Today in the roundup, the DSO goes pop, the arts help the kids and local theaters announce new seasons.

The spirit of Eduardo Mata seemed present in the Meyerson Symphony Center on Thursday night. A new plaque honoring the former music director of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra was spotlighted near the hall’s entrance.

THAT’S A WRAP: The Dallas Symphony Orchestra concludes its 2009-10 classical series this weekend with a performance of Mahler’s Second Symphony. And it sounds as if you’d better get thee to the Meyerson.

Jennifer Higdon was the guest of honor at today’s Dallas Symphony Orchestra Guild luncheon at the Tower Club downtown. Higdon, as you surely know by now, was awarded the Pulitzer Prize last month for her Violin Concerto, which is being performed this weekend by Hilary Hahn and the DSO.

READY TO RUMBLE IN RICHARDSON: Over the weekend, members of the Richardson Symphony Orchestra distributed information complaining of late payments at their season-closing performance. Conductor Anshel Brusilow wasn’t too happy with the tactic and let the players know it in no uncertain terms. The back-and-forth is now gaining national attention as the Inside the Classics [...]

LISTEN UP!: There was kind of a lot going on last night with the opening of the Dallas International Film Festival (more on that a little later) and the first day of the Main St. Fort Worth Arts Festival (see next item). That may have led to fewer people taking in the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s program of Arnold Schoenberg’s Verklärte Nacht and Brahms’ Second Symphony.

A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION: One of the world’s most recognizable classical musicians stopped through town Thursday night for a concert with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. But the critics are sharply divided on Itzhak Perlman’s performance. Chris Shull had a blast. “Perlman’s performances exude warmth and joy. The ease and excitement of his playing project a [...]

Today, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra announced that Marvin Hamlisch will take over as principal pops conductor next season. KERA’s Stephen Becker spoke with the composer about how he will approach the job:

If there’s an award, Marvin Hamlisch has won it. He’s on the very short list of people who have won an Oscar, Tony, Grammy and Emmy. And only he and Richard Rodgers have won those four plus the Pulitzer Prize. That’s pretty select company. But Hamlisch, who was named the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s new Principal [...]

Tonight, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra will debut a concerto written for the viola. KERA’s Stephen Becker reports on how a pair of old friends collaborated to raise the profile of one of the orchestra’s lesser known instruments.