Symphony Hall

Among those celebrating Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s 150th anniversary over the weekend was Tom Scholz . The MIT alum and mastermind behind the formerly mega-selling band Boston performed with the Pops at Symphony Hall, wearing a tuxedo shirt and playing his signature Mighty Mouse Les Paul guitar. (In his intro, Pops conductor Keith Lockhart recalled how Boston’s first LP was the soundtrack to his senior year of high school.) Scholz played a new song, “Last Day of School,’’ on the Symphony Hall pipe organ.

In 1912, Isabella Stewart Gardner caused a sensation by appearing at a Boston Symphony Orchestra concert in Symphony Hall wearing a white headband with the words "Oh you Red Sox. " But she must have started something, because 100 years later, it's no longer a surprise to hear "The Impossible Dream" from a Symphony Hall organ, or to find vendors in Red Sox shirts selling popcorn and Cracker Jack in the aisles. That was the case Wednesday as Keith Lockhart, the Boston Pops, and the Tanglewood Festival Chorus presented the first of three sports-themed "City of Champions" concerts, in a salute to the only American...

Conductor Andris Nelsons announced yesterday he is canceling his Symphony Hall debut with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, scheduled for Jan. 5, 6, and 7, citing the expected arrival of his and his wife's first child. Nelsons's appearance in Boston had been eagerly anticipated, as the conductor is widely rumored to be an unofficial candidate to replace music director James Levine, whose resignation took effect in September. The cancellation was the second such disappointment in less than a month, as conductor Riccardo Chailly - also speculated to be a potential candidate to lead the BSO -...

Pops maestro Keith Lockhart shared a laugh backstage at Symphony Hall with Joslin Diabetes Center president John Brooks and David Gomes , a patient whose mom, North End restaurateur Carla Gomes , was honored at Joslin's annual Evening at Pops. The owner of Antico Forno and Terramia, Gomes organized "CityFeast," a North End noshfest benefiting Joslin.

The gifted singer-songwriter Josh Ritter performed at Symphony Hall on Friday with his own band and a chamber orchestra featuring members of the Boston Pops. The show - produced by Bowery Presents - wasn't part of the Pops' youth-oriented EdgeFest series and conductor Keith Lockhart was nowhere to be found, although former poet laureate (and friend of Ritter) Robert Pinsky supplied gravitas aplenty during his guest appearance. Ritter's concert was the latest push in the BSO's expanding campaign to persuade rock and pop fans that Symphony Hall is their venue, too, and - as ever - it's a...

ITZHAK PERLMAN AND ROHAN DE SILVA At: Symphony Hall, Sunday Boston loves its classical-music traditions: "The Nutcracker," Handel's "Messiah," and Holiday Pops at Christmas; the Pops on the Esplanade on the Fourth of July - and Itzhak Perlman somewhere on the Celebrity Series schedule. Sunday afternoon's recital at Symphony Hall was "only" the violinist's 26th Celebrity Series appearance, but it's hard to imagine a season without him. Perlman himself spoofed his Celebrity longevity during the final, "additional selections to be announced from the stage"...

A Boston Symphony Orchestra audience had to evacuate Symphony Hall Tuesday night after a fire alarm went off inside, a spokeswoman said. Bernadette Horgan, a spokeswoman for the orchestra, said the evacuation occurred at about 9:50 p.m., about 10 minutes before the end of the concert at the Massachusetts Avenue venue. She said there did not appear to be a fire risk, and staff was awaiting more information from the Fire Department Tuesday night. Steve MacDonald, a Fire Department spokesman, said the alarm was false and that...

The Boston Pops opened its 124th season last night in Symphony Hall. All the traditional festive elements were in place - a brassy John Williams number, a filmic paean to Boston, the classic Souza march, and the balloon drop - but between the lines it was a bit subdued by Pops standards, and I imagine intentionally so. Too much symphonic razzle-dazzle would feel out of touch in an economic recession; none at all wouldn't be the Boston Pops. The highlight of the night was Broadway eminence Barbara Cook, with her signature brand of earthy, tell-it-like-it-is lyricism.

The sad ending to James Levine's tenure as music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra was of course the biggest local story in classical music this year. Levine conducted only one BSO program in 2011, a double bill of Bartok and Stravinsky operas, before another setback to his health forced his withdrawal from performances of Mahler's Ninth Symphony - and he never returned, to Boston or to Tanglewood. His resignation went into effect Sept. 1, marking the end of a remarkable era of revitalization at the BSO that he launched but could not see to fruition.

BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA The BSO concludes its cycle of John Harbison's symphonies with the premiere of the Symphony No. 6. David Zinman conducts the program, which also includes Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 1 and Strauss's "Till Eulenspiegel. " Jan. 17. Symphony Hall. 617-266-1200, www.bso.org HANDEL AND HAYDN SOCIETY Harry Christophers returns to lead H&H in works by Handel, Corelli, and J.C. Bach alongside Vivaldi's "Four Seasons," with concertmaster Aisslinn Nosky as soloist.

HANDEL: "Water Music" Suite (arr. Harty) MOZART: Symphonies Nos. 36 ("Linz") and 38 ("Prague") Boston Symphony Orchestra Charles Munch, conductor (ICA Classics DVD) BEETHOVEN: "Egmont" Overture TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 5 Boston Symphony Orchestra Erich Leinsdorf, conductor (ICA Classics DVD) ICA Classics continues its welcome series of video recordings that the Boston Symphony Orchestra made back in the 1950s and 1960s, in conjunction with WGBH-TV, under music directors Charles Munch and Erich Leinsdorf, often in repertoire with...

PICK OF THE DAY Jazzy Jane The program will be announced from the stage, and even if Jane Monheit sings the bar menu, you won't be disappointed. "Never Never Land" took up residence on the Billboard Jazz chart for more than a year, and if Monheit sings "Over the Rainbow" you'll never want to click your heels and go home. 8 p.m. $40 and up. Sanders Theatre, 45 Quincy St., Cambridge. 617-482-6661. www.celebrityseries.org FRIDAY Hay ride The latest album by the former frontman for Men at Work is titled "Gathering Mercury," and Colin Hay has said that while the subject matter is serious, the songs are...

BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Bernard Haitink, conductor At: Symphony Hall, Thursday night (repeats Friday and Saturday) August is coming early this year for the Boston Symphony Orchestra, or at least the end-of-summer musical rituals. I mean of course Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, which has an honored place on the BSO's yearly schedule, traditionally performed on the final program of the Tanglewood season. This week, BSO conductor emeritus Bernard Haitink has also chosen the work to end the subscription season in Symphony Hall.

May 3 Berklee College of Music presents "Back to the Garden: The Artistry of Joni Mitchell" with featured guest, Paula Cole, at Berklee Performance Center. www.berkleebpc.com Ramblin' Jack Elliott at Museum of Fine Arts. www.mfa.org May 4 Swellegance GalaBenefit presents "Chita Rivera: My Broadway" (pictured) at Citi Performing Arts Center Shubert Theatre. www.citicenter.org Burn The Floor opens at Providence Performing Arts Center. www.ppacri.org May 6 Olmsted's Brookline Neighborhood walk starts at Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site.

BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Bernard Haitink is on the podium for the remainder of the BSO's season, and this week's new program includes works by Debussy, Mozart, and Beethoven, with piano soloist Till Fellner. April 26-28, Symphony Hall. Meanwhile, the Boston Symphony Chamber Players conclude their season this afternoon in Jordan Hall. 617-266-1200, www.bso.org BOSTON LYRIC OPERA BLO introduces "The Inspector," a new comic opera by John Musto with a libretto based on Gogol's "The Government Inspector" transposed to Italy in the 1930s.

Over the four decades that Bernard Haitink has been conducting the Boston Symphony Orchestra he has earned an affectionate and loyal following among the city's musical public. But Haitink's annual return to Symphony Hall, typically near the end of the BSO's season, seems to be appreciated first and foremost by the musicians themselves. In private many players will tell you he is among their favorite guest conductors. Certainly the musicians seem to breathe easily under his baton.

It figures Joey McIntyre would be back in town. After all, his new CD is called "Come Home for Christmas. " The New Kid spent yesterday crooning carols with Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops, first at Children's Hospital Boston and, later, at Symphony Hall. "My first time with the Pops," McIntyre told us. "It was on the bucket list. " Unfortunately, Joey Mac appeared without his secret weapon - 4-year-old son, Griffin, who sings with dad on the new CD. "He's a natural," said Joey, who was a teen when he hit it big with NKOTB.

PICK OF THE DAY Bloom-ing Beethoven Conductor Bernard Haitink leads the Boston Symphony Orchestra in three series, each featuring a different Beethoven symphony. At bat — and baton — on Wednesday is Symphony No. 1 narrated by actress Claire Bloom. April 18 open rehearsal at 7:30 p.m. (through April 24 with additional Haitink-led series beginning April 26 and May 3. $20-$30 (open rehearsal). Symphony Hall, 301 Massachusetts Ave., Boston. 888-266-1200. www.bso.org TUESDAY Pioneers Movie moguls, Broadway titans, and TV pioneers are the subject of a three-part City Salon: Boston series headlined by...