Chamber Opera Chicago: The company presents the world premiere of artistic director Barbara Landis’ musical theater adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Persuasion.” Landis and Nick Sandys assume featured roles, with staging by Sandys and Nyela Basney conducting the orchestra (including Celtic instruments) and dancers from the Trinity Irish Dance Company. Through Sunday at the Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave; $20-$30, $15 for seniors; 773-935-6860, 312-951-7955, chamber operachicago.org
Chicago Soundings: The city’s newest contemporary music ensemble, organized by composer-pianists George Flynn and Tom Stevens, makes its debut. The composers will be joined by singers Joanna Wernette and Kathy Cowan, and violist Doyle Armbrust, for a program of works by Flynn and Stevens for solo piano, voice and piano and solo viola. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Queen of Angels Church, 2330 W. Sunnyside Ave.; free; gwflynn@hotmail.com
Chicago Symphony Orchestra: Riccardo Muti begins his second season as music director with a free performance in Chicago’s Woodlawn neighborhood demonstrating his commitment to reaching out to the city’s diverse communities. Principal flute Mathieu Dufour is the soloist in Ibert’s Flute Concerto; the program for this season-opening community concert (to be repeated on the subscription series Sept. 23 and 27) includes Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony. 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Apostolic Church of God, 6320 S. Dorchester Ave.; 312-294-3000, cso.org
Latino Music Festival: The 2011 edition of the annual citywide event gets under way with the Chicago-based Kaia String Quartet performing works by Piazzolla, Villa-Lobos, Ruben Gonzalez and Chicago composers Elbio Barilari and Gustavo Leone. 6:30 p.m. Friday at Fullerton Hall, Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan Ave.; free; 312-431-1330, artic.edu
Nu Directions Chamber Brass: The self-styled “genre-oblivious” ensemble gives the world premiere of a new work for bass trombone, brass and percussion by artistic director Thomas James Madeja. 8 p.m. Friday at Gottlieb Hall, Merit School of Music, 38 S. Peoria St.; $15; ndcbrass.com
Andre Rieu: The Dutch crossover violinist and conductor brings his Johann Strauss Orchestra back to Chicago on his world tour. 6 p.m. Sunday at United Center, 1901 W. Madison St.; $39-$139; 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com
Rockford Symphony Orchestra: Music director Steven Larsen begins the subscription season with an all-American concert consisting of James Beckel’s Toccata for Orchestra, Chadwick’s “Symphonic Sketches” and Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F, with David Syme as soloist. 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Coronado Theatre, 314 Main St., Rockford; 815-965-0049, rock fordsymphony.com
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