Performer: The Choral Arts Society of Washington

A good audience turnout for the opening of Noseda's third NSO season justifies an all-20th-century program centering on Carl Orff's popular and direct setting of medieval poems about real life and fate, but also presenting gentler works of religious reflection.

A concert featuring noteworthy choral works by Gabriel Fauré and his students Florent Schmitt and Lili Boulanger brings the fascinating musical milieu of turn-of-the-century Paris to life.

Torrential downpours and the croaking of consumptive frogs fail to dampen spirits at Wolf Trap's National Symphony Orchestra concert featuring pianist Seong-Jin Cho, JoAnn Falletta and a massive community chorus.