Albany Symphony Orchestra

David Alan Miller and the Albany Symphony return this weekend, kicking off their 2007-2008 season with one of their whirlwind concert tours of Saratoga Springs, Troy and Pittsfield, Mass.

The selections certainly make this one sound like a crowd-pleaser: It’s a program of music from or inspired by Ireland, Scotland and Britain. There’s a new work by Robinson McClellan, and favorites by Mendelssohn (Hebrides Overture), Britten (a selection of English folk tunes) and Haydn (Symphony No. 104 “London”). The guest performers will be soprano Amanda Boyd and piper Ivan Goff.

The Albany Symphony Orchestra will perform tonight (Thursday, Sept. 27) at 7:30 PM at the Canfield Casino (Congress Park, Saratoga Springs). Call 465-4755 or 584-4132 for prices and tickets. The ASO performs tomorrow (Friday, Sept. 28) at 8 PM at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall (State Street and 2nd Avenue, Troy). Tickets are $46-$23. For reservations and information, call 273-0038. On Saturday (Sept. 29), the ASO performs at 7:30 PM at the Colonial Theatre (111 South St., Pittsfield, Mass.). Tickets are $27. For reservations and info, call (413) 997-4444.

Ghostface Killah

How much more can you ask of a hip-hop legend? Ghostface Killah brought it and continues to bring it and you are never quite happy. Ironman wasn’t enough for you. Bulletproof Wallets wasn’t enough to satiate your hip-hop jones. The 2006 masterpiece Fishscale still wasn’t enough, so he came back at you nine months later with More Fish, just to keep you stocked full of sick beats. The man helped found the Wu-Tang Clan, for Big Baby Jesus’ sake! What more can you ask of Ghostface?

A free show, you say? In your own backyard? Very well. Ghostface is not one to disappoint; consider it done. With the sponsorship of Adult Swim, the mighty Killah will kick off a 12-city college campus tour right here in Albany, for free.

Will that finally quench your thirst for the down and dirty?

Ghostface, along with the Atlanta-based Witchdoctor, will bring it Monday (Oct. 1) at 7 PM at the University at Albany Ballroom (1400 Washington Ave., Albany). Tickets are free for UAlbany students; call 476-1000 or visit www.adultswimpresents.com for more information.

Birth

Karen Brody’s play Birth, the presenters of this staged reading assert, is the answer to this question: What would happen if women told the truth about childbirth in America?

Based on 100-plus interviews Brody conducted with American mothers between 2000 and 2004, Birth tells the “true stories of eight women, painting a portrait of how low-risk, educated women are giving birth in America today.” The birth experiences of the women vary widely, from empowering to disillusioning.

Proceeds will benefit BirthNet, and their public education programs about childbirth options, midwives and midwifery. There will also be a silent auction, a “talk back” panel discussion following the readings, and a “Red Tent” where women will be invited to share their own birth stories.

A staged reading of Birth will be held at 1 and 7 PM at Russell Sage College (Meader Theater, Troy). Tickets are $10 general admission and $7 students. For more info, call 482-2504. Advance sale tickets are available at www.brownpapertickets.com.