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Dave Matthews Band to visit Tampa on July 29

The Tampa Bay Amphitheatre is still being built, but it's got another big name on its schedule: the Dave Matthews Band.

The multiplatinum, Grammy-winning band is slated to play at the new facility at the Florida State Fairgrounds on July 29, one night ahead of Rush, whose performance was announced earlier this week.

Tickets for Dave Matthews ($57 reserved; $39.50 festival lawn seating) go on sale April 3 at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster outlets. Call (813) 287-8844 or (727) 898-2100.

Asked if President Bush wanted to see the Crucifixion drama The Passion of the Christ, opening in U.S. theaters Wednesday, White House press secretary Scott McClellan said, "I think he does and I think at some point he probably will."

The White House has a private theater in which presidents can view first-run films.

Mel Gibson directed, financed and co-wrote the movie, which tells the story of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It has become controversial even before its opening, with some claiming that it could spark anti-Semitism by making it seem that the Jews as a people were responsible for Christ's death.

CHICAGO - Conductor Daniel Barenboim will step down as music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at the end of the 2005-2006 season.

He said he did not intend to renew his contract with the symphony after it expires in June 2006, according to a statement he released Thursday. Barenboim, 61, made his announcement first to the symphony musicians at a Thursday afternoon rehearsal, and later to the board of trustees.

Symphony spokeswomen Synneve Carlino and LaNell Essary said Barenboim gave a number of reasons for his decision, including that he wants to concentrate on performance, rather than administrative duties.

Barenboim, who already had a long relationship with the CSO as a guest conductor and solo pianist, was named music director designate in 1989 and succeeded the late Sir Georg Solti as music director in 1991. In 1995, he appointed Pierre Boulez principal guest conductor, thus increasing the symphony's commitment to the performance of contemporary music.

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