Classical this fall: choral societies
Back Bay Chorale
Sanders Theatre, Harvard University, Cambridge. * 496-2222. Nov. 16, 3 p.m. $12.50-$27.50. Bartok's Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion with Linda Osborne-Blascke, Nina Ferrigno; Julian Wachner conducts Orff's "Carmina Burana" with Andrea Ehrenreich, Rockland Osgood, Mark Aliapoulios.
Boston Cecilia
617-232-4540. $11-$54, discounts for students and seniors. Donald Teeters, conductor. 30th anniversary season. 
Nov. 20, 7:30 p.m., Jordan Hall, 30 Gainsborough St., Boston. Handel's "Deborah" with Sharon Baker, Kendra Colton, Jeffrey Gall, David Shapero. Dec. 18, 8 p.m., Church of the Advent, 30 Brimmer St., Boston. Dec. 20, 3 p.m., All Saints Church, 1773 Beacon St., Brookline: "Homage to the Virgin" including James Woodman's "The Midwife's Tale."
The Cantata Singers
Jordan Hall, 30 Gainsborough St., Boston. * 617-267-6502. Fri. 8 p.m., Sun. 3 p.m.; pre-concert talks one hour prior. $14-$38, students and seniors $9-$33. David Hoose, conductor. Nov. 6, 8, Schumann's "Beim Abschied zu singen," "Six Studies for Pedal-Piano," Andante and Variations for two pianos, two cellos, horn; Four Double Chorus Songs; Reger's Three Choruses, "Marienlieder," Canzona; Brahms's Five Songs, op. 104; Sacred Song, op. 30.
Chorus pro Musica
Old South Church, 645 Boylston St., Boston. * 617-267-7442. 8 p.m. $10.50-$25.50, discount for students and seniors. Jeffrey Rink, conductor. Nov. 7, 50th anniversary gala. Pinkham's "Passion According to St. Mark," "Glory Be to God"; Adler's "Vision of Isaiah"; Piston's "Psalm and Prayer of David." Dec. 18, works by Britten, Schuetz, Campos-Parsi.
Handel & Haydn Society
Symphony Hall, 301 Mass. Ave., Boston, unless noted. * 617-266-3605. $19-$61 depending on date. Christopher Hogwood, conductor. Oct. 16, 8 p.m. and Oct. 18, 3 p.m., Beethoven program. "Egmont" Overture; concert aria "Ah! perfido" with Christine Brewer, soprano; Mass in C with Brewer; Paula Rasmussen, mezzo; Richard Clement, tenor; Nathan Berg, bass. Nov. 6, 8 p.m. and Nov. 8, 3 p.m., Mendelssohn program. Overture to "The Uncle from Boston"; Piano Concerto No. 1 with David Owen Norris; "Capriccio brillant"; Symphony No. 3. Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m., Dec. 5 at 2 p.m., Dec. 6 at 3 p.m., Dec. 11 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 12 at 2 p.m., Handel's "Messiah," 1754 version with Cyndia Sieden, soprano; Sanford Sylvan, baritone. Dec. 17, 8 p.m. and Dec. 20, 3 p.m., Jordan Hall, 30 Gainsborough St., Boston. John Finney conducts first three cantatas of Bach's "Christmas Oratorio."
The Master Singers
First Parish Church, 7 Harrington Rd., Lexington Battle Green. 781-862-6459. Sat., 8 p.m. $14, students and seniors $12. Adam Grossman, conductor. Nov. 7, "Music for Chorus and Guitar" with John Muratore. Works by Mozart, Sor, Brown, Rodrigo, Castelnuovo-Tedesco. Dec. 5, "A Bach Christmas": Donverto BWV 1056 with Donna Dreisbach, oboe; Cantata BWV 64.
Masterworks Chorale
617-496-2222, 617-566-9048. Sun., 3 p.m. $14.50-$28.50. Allen Lannom, conductor. Nov. 15, 3 p.m., Sanders Theatre, Harvard University, Cambridge. * Poulenc program: "Gloria," "Stabat mater." Dec. 12, 7:30 p.m., Cary Hall, Mass. Avenue, Lexington. Christmas concert, "Sing We Joyous All Together!"
New England Bach Festival
Vermont locations unless noted. 802-257-4526. $10-$40 depending on date. Blanche Moyse, conductor. Call for lecture schedule. Oct. 4, 8 p.m., White Church, Grafton, and Oct. 13, 8 p.m., St. Michael's Catholic Church, Walnut Street, Brattleboro: "Sonatas and Solo Suites," Bach program. Oct. 10 , 8 p.m. and Oct. 11, 3 p.m., Persons Auditorium, Marlboro College, Marlboro. Bach's "St. John Passion" with Jon Humphrey, Evangelist; Sanford Sylvan, Jesus; David Ripley, Pilate; Janet Brown, Mary Westbrook-Geha, Stephen Paul Spears, Mark McSweeney. Oct. 12, 10 a.m., West Village Meeting House, West Brattleboro. Master class with Sanford Sylvan, baritone. Oct. 17, 7:30 p.m., Memorial Chapel, Northfield Mount Hermon School, Gill, Mass. Peter Sykes, organ; Bach program. Oct. 18, 3 p.m., Persons Auditorium, Marlboro. Faure's Requiem with Janet Brown, Christopheren Nomura; Frank Martin's Mass for double a cappella chorus.
Festival Children's Choir: Brattleboro unless noted. Faure's "Messe basse." Free. Oct. 4, 10 a.m., Centre Congregational Church, Main Street. Oct. 11, 8 a.m., St. Michael's Catholic Church, Walnut Street; 10 a.m., St. Michael's Episcopal Church, Bradley Avenue. Oct. 18, 10 a.m., All Souls Church, West Brattleboro.
Spectrum Singers
First Church Congregational, 11 Garden St., Cambridge. * 617-492-8902. Sat., 8 p.m. $20. John Ehrlich, conductor. Dec. 12, "A Spectrum Singers Christmas."
