A new season of high quality evenings of classical music discussion is upon us, with the Putney Music sessions returning for its 2008/9 season.

If you are new to Putney Music, it has been going since 1950 and has regular guest speakers at Putney Leisure Centre. They come from all fields of music – the concert hall, recital platform, opera, ballet, television and film; and also include producers, broadcasters, critics and writers.

The standard is high every year and this season is no different. Guests include renowned Japanese pianist Norika Ogawa on November 3, English composer John Rutter on February 2, former Royal College of Music director Dame Janet Ritterman on March 2 and Royal Opera head of music David Syrus on September 29.

To pick out a few highlights, Mendelssohn is rightly being reexamined and reappreciated in the 200th anniversary of his birth. Putney Music vice-president David Mellor (yes that one) presents an evening called ”So much more than a talent to amuse” on April 6 and the great Romantic-era composer’s great, great, great niece will be talking about her ancestor on January 5.

Talking of anniversaries, it is 150 years since Franz Joseph Hadyn joined the great orchestra in the sky, and his life is celebrated on April 6 by another vice-president, Pier Burton-Page.

And it all starts next Monday with one of our greatest living viola players, Lawrence Power. Here is the full line up of Putney Music events: Sep 15 - Lawrence Power, viola. One of the foremost violists of today.

Sep 29 - David Syrus, head of music, The Royal Opera, in conversation with vice-president, Piers Burton-Page.

Oct 6 - “Beethoven the Visionary.” Putney Music president David Cairns explores the great composer’s intimations of immortality.

Oct 20 - Vice-president John Amis. “Britten and Tippett: two friends, their lives and their music.”

Nov 3 - Vice-president Piers Lane with Japanese pianist, Norika Ogawa.

Nov 17 - Teresa Cahill, internationally-famous soprano. “A Musical Pygmalion.”

Dec 1 - Vice-president Ian Partridge plus his sister and accompanist, Jennifer Partridge, talk about their lives and relationship in music.

Jan 5 - Sheila Hayman, great, great, great niece of Mendelssohn, talks about her famous ancestor.

Jan 19 - “Monday - must be Chicago.” The pianist, David Owen Norris, reflects on his musical travels.

Feb 2 - English composer, John Rutter. “Confessions of a Composer.”

Feb 16 - Ray and Nick Carpenter – father and son, who together have held the Principal Clarinettist’s Chair in the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra for the past 30 years, speak about their lives and music with Anda Anastasescu.

Mar 2 - Dame Janet Ritterman. “Full of life all the time.” The Royal College of Music through the eyes of a former director.

Mar 16 - Mendelssohn. ”So much more than a talent to amuse.” Vice-president David Mellor offers a 200th anniversary assessment.

Mar 30 - Film director Tony Palmer with mystery guest.

April 6 - “Seeking Haydn.” Vice-President, Piers Burton-Page, celebrates the Haydn Bicentenary with a tour in words and music of some of the places in Austria associated with this many-sided composer.

Annual Social Evening on December 15 and AGM on April 20.

Putney Music sessions; Dryburgh Hall, Putney Leisure Centre, Dryburgh Road, Putney, SW15 1BL; from Sep 15, Sep 29, Oct 6 and every two weeks from then to April 20. Meetings 8pm-10pm, annual membership £24/£22, temporary membership £5.