The Choral Society and Orchestra present a rendition of Beethoven's monumental Ninth Symphony this Saturday. The program opens with "A Survivor from Warsaw," a brief, gripping musical indictment of the Holocaust, and will also include Beethoven's "Elegy," a moving piece written for both chorus and strings. The highlight on both musical groups' schedules this semester, this is not a concert to be missed. (Sat., 8 p.m., Buckley Recital Hall. No admission charge for College students. E-mail amherstbeethoven@gmail.com for reservations.)

Be carried away on a musical journey by Grammy-nominated UMass Professor of Music and Dance Adam Kolker. He will play three different instruments-saxophone, clarinet and bass clarinet-for his recital of, among other works, Stravinsky, J.S. Bach and Thelonius Monk. Also look out for Kolker's improvisations on Bela Bartok's "Mikrokosmos" and some of his own original compositions. (Wed., 8:15 p.m., Bezanson Recital Hall, UMass. Tickets $5 for students, 545-0018.)

Try your hand at indoor rock-climbing free-of-charge! Nick and Heather Sagar will conduct the Rock Climbing Seminar for all experience levels and exclusively for Five College students at Hampshire College as part of the annual Five College Outdoor Festival. Have some extreme fun without the extreme cost. (Thurs., 7 p.m., Robert Crown Center, Hampshire College. No admission charge. Pre-registration required. Call Robert Penn at 559-5784.)

Smith College hosts the Mollie Rogers centennial conference, "To Take Up Our Work in the World: Celebrating Mollie Rogers." The keynote address, "HIV/AIDS: Reconsidering Sexuality and Cultural Norms," will be given by Sister Mary Annel as part of a two-day conference dealing with the social and personal issues of HIV/AIDS. (Sun., 8 p.m., Weinstein Auditorium, Wright Hall, Smith College. No admission charge.)

Editors' DVD Pick of the Week

Anyone who has ever smoked weed, and everyone else who hasn't but has been high on something, will deeply appreciate the escapades in "Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle." It may be shameless placement advertising and unabashedly incorrect stereotyping, but this hilarious classic has the swinger lifestyle (with an Asian-American twist) down pat. Taken with a pinch of salt and pot, Harold and Kumar's misadventures while hunting down the perfect late-night meal will keep you captivated until the triumphant end. This movie also brings new, diverse faces to the genre of the "buddy comedy." The unrated DVD version has a raunchier cut, some deleted scenes and a commentary track that is the perfect complement to this groundbreaking work.