This is a huge week for arts and entertainment in Cincinnati.

        It includes the debut of Cincinnati Symphony's new musical director Paavo Jarvi, the unveiling of the Firstar Imax Theater at Newport on the Levee and the 25th anniversary of Oktoberfest Zinzinnati.

        It is also a week of a paralyzing national tragedy.

        For local producers and organizers, “The show must go on,” is both a decision and a battle cry, barring the announcement of a national day of mourning.

        They chorus the same two reasons: to defy terrorists' horrific attempt to disrupt American life and to help our community heal.

        This weekend's opening of the Symphony season and the anticipated debut of Mr. Jarvi “is such an important occasion for us,” says CSO president Steven Monder. “It's not just the beginning of the season, it's the beginning of a new music director, the first in 15 years.”

        The concerts will go on, but several surrounding festive activities won't. A gala welcome scheduled for tonight has been postponed and will be re-scheduled “as soon as it is appropriate and possible,” says Mr. Monder.

        “Music does have the ability to heal, it does bring people together,” Mr. Monder added. Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings will be inserted in the concert program as a memorial. “It gives the orchestra the opportunity to make a statement, to say they care.”

        The 25th anniversary of Oktoberfest Zinzinnati will go forward as scheduled this weekend, to offer citizens an opportunity to “come together as a community,” says Raymond Buse of the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce.

        “When it comes to patriotic events, Cincinnatians turn out,” he says. “We have community pride and national pride.”

        Mr. Buse expects Oktoberfest will be “a little more somber than it has in the past ... but people will want to show support. We need to find community in times of adversity.”

        Thenoontime Gemuetlichkeit Games have been canceled, but Mr. Buse expects the 10,000 yellow ribbons that will be distributed in conjunction with headliner Tony Orlando's appearance “to be in demand.”

        Mr. Buse also expects a large crowd to join in the scheduled singing of “America the Beautiful” at 4 p.m. Saturday on Fountain Square, directed by Maestro Jarvi.

        Firstar Imax Theater representative Joe Shields says “we looked at what other folks were doing” in the determination to move forward with Friday's opening, which he says will include an “appropriate observance.”

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