Avalon String Quartet: The splendid young ensemble, based at Northern Illinois University, concludes its season with a diverse program of American works by Steve Reich (“Different Trains”), Amy Beach, Augusta Read Thomas and Harold Meltzer. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Gottlieb Hall, Merit School of Music, 38 S. Peoria St.; $25, $10 for seniors; 800-838-3006, brown
papertickets.com
Chicago Symphony Orchestra: Ravinia music director James Conlon makes a rare downtown appearance, conducting a suite from Shostakovich’s opera “Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk,” Sibelius’ Violin Concerto (Leonidas Kavakos, soloist) and the first CSO performance of former resident composer Osvaldo Golijov’s “Sidereus,” commissioned by the CSO and a consortium of other orchestras to honor Henry Fogel, past president of the CSO Association. 1:30 p.m. Friday, 8 p.m. Saturday; $19-$207. Hubbard Street Dance Chicago’s annual partnership with the CSO will include new works choreographed by Alejandro Cerrudo to music of Martinu, Mendelssohn and Alkan; Amy Briggs is the pianist. Nicholas McGegan conducts an otherwise all-Baroque program that includes oboe concertos by Marcello and Vivaldi, with principal oboe Eugene Izotov as soloist, and concerti grossi by Vivaldi and Corelli. 8 p.m. Thursday (repeated April 29-30, May 3); $23-$211. Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.; 312-294-3000, cso.org
CSO — Afterwork Masterworks: Dancers from Hubbard Street Dance Chicago perform two new works choreographed by Alejandro Cerrudo: “Toccata e due Canzone” (music of Martinu) and “Blanco” (piano pieces by Mendelssohn and Alkan, played by Amy Briggs). The Baroque half of the program, conducted by Nicholas McGegan, includes concertos by Marcello and Corelli, with principal oboe Eugene Izotov as soloist. 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.; $29-$92; 312-294-3000, cso.org
CUBE Contemporary Music Ensemble: Chicago pianists Sebastian Huydts and Lawrence Axelrod perform 20th and 21st century works for two pianos by Shostakovich, Stravinsky, Bolcom, Dutilleux, Surinach, Frank Martin and Axelrod. 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Sherwood Conservatory Concert Hall, 1312 S. Michigan Ave.; free; 312-369-3100, cubeensemble
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Menahem Pressler: The eminent pianist and pedagogue gives an extended master class on chamber music and solo repertory. 5 p.m. Wednesday at Lutkin Hall, Northwestern University, 700 University Place, Evanston; free; 847-491-5441, pickstaiger.org
jvonrhein@tribune.com
Twitter @johnvonrhein
