PORTLAND, Maine # For the first Sunday Classical concert of the 85th anniversary season, the Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO) announces the replacement of the originally scheduled guest narrator. The PSO is proud to welcome Peter Wolf, best known as the former lead vocalist for the J. Geils Band, to narrate the "Great Stories to Tell!" matinee concert on Sunday, November 8. Wolf replaces actor Judd Nelson who was originally scheduled to narrate but had to withdraw due to an injury. Led by Music Director Robert Moody and featuring members of Portland Ballet Company, the concert takes place at 2:30 PM in Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle Street in Portland.

Wolf, known as one of the most charismatic frontmen in rock, led the J. Geils Band from 1967 to 1983. The band had several hits including "Centerfold," "Love Stinks," and "Freeze Frame." Wolf began his solo career in 1984 and has performed alongside such diverse musicians as Aretha Franklin, John Lee Hooker, Mick Jagger, Bruce Springsteen, and Kid Rock. He has also produced numerous film soundtracks and run art exhibits of his original paintings.

"Great Stories to Tell!" blends music, story-telling, dance and colorful costumes to appeal to all the senses. The concert begins with music from Mendelssohn's delightful A Midsummer Night's Dream, followed by Respghi's Ancient Airs and Dances (Suite No. 1), composed in 1917 and based on themes of Renaissance-era lute music.

The centerpiece of the program is Stravinsky's L'histoire du Soldat ("A Soldier's Tale") # a 1918 theatrical work "to be read, played, and danced" ("lue, jouée et dansée"). L'histoire du Soldat is a parable based on a Russian folk tale about a soldier who trades his fiddle to the devil for a book that predicts the future of the economy. The music is witty and acerbic, and includes elements of ragtime, early jazz, and tango. Dancers from Portland Ballet Company portray the Soldier, the Devil, and the Princess while Wolf narrates; all accompanied by a virtuoso ensemble of select PSO players.

Sponsored by Cardiovascular Consultants of Maine, "Great Stories to Tell!"will take place at Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle Street, at 2:30 PM on November 8. Tickets range from $20-$70 and are available through PortTix at (207) 842-0800 or www.porttix.com. Phone and internet orders are subject to $6-per-ticket handling fees. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the box office at 20 Myrtle St., Monday through Saturday, noon to 6 PM.

A Concert Conversation with Dr. Scott Harris, Director of the USM School of Music, takes place at 1:15 PM in the Rehearsal Hall, and a PostConcert Q&A will be held onstage with the artists immediately following the performance. Cardiovascular Consultants of Maine will be providing free health screenings in the auditorium lobby. A live recorded broadcast of the concert can be heard on Maine Public Broadcasting Network on Wednesday, December 9, 2009.

The PSO's 2009-10 season is sponsored by IDEXX Laboratories. For complete season information, including artist biographies; program notes; and Online Insights, provided with support from season Enrichment Sponsor Fairpoint Communications; visit www.portlandsymphony.com.