That non-subscription event will be followed by an eight-concert series that boasts the return in February of celebrated pianist Radu Lupu after an absence of 30 years (his program includes Beethoven and Schumann). Sensational contralto Ewa Podles, who raised the Shriver roof in her 2004 series debut, will also be back, accompanied by the eloquent, front-rank pianist Garrick Ohlsson in October (Chopin and Russian composers will be featured).  The practically legendary Guarneri String Quartet will stop by in November during what will be its farewell tour after 45 years (Mozart, Dvorak, Bartok). The Ritz Chamber Players, a showcase for some of the finest African American musicians of the day, will make its first Shriver appearance in December, joined by BSO concertmaster Jonathan Carney (Brahms Bruch, Martinu, Golijov). Another excellent ensemble, the Brentano String Quartet, and another excellent pianist, Peter Serkin, will team up in March 2009 (Haydn, Beethoven, Schoenberg, Wuorinen). Ingrid Fliter, who received the 2006 Gilmore Artist Award, one of the major honors for pianists today, will make her Shriver debut in January (Beethoven, Schumann, Chopin). Also making his series debut will be Emmanuel Pahud, principal flutist of the Berlin Philharmonic, with Trevor Pinnock, best known for his early music explorations, at the piano (Bach, Purcell, Varese). And the eloquent tenor Ian Bostridge, who had to cancel his Shriver debut last season, is slated to make up that date in April 2009 (all-Schubert program).

Shriver Hall will again present a free "Discovery Series" at the BMA, featuring harpsichordist Richard Egarr in Book I of Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier (November); pianist Michael Berkovsky (March 2009); clarinetist Julian Bliss, who made a sensational BSO debut a couple years ago (May 2009); and rising world music star Lura (October).

Subscription brochures head into the mail early next week. Check here for more info.