874-5704. 

The Academy Brass Quintet performs a free concert at 3 p.m. Sunday.

Both events happen at St. Timothy Episcopal Church, 871 Boundary St., Perrysburg. More information at saint-timothy.net.

■ Music at the Manor House presents the BGSU Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble in a free concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Toledo Metroparks Wildwood Manor House, 5100 W. Central Ave.

Pianist Steven Lin will join the Adrian Symphony Orchestra on Sunday at Adrian College.

■ The Adrian Symphony Orchestra welcomes pianist Steven Lin performing Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4. The concert begins at 3 p.m. Sunday at Dawson Auditorium, Adrian College, S. Charles St., Adrian. Tickets are $15 to $29 and available at 517-264-3121 or adriansymphony.org.

■ Michigan Opera Theatre opens a Mafia-style version of Verdi’s Rigoletto transporting the work to 1950s Little Italy New York. There are four performances: 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 7:30 p.m. Oct. 18; 7:30 p.m. Oct. 21, and 2:30 p.m. Oct. 22 at the Detroit Opera House 1526 Broadway St., Detroit. Tickets are $30 to $170. For more information, call 313-273-237-7464 or visit michiganopera.org.

■ Organist Chase Castle performs on the reed organ at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Fayette Opera House, 105 E. Main St., Fayette, Ohio. Tickets are $10 to $12 and available at brownpapertickets.com/event/3100013.

■ The Five Browns, a family of piano virtuosi, headline 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Niswonger Center for Performing Arts, 10700 State Rt. 118, Van Wert, Ohio. For tickets and more information, call 419-238-6722.