To prepare for this musical marathon they have been training like athletes.

The year produced one of these Grand Canyon events: the musical marathon staged by Mstislav Rostropovich in honor of his own 60th birthday.

Certainly this year, on paper in advance, there seem to be ample rewards in store for anyone with a taste for musical marathons.

The free musical marathon runs for 12 hours, from 11 a.m. till 11 p.m.

Seeking out the less familiar, this musical marathon touched lightly on the most famous Czech masters.

Transforming the French spirit into a musical marathon takes some doing.

"She helps present our musical marathon," Mr. Anagnost said.

Yet for all the vocal virtuosity, tempestuous fits and husky-toned charm she brings to her one-woman musical marathon, we never care if her character lives or dies.

They play up to 10 CD's in a row, delivering a musical marathon of more than 11 1/2 hours' duration.

The Kronos Quartet, whittling it down under five, has run this musical marathon several times but unfortunately never recorded the work.