Having begun this year’s blogging belatedly, I’d like to devote this post to catching you up on a big chunk of Chucktown’s busy and exciting new performing arts season. Also provided below are links to the websites of all of the organizations I discuss.

Let me begin with Chucktown’s most visible and important performing arts entity: the fabulous Charleston Symphony Orchestra. And it’s both a prominent and a precarious season for them: Music Director David Stahl – their globe-hopping Maestro – celebrates his 25th Anniversary with the band he has transformed into one of America’s top regional ensembles. But, like arts organizations everywhere, the CSO is suffering: the inevitable result of our deepening global economic crisis. Learn more about both matters right HERE, in my own recent tribute to Stahl.

All three of the CSO’s main concert series are off to great starts. Their first two Masterworks events were both something to behold: Read all about them HERE, and HERE. The more intimate and eclectic Backstage Pass series – now calling the new Memminger Auditorium home – began with a BANG. For a gander at their terrific first Pops program, go HERE.

Chamber music is also thriving hereabouts these days. Chamber Music Charleston – whose musicians are largely moonlighting CSO players – is off & running. They offer a rich and accomplished array of events: their House Concerts take place in many of our historic homes, and their Holy City series happens in our plethora of vintage churches. I made it to their single summer concert (just about the only local summertime classical happenings) – and caught the first of their church concerts last month. There’s MUCH more to come from them … oh, and there’s the matter of Circle Unbroken, their spiffy new DVD: a tangible result of their innovative and imaginative educational program.

The College of Charleston’s fabulous Charleston Music Fest chamber series – featuring some of the world’s tip-top soloists and chamber musicians – has yet to get started. But stay tuned: I’ll be blogging hard about it when it happens.

Also courtesy of the College is their ever-worthwhile International Piano Series, which has been bringing the world’s finest keyboard artists to us for nearly twenty years. Their Season Opener showcased Spoleto USA’s main piano star, Andrew von Oeyen – and it was a stunner.

One of the college’s biggest success stories these days concerns their wonderful choral program –especially their magnificent Concert Choir, which has earned national recognition as one of America’s very finest twice in just the past four years.

The College’s burgeoning School of the Arts also offers a wide variety of other choice concerts that I’ll be telling you about as they happen. Watch for a pair of reviews from their Monday Night series in the next couple of days.

I’m tickled pink to also be reporting these days on the excellent local dance scene: The Charleston Ballet Theatre – one of the southeast’s leading dance companies – got their season going with superb productions of Carmen and The Great Gatsby.

Finally, the Charleston Concert Association has a particularly outstanding array of choice visiting artists in store for us – beginning in a couple of days with the magnificent Warsaw Philharmonic: one of Europe’s great orchestras.

Now that I’ve gotten you caught up, stay tuned to Eargasms: if it’s classical and worthwhile, chances are you can keep track of it all right here.