Joshua Bell

The strange phenomenon of classical cheesecake is not limited to nubile females posing naked behind their cellos. Violinist and conductor Joshua Bell only has to toss sweat off the ends of his long hair and the band geeks all swoon. Bell debuted at age thirteen with the Philadelphia Orchestra and has since played with many of the world’s renowned orchestras. He’s also the current owner of the Gibson Stradivarius, a storied violin that was made in 1713 and recently resurfaced fifty years after it disappeared backstage at Carnegie Hall. Bell is conducting Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 5, Verdi’s Quartet in E Minor, and Mendelssohn’s Octet in E-flat for Strings. We’re pretty sure he’ll leave the Strad safely at home. September 23 at Ordway Center for the Performing Arts (651-224-4222; www.ordway.org) and September 24 at Ted Mann Concert Hall (612-624-2345; www.music.umn.edu/facilities/tedMann.php); www.thespco.org