Never wear a short-sleeve button-down shirt and a $300 tie at the same time. You just look like a wealthy classless fool! PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA: BEST OF...CZECH MIX We're not entirely sure that this program's name isn't offensive. But we do love a good reference to the mix to end all mixes. But anyway, if you like classical music by the likes of Dvorak, Strauss and Bartok, than get thee over to the big KC for......

The Inquirer takes a look at local folks and aid organizations trying to send help to China in the wake of the earthquake. All U.S. and Pennsylvania flags at state facilities will be flown at half-staff today for Peace Officers Memorial Day. And since it was Governor Rendell who gave the order there shouldn't be any complaints... "The Philadelphia Orchestra leaves Monday for a three-week tour of China, Japan and Korea." Eric DeShawn Floyd......

Looking forward to outdoor concerts this summer? How would you like to see some for free? The Philadelphia Orchestra has lined up several opportunities to see this fabulous orchestra for free. May 1st – May 31st, you can get free lawn tickets to its summer season at the Mann: Monday, June 30 at 8pm - YO-YO MA RETURNS Tuesday, July 1 at 8pm - LA BOHÈME Wednesday, July 2 at 8pm - A NIGHT......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Double Feature: Andrew's Video Vault presents Zabriskie Point and Secret Ceremony at the Rotunda (4014 Walnut), 8PM. Free (donations accepted) Valentine’s Grinches: Anti-love party with readings from Joey Yearous-Algozin, Hailey Higdon, Maria Raha and others at The Dive (947 E. Passyunk), 8PM. Free Love Letters: Poet Susan Windle reads from her collection “Love Letters” at the Big Blue Marble Bookstore (551 Carpenter Lane), 7PM. Free The Buddha is......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Really, It’s Comedy: Die Actor Die hosted by Don Montrey and Juliette Pryor at the Khyber (56 S. 2nd), 8PM. $5 Double Feature: Two Hands and Beethoven’s Hair, part of the Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival, at the Gershman Y (401 S. Broad), 7PM. $10 Fitting Tribute: The Philadelphia Orchestra, with the Philadelphia All City Choir, perform at Martin Luther King Jr. High School (6100 Stenton Ave), 7PM. Free......

Leonard Bernstein has long held a place in our hearts as one of America's great composers and conductors. In honor of the 90th anniversary of his birth, the Philadelphia Orchestra, along with world- renowned soloists such as Joshua Bell and Jennifer Koh, has put together some truly timeless and innovative programs together for its Bernstein Festival, taking place from now until early February. In addition to celebrating Bernstein's music, the Philadelphia Orchestra also recognizes his......

Monday 1807 & Friends start off the week with chamber music by Arriaga, Falla, Boccherini and Turina. Helen Corning Warden Theater (1920 Spruce St); 7:30 PM; $17 Friday/Saturday Take a break from eating and shopping with a Philadelphia Orchestra concert featuring Ravel's well-known Rapsodie espagnole and Bolero, and Revueltas' Night of the Mayas. Verizon Hall; 8 PM; $38-$123 Image via flickr.com user gierszewski......

Tuesday The Academy of Vocal Arts opens its season with Mozart's witty and timeless Così fan tutte. Academy of Vocal Arts (19th and Spruce); 7:30 PM; $48 Yo-Yo Ma comes to the Kimmel Center with Kathryn Stott, piano for an evening of Schubert, Shostakovich, Piazzola, Gismonti and Franck. Verizon Hall (Kimmel Cetner); 8 PM; $38-$94 Thursday Temple University faculty members Lawrence Wagner, clarinet, Jeffrey Solow, cello, and Charles Abramovic, piano give a concert of......

Wednesday The Philadelphia Chamber Music Society presents the critically-acclaimed Orion Quartet in a concert of Haydn, Mendelssohn, and Brahms. Perelman Theater (Kimmel Center); 8 PM; $22.50 Thursday Lehigh's Zoellner Arts Center presents Teatro Lirico D’Europa’s production of Rossini's most beloved comic opera, The Barber of Seville. Baker Hall (Lehigh University); 8 PM; $45 Friday The individual members of the Network for New Music Ensemble go solo, playing new solo music that has influenced their......

Wednesday Dame Kiri Te Kanawa stops by Philadelphia for a recital of Mozart, Strauss, Poulenc, Puccini and Copland on her Farewell Tour. This may be your last chance to hear the world-renowned New Zealand soprano. Verizon Hall (Kimmel Center); 8 PM; $34-$81 Philadelphia Chamber Music Society presents the very accomplished Juilliard Quartet in an evening of Haydn, Shostakovitch, and Beethoven. Perelman Hall (Kimmel Center); 8 PM; $22.50 Thursday The Philadelphia Orchestra presents an Access Concert,......

Wednesday The Opera Company of Philadelphia finishes its run of Verdi's timeless and tragic Rigoletto. The Academy of Music (Broad & Locust Sts); 7:30 PM; $7-$205 Acclaimed concert pianist and teacher Seymour Lipkin gives a solo recital of Bach, Brahms, and Debussy presented by the Philadephia Chamber Music Society. American Philosophical Society (427 Chestnut Street); 8 PM; $25 Thursday The Slought Foundation presents Vincent Royer and Philadelphia-based ensemble Noamnesia in an evening of music by......

Wednesday The Dolce Suono Trio devotes an entire concert to Philadelphia composers, including Ned Rorem, George Crumb, Charles Abramovic, and Curt Cacioppo. First Unitarian Church (21st and Chestnut); FREE; 7:30 PM The Opera Company of Philadelphia presents Verdi's timeless Rigoletto. You'll be humming "La Donna è mobile" all the way home. Academy of Music (Broad and Locust); 7:30 PM; $8-$113 Thursday The Philadelphia Orchestra shows its love for Beethoven with an all-Beethoven concert featuring his......

Monday As part of Swarthmore's Midday Monday Concert Series, Dolce Suono's Metal and Wood Band will play a free concert of Handel, Dowland, Johnson, Schulhoff, Kreutzer and Piazzolla. Lang Concert Hall (Swarthmore College); 12:30pm; FREE Tuesday Hear the opera singers of tomorrow duke it out today at the Academy of Vocal Arts' Giargiari Bel Canto Competition. Perelman Theater (Kimmel Center); 7:30 PM; $34 The Philadelphia Orchestra continues its run of Stravinsky's Rite of Spring (Phillyist's......

Every time I hear The Rite of Spring, I wonder what made the audience riot at its premiere in Paris. Was is the new-fangled dissonances? The crazy rhythms? The tribal choreography? Whatever it was, I hope audiences have gotten over it, because I believe that everyone should hear and/or see it live at least once in his or her life. I had the opportunity to hear it on Thursday at the Philadelphia Orchestra’s first......

Wednesday Curtis opens its season with faculty members Joseph Silverstein, violin, and Awadagin Pratt, piano, in an evening of sonatas by Brahms, Ravel, and Franck. Curtis Institute of Music (18th and Locust); 8 PM; Free Thursday Temple continues its faculty recital season with Charles Abramovic, piano, in a solo recital featuring works by Haydn, Mozart, Liszt, Scriabin, and Bolcom. Rock Hall (Temple University); 7:30 PM; FREE Even though it feels like fall, the Philadelphia Orchestra......

Wednesday The Holy Trinity Rittenhouse Square is going strong with their brown bag lunch concerts. This week features Tom Meany and Michael Simmons, Flute and Guitar duo. Holly Trinity (Rittenhouse Square); 12:30 PM; FREE Thursday The Philadelphia Orchestra recovers from their Free Neighborhood Concert series with an evening of Wagner, Beethoven, and Dvorak. Mann Center; 8 PM: $10-$50 Friday In case you need another dose of Gilbert and Sullivan silliness, the Haddonfield players give their......

Like the orchestra but hate the scene? Now you have no excuse not to get some culture. Saturday night the Philadelphia Orchestra is putting on a free neighborhood concert in Clark Park. All you have to do is bring a blanket, some friends, and a juice bottle filled with your favorite wine. Kick back and listen to world class musicians playing Chabrier's España, Bizet's Suite No. 2, from Carmen, Rimsky-Korsakov's Capriccio espagnol, Marquez's Danzon, Barber's......

Vacations stretching your budget too much? Fear not. Everything this week is free!Monday The Philadelphia Orchestra presents its second Free Neighborhood Concert of the summer, with works by Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, and Ives. Pastorius Park (Chestnut Hill); 7 PM; FREE Tuesday Venture across the Ben Franklin Bridge to hear pianist Andrew Willis as part of Rutgers-Camden's summer lunchtime series. Mallery Room (2nd floor Rutgers-Camden University's Fine Arts Complex); Noon; FREE Thursday The Brandywine Valley Association......

Tuesday The Philadelphia Orchestra begins this week of concerts with the unforgettable Beethoven 9. Mann Center; 8 PM; $10-$50 Wednesday Hear the angelic voices of the Keystone State Boy Choir as part of the Holy Trinity's Brown Bag Lunch Series. Holy Trinity (Rittenhouse Square); 12:30 PM; FREE The Philadelphia Orchestra, along with the acclaimed Itzhak Perlman as soloist, will give a somewhat "spanish"-themed concert with works by Chabrier, Berlioz, and Mendelssohn. Mann Center; 8......

The Philly Orchestra is finally back in town. Hooray! Wednesday Soprano Maria Traub, also a French and Italian professor, comes to the Holy Trinity's Brown Bag Lunch series for a program of operatic favorites. Holy Trinity (Rittenhouse Square); 12:30 PM; FREE Wednesday, Thursday, Friday The Philadelphia Orchestra presents programs of Mozart, Beethoven, and Tchaikovsky respectively. The Beethoven concert boasts a rather odd slogan of "9 symphonies in 90 minutes" and will feature one movement from......

Christoph Eschenbach, who won't be renewing his contract with the Philadelphia Orchestra after this season, was surprised to hear that he won't have a job in Paris, either. The Orchestre de Paris announced late Wednesday that they'd be replacing him. Eschenbach, however, seems perfectly happy with the news. He says he has plenty of other jobs lined up, and besides, "The management in both cases [Paris and Philadelphia], I'm sorry to say, is amateurish..........

"Where's the Philadelphia Orchestra?" you might ask. Well, they're on tour of the US for the next two weeks. We'll certainly miss them, but wish them the best while on the road. Monday Sadly, the PCMS concert of Brahms and Schuman lieder given by Matthias Goerne, baritone, is sold out. Friday The Music Group of Philadelphia ends the season with their spring concert, "Winging Wildly," including works commissioned by the Music Group by Mechem and......

It's a week of season enders, that's for sure. Get in the last bit of the regular season while you can! Monday Start off the week right with 1807 & Friends featuring Ricardo Morales, clarinet, and Natalie Zhu, piano, in an evening of chamber music by Brahms and Mendelssohn. Academy of Vocal Arts (1920 Spruce Street); 7:30 PM; $17 Thursday The Philadelphia Orchestra, joined by baritone Matthias Goerne, embarks on a truly great program of......

Monday The Philadelphia Art Alliance's New Music Mondays series presents works by Jan Krzywicki, Professor of Composition at Temple University. Philadelphia Art Alliance (251 S. 18th St.); 7:30 PM; $20 Wednesday The Philadephia Chamber Music Society Presents the American Quartet with Lydia Artymiw, piano, in a program of Haydn, Shostakovich, Dohnanyi. The pianist will even give a free pre-concert lecture at 6:45! Perelman Theater (Kimmel Center); 8 PM; $22 Thursday The Academy of Vocal......

Monday New York native Richard Goode, piano, comes to Philadelphia (thanks to the PCMS) for an evening of hits: Bach, Mozart, Brahms, and Debussy. Perelman Theater (Kimmel Center); 8 PM; $22 Tuesday Feel-good concert of the week: NPR’s Classical music program, From the Top, hosted by pianist Christopher O'Riley, returns to the Kimmel Center to showcase the next generation of Philadelphia’s classical musicians. You’ll be sure to leave the hall uplifted and awed. Verizon......

Four defendants were sentenced yesterday for their part in a scheme to funnel illegal contributions to the campaign of Mayor Street. Only one - Joseph Moderski of Bryn Mawr, who orchestrated the plan - received prison time (14 months). He was also ordered to pay over $25,000 in fines and restitution. The Daily News has the info on CBS3's new HD broadcast, and the fancy shmancy new studio they're using to record it. The Roman......

Monday As part of the Philadelphia Art Alliance's New Music Mondays, award-winning composer Michael Hersch comes to town to discuss his compositions and for the Philadelphia premieres of his Sonatas Nos. 1 & 2 for Unaccompanied Cello, performed by cellist Daniel Gaisford. Philadelphia Art Alliance (251 S. 18th St.); 7:30; $20 Wednesday The Philadelphia Chamber Music Society presents Milan Turkovic, bassoon, David Shifrin, clarinet, and Shai Wosner, piano in an evening of chamber music......

Spring break strikes the city of Philadelphia this week. Not to worry, the failsafe Philadelphia Chamber Music Society and the Kimmel Center have a few tricks up their sleeves. Monday The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia under Ignat Solzhenitsyn continues with its Mozart Beethoven Haydn program. All the greats in one evening. Perelman Theater (Kimmel Center); 7:30 PM; $36-$81 The Philadelphia Chamber Music Society presents Mark Kosower, cello, and Jee-Won Oh, piano in an evening......

Still looking for the perfect Valentine's Day gift? Nothing says I love you like an evening of classical music. Best bets include the timeless tale of love, Porgy and Bess, which continues at the Philly Opera, as well as some great chamber concerts around the city. Monday 1807 & Friends presents the Wister Quartet (comprised of Philly Orch. members) in an evening of chamber music by Haydn and Ravel. Academy of Vocal Arts (19th......