Joseph Sargent

Young. Sexy. Flashy. In the world of classical music, these words pop up repeatedly when describing the three women who comprise the Eroica Trio. And indeed, this is one ensemble that has never been afraid to show off its glamorous side.

Major anniversaries of a famous composer’s birth or death often occasion great fanfare, yet such honors are seldom accorded the anniversary of the publication of an individual piece.

As memories of holiday carols and sing-alongs fade into the distance, harbingers of enticing performances for the new year are beginning to take their place.

Amid an ever-expanding roster of outstanding Renaissance ensembles, the Tallis Scholars remains a force to be reckoned with.

Although George Frideric Handel was a German-born composer who spent much of his career in England, holiday performances of his oratorio Messiah have become as American as apple pie.

When it comes to Beethoven’s vocal music, the average listener’s familiarity is probably limited to a few classics: his opera Fidelio, the Missa solemnis, the final movement of Symphony No. 9.

Performing the entire corpus of Joseph Haydn’s 68 (count ’em, 68) string quartets is a feat that some professional string players might equate with finding the Holy Grail, or winning Olympic gold.

Traditional December choral concerts, with their well-worn carols and holiday themes, can be great for lifting the spirits. But for concertgoers who want more than just another sing-along, San Francisco Choral Artists’ upcoming program, “Old Chestnuts, New Fire!,” offers a tantalizing alternative.

The enterprising young choral ensemble Chalice Consort sure dreams big.

Amid the glamour and glitz of Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra’s’s 2009-2010 season, the ensemble’s October concert set “The Concerto: An Adversar