Unfortunately, it's one of those odd number years, so there's no World Cup or Olympics or Ryder Cup or leap year to look forward to. We'll have to make our own fun. Break out the 100,000 piece jigsaw or that robot you never finished making. Or even better . . .put some concert dates in your new 2007 diary that you thought you'd have no use for and were really disappointed with when you took off the wrapping paper two weeks ago.

Turn to the 11 January page first. Insert "Barry Douglas with the Ulster Orchestra", if you will.

This is the second concert in a tripartite series at the National Concert Hall, the main feature of which is a landmark piano concerto. We had the Grieg on 9 November and next Thursday the eminent Mr Douglas will perform Brahms' first piano concerto, which will be followed by Dvorak's 6th symphony in the second half. Janos Furst will oversee all the evening's proceedings from the podium.

The RTE NSO have already given two concerts this year, their new year's day Viennese tribute and last Friday's lunchtime, but the Friday night/ NCH/ 8pm routine recommences this week, as does the Mahler Symphonies series, with the fourth such coming under principal conductor Gerhard Markson's baton on this occasion, with Mairead Buicke appearing as soprano soloist. The other soloist of the evening is Gwendolyn Masin in the A major violin concerto, K219, of Mozart (soon to be 251 years old! ).

If you're lucky enough to have a ticket for the Dresden Staatskapelle next Saturday you'll be framing that page from your diary very soon. It is one of the oldest orchestras in the world, and arguably the best.

The experts will be paying even closer attention, however, to the man on the podium, the latest young hotshot to wield a baton.

At 17 years of age, Daniel Harding, a student of the Chetham's School of Music sent a tape of himself conducting to Simon Rattle, then at the City of Birmingham SO. Rattle made the young man his assistant immediately.

Within four years, the Oxfordborn youngster was Claudio Abbado's assistant at the Berlin Philharmonic. As a child, his ambition had been to be principal trumpet with the London Symphony Orchestra. Last September, at the tender age of 30, he began his appointment as principal guest conductor with that orchestra, a considerable over-achievement, I dare say. For sure, he's a lucky man. And lucky are those who will see him conduct Mahler's 9th symphony on this visit to Dublin.

On this same night (13 January), in a land far, far away, a much quieter affair will take place in an old country demesne.

Two members of the Irish Baroque Orchestra, Kate Hearne (recorder) and Claire Duff (violin) will be joined by Los Angelesborn harpsichordist Ian Pritchard for an 8pm performance in Bantry House.

The two Irish musicians are touching the pinnacles of the international baroque scene, with Claire the leader of the distinguished Kings Consort orchestra and Kate the winner of last year's Montreal International Recorder Competition.

The final addition to your diary for this week can be entered in next Sunday's page. The series at the Hugh Lane gallery opens for the new year with a performance by French cellist Marc Coppey.

Professor at the Paris Conservatoire and former member of the Ysaye quartet, he will perform a recital of solo repertoire, comprising Bach's third cello suite, a Kodaly sonata and a new work, 'Au Temps de Carolan', by Irish composer Derek Ball.

Before I go . . . RTE Living Music Festival, 16 to 19 February. John Adams is 2007's answer to Steve Reich. More contemporary chaos.

You know what to do.