Early November is a classical music lover’s dream at the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra (CSO, a Knight Arts grantee) with performances of Beethoven, Mozart and Bach. Dr. Scott Allen Jarrett will led a two-part series of talks titled “The Bach Experience: Insights into the St. Matthew Passion” on November 5 and 12, with the performance of “St. Matthew Passion” on November 22-23, and pianist Finghin Collins joining the CSO for “Beethoven & Mozart” November 7-9.

The story of the Passion of Christ has captured the human imagination for centuries and been sung in religious observances for just as long. In a series of two talks, Bach expert and scholar Dr. Scott Allen Jarrett will explore Bach’s setting of the passion story as told in the Gospel of Matthew. Designed for musicians and music lovers alike, these talks will offer incredible insights into Bach’s greatest masterpiece and prepare audiences for the late November performances. Both talks are free and begin at 6 p.m. in Covenant Presbyterian Fellowship Hall.

CSO Music Director Christopher Warren-Green will led the symphony in the “Beethoven & Mozart” concert at 7:30 p.m. in the Knight Theater. Butterworth’s “The Banks of Green Willow,” Mozart’s “Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major” and Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 6 ‘Pastoral’” will be performed. This concert is widely anticipated, as Friday and Saturday’s performances have already reached capacity. Tickets are $35 and are still available for Thursday, November 7.

Finghin Collins.

For locations and venues, visit www.charlottesymphony.org. To purchase tickets online, visit www.carolinatix.org.