Traditions rise and fall this summer in the city.

It's the 30th anniversary of the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble but also the first year in 25 that the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra won't be regaling the Independence Day crowds at the Point. It's another talented offering by the Pittsburgh Concert Society in its annual alumni concert, with soprano Lilly Abreu and pianist Scott Faigen performing. But a newer tradition of the Pittsburgh Jewish Music Festival, in its third year, returns with an emphasis on the sacred music of the Jewish calender.

One highlight will certainly be the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble's concerts. Founded by local composer David Stock in a fall-to-spring subscription format, PNME moved to a summer festival season under new leader Kevin Noe in 2002 and then moved again to its present home at City Theatre on the South Side. PNME offers not just the most innovative and adventurous programing in town, but some of the best, period. This anniversary year the group premieres a commissioned work on each of its five programs

Another will be Opera Theater's completion of its condensed version of Wagner's mammoth "The Ring of the Nibelung" this July at the Byham Theater, Downtown. The production is sung in English in a reduced version, both musically and time-wise, by Jonathan Dove. The direction by Jonathan Eaton is spectacular and the singers good, although most do not have the classic huge Wagnerian voices. The Pittsburgh Symphony won't be in the pit, however; in its place will be a freelance orchestra.

Last summer, senior editor Robert Croan said "Rhinegold" was "remarkably satisfying, even for dyed-in-the-wool Wagnerites, while for the uninitiated it is an excellent introduction to one of the great monuments of Western civilization."

So come out for the new and the old, but mostly just relax and enjoy the concerts.

CHATHAM COLLEGE: Eddy Theatre: 50th Anniversary Celebration for the Music and Arts Summer Day Camp (May 24). James Laughlin Music Hall: soprano Lilly Abreu and pianist Douglas Levine (June 1); pianist Pauline Rovkah (July 20). 412-365-1140.

CHINA NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: Heinz Hall, Downtown (May 23). 412-392-4900.

CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL CHORUS: North Allegheny High School. "It's All in the Numbers," Christine Jordanoff, conductor (May 20). 412-394-3353.

GLENN BECK: Heinz Hall. Comedian in performance (June 12). 412-392-4900.

GUITAR SOCIETY OF FINE ART: PNC Recital Hall, Duquesne University. "Evening of Guitar Music" (July 24). 412-396-4632.

IONSOUND PROJECT: Bellefield Auditorium, Oakland. Premieres by Eric Moe, Patrick Burke and Benjamin David Plesic (May 21).

MUSIC IN A GREAT SPACE: Shadyside Presbyterian Church. Bernstein's "Chichester Psalms" and Mozart's "Solemn Vespers." Shadyside Choral Society, Curt Scheib, conductor, J. Christopher Pardini, organ (May 21). 412-682-4300.

NORTH PITTSBURGH PHILHARMONIC: North Hills Jr. High School. "Golden Moments from the Silver Screen," Roger Tabler, conductor (May 20). 412-418-9662.

OPERA THEATER: Byham Theater, Downtown. Wagner's "The Ring of Nibelung" in English and in a reduced version by Jonathan Dove. Anthony Negus, conductor; Jonathan Eaton, director. "Rhinegold" (July 14, 21), "The Valkyrie" (July 15 and 22), "Seigfried" (July 15 and 22), "Twilight of the Gods" (July 16 and 23). www.pgharts.org or 412-456-6666.

PITTSBURGH CONCERT SOCIETY: Kresge Recital Hall, Carnegie Mellon University. Alumni concert with Lilly Abreu, soprano; Yee-Ha Chiu and Scott Faigen, piano (June 4). 412-279-2970.

PITTSBURGH JEWISH MUSIC FESTIVAL: "The Jewish Year in Melody." "From Shabbat to the High Holidays," Nizan Leibovich, conductor, Shira Adler, soprano, Andres C?rdenes, violin, Aron Zelkowicz, cello, festival orchestra, Zohar Chamber Singers (Jewish Community Center, Squirrel Hill, May 31); "A Tribute to Shlomo Carlebach," Neshama Carlebach and her band (Congregation Beth Shalom, Squirrel Hill, June 4); "Songs for the Seasons" Shira Adler and Katherine Soroka, sopranos, members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (Rodef Shalom Congregation, Shadyside, June 6). www.proartstickets.org or 412-394-3353.

PITTSBURGH NEW MUSIC ENSEMBLE: City Theatre, South Side. 30th anniversary season. Kevin Noe, conductor (Fridays and Saturdays, June 30-July 29). 412-889-7231.

PITTSBURGH OPERA: Opera highlights and light Broadway tunes. South Park Amphitheater (June 2), 412-350-2528; First Fridays at the Frick, Point Breeze (also June 2). 412-371-0600.

PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: Heinz Hall, Downtown. Christoph von Dohnanyi, conductor. Bartok's Divertimento for Strings, Haydn's Symphony No. 88, Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6 (May 19-21); Andrew Davis, conductor, Lang Lang, piano. Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1, Brahms' Symphony No. 4, Hidgon's "Loco" (June 2-4). 412-392-4900.

PSO HEINZ HALL PRESENTS: Johnny Mathis, vocalist (July 6-7). "Music for the Spirit Partnership," Mahler's Third Symphony, conducted by Gilbert Levine with Monica Groop, mezzo-soprano, Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh and the Children's Festival Chorus of Pittsburgh (June 24). 412-392-4900. 412-392-4900.

PSO COMMUNITY PARTNERS CONCERT: Heinz Hall. With the Temptations, Chelsea Tipton II, conductor; Gareth Johnson, violin (June 24). 412-392-4900.

PSO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CONCERTS: With Laurence Loh, conductor, Laurel Highlands High School, Uniontown (June 25); with Marvin Hamlisch, conductor, Upper St. Clair High School (June 28). 412-392-4900.

PSO CONCERTS IN THE PARK: Watson Institute (June 30); South Park (July 1); Hartwood Acres (July 2). 412-350-2528.

PSO POPS: Scottish Rite Cathedral, New Castle: "Marvin, the Movies and More" with J. Mark McVey, vocalist and Marvin Hamlisch, conductor (June 7). Heinz Hall, Downtown: "Ben Vereen sings Sammy Davis Jr.," with Ben Vereen, vocalist, and Hamlisch (June 8-11). 412-392-4900.

PSO SIDE-BY-SIDE CONCERT: Heinz Hall. Daniel Meyer, conductor. Annual concert for adult amateur musicians (June 16). 412-392-4870 or 412-392-4900.

RENAISSANCE CITY CHOIRS: East Liberty Presbyterian Church. "On the Boardwalk ... On the Town" (May 19-20). 412-394-3353.

RIVER CITY BRASS BAND: Denis Colwell, conductor. Hartwood Acres (June 4); Westminster College, New Wilmington (July 3); Point State Park (July 4). 412-322-7222.

TIFFANY CONCERT SERIES: Calvary United Methodist Church, North Shore. North Allegheny Orchestra and Strolling Strings (May 21). 412-323-1070.

TRICOUNTY CHOIR INSTITUTE: St. Stephen's Church, Sewickley. "15th Anniversary Concert," with the Village Singers, Choraleers and Village Quartet (May 21). 724-266-2073.