Classical music gastronomes, whose ears savor sounds of legends, will find their plates full of opportunities as fall arrives in central Illinois.

Here are some sure bets in the best of good taste offered in Springfield, Decatur and Jacksonville.

SPRINGFIELD

’s first concert of the 2009/2010 season is slated for Saturday, Nov. 7, starting at 8 p.m., at First Presbyterian Church, presenting the St. Louisbased Hanser-McClellan Guitar Duo. Fingerstyle Magazine says “Kirk Hanser and John McClelland individually are monster players; put the two together with several years refinement as a duo and magic happens.”

For more information about the season which continues through next spring, visit www.aeroknow.com/arts/classical6images.htm

Saturday, Dec. 12, the presents The Nutcracker at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. at UIS Sangamon Auditorium. The series of three performances concludes Dec. 13. The curtain rises at 2 p.m. For more information, call 544-1967 or visit www.springfieldballetco.org.

The celebrates its 10th year with Music Director Karen Lynne Deal. Saturday, Sept. 26, starting at 8 p.m., the ISO opens its Masterworks Series at UIS Sangamon Auditorium with relatively unknown American composer Frank Ezra Levy’s Summer Overture. The evening continues with Khachaturian’s Cello Concerto featuring ISO’s principal cellist, Ian Maksin, and concludes with Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 10. The Chamber Music Series at Springfield’s St. Agnes Church, 245 N. Amos, begins Friday, Oct. 16, at 7:30 with an all-Mozart program featuring soloist Maria Horvath performing his Piano Concerto No. 23. The evening will open with the lively Eine Kleine Nachtmusik and conclude with Mozart’s Symphony No. 39. Sunday, Oct. 18, starting at 4 p.m. at St. Agnes, The Family Concert features family activities in addition to a glittering array of “golden oldies” by the classical Top Dawg of the late and great 18th century, Mr. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Saturday, Oct. 31, starting at 8 pm, the ISO presents “Dancing with the MONStars!” Audience members are invited to dress in their Halloween best, take part in the costume contest and enjoy the soundtrack of the 1921 feature film Nosferatu (which introduces the original German Dracula) projected on a screen above the ISO’s live performance. Other tricks and treats are in store for this special Halloween Pops event, fun for the entire family.

Saturday, Nov. 21, in observance of Felix Mendelssohn’s 200th birthday, the ISO Masterworks Series at UIS Sangamon Auditorium presents the Scherzo movement from his A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Violin Concerto in E minor, featuring soloist and concertmaster Julieta Mihai and the ever-green “Scottish Symphony,” Symphony No.3. Friday, Dec. 4, features a first for the Chamber Orchestra. Following the Christmas Symphony by Giovanni Battista Ferrandini (born the same year as J.S. Bach; died three months before Mozart), it performs Haydn’s Sinfonia Concertante, and Handel’s Water Music, Suite No.2. The audience will be invited to sing along with excerpts from Handel’s Messiah and traditional Christmas carols on the festive occasion.