(Enlarge) The Leipzig String Quartet performs for the Candlelight Concert Society at Howard Community College Feb. 6 as the second installment in a proposed cycle of all 18 of Beethoven's string quartets. (Photo by Gert Mothes)

The Candlelight Concert Society is continuing with an ambitious program that promises its Howard County audiences all 18 of Beethoven's string quartets over the course of two seasons.

This Saturday, Feb. 6, the group hosts an appearance by the Leipzig String Quartet at Howard Community College as the second installment in a proposed series of six concerts. The performance follows a Jan. 23 concert by the Pacifica Quartet, which played the first three Beethoven quartets.

"It gives our audience the chance to hear the best musicians play the sounds of one of the most popular composers," says Holly Thomas, Candlelight's artistic director. "We started the journey this year and we'll complete it next season. It's a rare chance to be able to hear all 18."

The Leipzig String Quartet is actually a last-minute substitution for the group that was slated to appear, the Ebene Quartet. Last week, Thomas was notified that one of the Ebene's members had fallen ill and the group was canceling its engagements.

Thomas calls the German quartet an "ideal substitution," however: "They're principle players in the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, which is one of the greatest orchestras in the world."

Luckily for Candlelight, the string quartet also specializes in the Beethoven canon. However, come Saturday, it will perform a different program from the one intended by the Ebene Quartet.

Saturday's bill is now slated to include performances of Beethoven's "Quartet in D Major, Op. 18, No. 3," "Quartet in C Major, Op. 59, No. 3" and "Quartet in A Minor, Op. 132."

Advance admission is $29 general, $26 for senior citizens and $12 for students (admission at the door is slightly higher). Ages 9-17 are admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult. Call 410-997-2324 or go to www.candlelightconcerts.org.

Following this performance, the Candlelight Concert Society will present yet more Beethoven string quartets when the Berlin-based Artemis Quartet plays Feb. 27 in St. John's Episcopal Church, 9120 Frederick Road in Ellicott City.

Jazz is in the air

The 2nd Saturday Cafe will present a Valentine's Day party and concert featuring live jazz Saturday, Feb. 6, 6-9 p.m., at Oliver's Carriage House, in Town Center.

A quartet of area musicians will perform, including three senior music majors at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County: pianist Jason Loiland, of Bel Air; Ellicott City bassist Hunter Schafer, and Columbia guitarist Daniel Roberts. They'll be accompanied on drums by Max VanDerBeek, band director at Centennial High School. Admission is free, but donations to Agape House will be accepted at the door. For details, e-mail brady@2ndsaturdaycafe.com.

Also, you can catch Columbia jazz vocalist Gail Marten this Thursday, Feb. 4, 6-9 p.m., at the Baltimore North Radisson, at 5100 Falls Road in Baltimore. Marten will perform in the lobby lounge with pianist Richard Johnson and bassist Eric Wheeler.

Marten is a veteran jazz singer who has released several CDs and won numerous songwriting awards. Call 410-532-6900 or go to www.gailmarten.com.

Silhouette Stages has rescheduled its Cabaret Night due to last weekend's snow. The show will now be Saturday, Feb. 6, 8 p.m., in the Slayton House Theater in Wilde Lake. Local singers and actors will include area favorite Ric Ryder. Admission is $10 and includes food and drink at intermission.

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