Accessible Contemporary Music: Eight composers collaborated with poet Austin Kleon to create “Newspaper Blackout Poems,” a world premiere. 7:30 p.m. Monday at Ganz Hall, Roosevelt University, 430 S. Michigan Ave.; $12-$20, $5 for seniors; 773-334-3650, acmusic.org
Chamber Opera Chicago: Victoria Bond conducts and Francis Menotti directs the company’s fifth annual presentation of Gian Carlo Menotti’s Christmas favorite, “Amahl and the Night Visitors.” 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 3 p.m. Sunday; Cindy Pritzker Auditorium, Harold Washington Library, 400 S. State St.; $25, $20 for seniors, $10 for children 12 and under; 312-951-7944, chamberoperachicago.org
Chanticleer: One of the area’s most welcome holiday traditions is “A Chanticleer Christmas” by the splendid 12-voice male a cappella ensemble from San Francisco. This year’s edition promises everything from Renaissance sacred music and traditional carols to jazz and gospel arrangements. Sponsored by Symphony Center Presents. 7:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday; Fourth Presbyterian Church, 126 E. Chestnut St.; $37-$59; 312-294-3000, cso.org
Chicago a cappella: The group’s annual “Holidays a cappella” potpourri gathers carols from Mexico to Scandinavia, folk songs, Hanukkah melodies and spirituals in celebratory song. 4 p.m. Sunday at Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville; 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave., Evanston (repeated Dec. 10 in Chicago and Dec. 12 in Oak Park); $28-$35, $22 for seniors; 773-755-1628, chicagoacappella.org
Chicago Choral Artists: “Christmas Old and New,” directed by Clayton Parr, brings holiday fare ranging from Gabrieli and Praetorius to Poulenc and Part. 7:30 p.m. Saturday; Covenant Presbyterian Church, 2012 W. Dickens Ave.; 4 p.m. Sunday at First Presbyterian Church, 150 S. Ashland Ave., La Grange; $10-$20; 708-848-1762, chicagochoralartists.org
Chicago Symphony Orchestra: Conductor emeritus Pierre Boulez’s second and final subscription week of the season holds Janacek’s powerful “Glagolitic Mass” and Schoenberg’s “Verklaerte Nacht.” Vocal soloists are Christine Brewer, Nancy Maultsby, Lance Ryan and Mikhail Petrenko; 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; $24-$207. Gifted British pianist Stephen Hough begins a cycle of the complete works for piano and orchestra by Tchaikovsky. He will perform the Second Piano Concerto and Concert Fantasy with Xian Zhang conducting; 8 p.m. Thursday (repeated Dec. 10-11); $23-$211. Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.; 312-294-3000, cso.org
Chicago Symphony — Afterwork Masterworks: The rarely heard Piano Concerto No. 2 is the centerpiece of an all-Tchaikovsky program featuring pianist Stephen Hough and guest conductor Xian Zhang. The concert opens with Suite No. 4 (“Mozartiana”). 6:30 p.m. Wednesday; Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.; $45-$92; 312-294-3000, cso.org
Evanston Symphony Orchestra: The annual Christmas concert features 150 adult and child choristers and 90 musicians performing everything from Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” to popular holiday fare. 3 p.m. Sunday; Evanston Township High School, 1600 Dodge Ave., Evanston; $25; 847-864-8804, evanstonsymphony.org
Holiday Pops: The chorus and Southport Big Band Swing Orchestra under Scott Arkenberg present best-loved holiday music and songs. 7 p.m. Wednesday; Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive; $20-$50; 312-334-7777, harristheaterchicago.org
Wicker Park Choral Singers: The chorus launches its third season with “Star of Wonder,” a Christmas program of works ranging from Thomas Tallis to Eric Whitacre. 3 p.m. Saturday at Wicker Park Lutheran Church, 1502 N. Hoyne Ave.; 4 p.m. Sunday at Trinity Episcopal Church, 425 Laurel Ave., Highland Park; free; 815-499-6294, wickerparksings.org
