Joyful Noise
Praised by the London Times as “vivacious” and “peerless,” the Soweto Gospel Choir is an international sensation. Hailing from South Africa, the 26 artists utilize unique harmonies to showcase and celebrate the music and culture of their homeland. So successful are they, that the group has earned two Grammy Awards. Not limited to only one medium, the singers also incorporate high-energy dances into their performances. Nov. 13. 8 p.m. $35-$55. Bardavon 1869 Opera House. 35 Market St., Poughkeepsie. 845-473-2072; www.bardavon.org
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Sign Here, Please
It’s a well-known fact that bibliophiles can rarely resist a book-signing; it’s also a well-known fact that oenophiles can rarely resist a wine-tasting. Combine the two, and you’ve got a recipe for a good time. For the sixth year in a row, Millbrook Vineyards & Winery hosts its popular Sip & Sign, at which 15 local authors mingle with readers, discuss their published works (and works in progress), and sign copies of their tomes — all the while sipping on Millbrook’s fine vintages. Local vendors and eateries provide light refreshments. Nov. 14. 1-4 p.m. Free admission. Millbrook Vineyards & Winery. 26 Wing Rd., Millbrook. 845-677-8383; www.millbrookwine.com
Sweet Sound
Having shared the stage with the likes of Madonna, the Barenaked Ladies, and Jimmy Eat World, Jonny Hirsch is one of those artists who can say with all honesty that he’s made it. The frontman for his act, he not only sings but also plays the saxophone. His blend of rock, funk, skat singing, and jazz has been compared to the likes of Steely Dan and Jamiroquai. He has performed all over the East Coast, from Oswego to Chattanooga, and his tracks have been played on more than 150 radio stations. Nov. 14. 8 p.m. $20, $15 City of Newburgh residents, $10 students. The Ritz Theater. 107 Broadway, Newburgh. 845-784-1199; www.safe-harbors.org
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Strike Up the Band
The Putnam Symphony Orchestra is back for its 39th season. Beginning the year’s performances is a program of Christmas classics from around the world. Tunes everyone is sure to recognize include Sleigh Ride by Leroy Anderson, White Christmas by Irving Berlin, and Happy Xmas by John Lennon. Other popular compositions are The Eighth Candle, German Carol Festival, Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24, Christmas Africana, and selections from the Nutcracker Suite. Nov. 22. 3 p.m. $10, $6 seniors & students, $25 family admission. Brewster High School Performing Arts Center. 50 Foggintown Rd., Brewster. 914-924-8925; www.putnamsymphony.homestead.com
Virtual Travel
What happens when America’s leading intellectuals gather together in the Adirondacks? Join author and historian James Schlett for the first of the Armchair Travel Series at Olana to find out. Schlett immerses audience members in the world of Follensby Pond circa 1858, when transcendentalist philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson, Harvard scientist Louis Agassiz, and Cambridge poet James Russell Lowell all trekked into the wilderness with Frederic Edwin Church’s protégé William James Stillman. The four great minds dissected the artistic, political, economic, and scientific trends of the times amid the peace and quite of nature. Nov. 28. 3 p.m. $10, $5 members. Olana State Historic Site. 5720 Rte. 9G, Hudson. 518-828-0135; www.olana.org
