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Classical picks: William Kapel live; Piffaro's 'Noche Buena'

If ever there was a James Dean of classical pianists . . . it was William Kapell, the magnetic, American-born, Philadelphia-educated pianist who died in an airplane crash in 1953. He made acclaimed studio recordings, and now the Marston label has brought

If ever there was a James Dean of classical pianists . . . it was William Kapell, the magnetic, American-born, Philadelphia-educated pianist who died in an airplane crash in 1953. He made acclaimed studio recordings, and now the Marston label has brought together three discs titled William Kapell: Broadcasts and Concert Performances. The earliest recording, Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini with the Philadelphia Orchestra under Eugene Ormandy, is guaranteed to rearrange your hair. Others, including a 1951 recital from New London, Conn., show a more cultivated artist. The set ends with an infrequent Kapell performance in chamber music, Schumann's Piano Quintet Op. 44 with the Fine Arts Quartet at Northwestern University. Information: www.marstonrecords.com

Calling all contrabass sackbut admirers . . . A Piffaro Christmas program, titled "La Noche Buena," explores music of the Spanish Renaissance with some particularly arcane instruments, not just the aforementioned forerunner to the trombone, but the contrabass dulcian (a bassoon ancestor). The program is likely to be sublime, at least the selections by Tomás Luis de Victoria. The remaining Sunday concert of this series is at 3:30 p.m. at Immanuel Church Highlands in Wilmington, with guest artists Dark Horse Consort and soprano Jessica Beebe. Tickets: $29-$49. Information: www.piffaro.org.