Bach Organ Project: The WFMT-sponsored series devoted to the complete solo organ works of J.S. Bach continues with two weekend recitals. Stephen Alltop performs at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Alice Millar Chapel (1870 Sheridan Road, Evanston). Michael Costello offers a recital at 3 p.m. Sunday at Grace Lutheran Church (7300 Division St., River Forest). The series runs through Oct. 26; $25; 773-279-2120, wfmt.com
Chicago a cappella: The vocal ensemble under newly-named principal guest music director John William Trotter presents “Global Transcendence,” a program of mystical and sacred works representing Christian, Jewish, Muslim and other faith traditions. 8 p.m. Saturday, Pilgrim Congregational Church, 460 Lake St., Oak Park; and 4 p.m. Sunday, Wentz Concert Hall, North Central College, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville (repeated Oct. 18 in Evanston and Oct. 19 in Chicago); $30-$38, $25 for seniors; 773-281-7820, chicagoacappella.org
Camerata Chicago: The impressive chamber orchestra under Drostan Hall launches its season with symphonic favorites including Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony and Dvorak’s Cello Concerto. The rising young cellist Joshua Roman is the soloist. 7 p.m. Friday, Fourth Presbyterian Church, 126 E. Chestnut St., $40, $30 for seniors; 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Edman Chapel, Wheaton College, 418 N. Chase, Wheaton, $40-$45; and 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Lutheran Church of the Ascension, 460 Sunset Ridge Road, Northfield, $30, $20 for seniors; 630-221-5555, cameratachicago.org
Chicago Latino Music Festival: Baroque Band performs early instrumental works from Spain and colonial Mexico. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Fullerton Hall, Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan Ave.; Free with museum admission, $20-$23, $14-$17 for seniors; artic.edu
Chicago Symphony Orchestra: Concertmaster Robert Chen plays the two Bartok violin Rhapsodies, with conductor Jaap van Zweden also leading Mahler’s triumphal Symphony No. 5. 1:30 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Sunday, Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.; $38-$280; 312-294-3000, cso.org
Chicago Symphony Orchestra — special concert: Drummer and composer Stewart Copeland (of rock band The Police) joins the orchestra and conductor Richard Kaufman for a live performance of his original soundtrack to the classic 1925 silent film, “Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ,” which will be screened in its entirety. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.; $34-$110; 312-294-3000, cso.org
Danish String Quartet: The University of Chicago Presents series opens with the ensemble’s local debut. The program holds string quartets by Haydn and Schubert, along with the U.S. premiere of Danish composer Thomas Agerfeldt’s “The Extinguishable.” 7:30 p.m. Friday, Mandel Hall, University of Chicago, 1131 E. 57th St.; $35; 773-702-2787, chicagopresents.uchicago.edu/tickets
DuPage Symphony Orchestra: Saint-Saens’ seldom-heard Piano Concerto No. 5 (“Egyptian”) is the centerpiece of music director Barbara Schubert’s program, which also holds works by Berlioz, Mussorgsky and Iranian composer Behzad Ranjbaran. The gifted young pianist Ko-Eun Yi is the soloist. 8 p.m. Saturday, Wentz Concert Hall, North Central College, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville; $30-$35, $26-$31 for seniors; 630-778-1003, dupagesymphony.org
Elgin Symphony Orchestra: Principal cellist Matthew Agnew plays Haydn’s C major Cello Concerto, with resident conductor Stephen Squires also leading works by Respighi and Sibelius.7:30 p.m. Friday, Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg; 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin; $25-$60; 847-888-4000, elginsymphony.org
International Contemporary Ensemble: The season’s OpenICE series of free performances given in an intimate club setting begins with new and recent chamber pieces by Dai Fujikura, Nathan Davis, John Zorn and Augusta Read Thomas. 6 p.m. Sunday, Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia Ave.; free with RSVP; 773-227-4433, iceorg.org
Lyric Opera of Chicago — “Capriccio”: Soprano Renee Fleming stars in one of her signature roles, Countess Madeleine, in the Richard Strauss opera. The cast includes William Burden and Audun Iversen as her suitors, Bo Skovhus as the Count, Anne Sofie von Otter as Clairon and Peter Rose as La Roche. Andrew Davis conducts. Through Oct. 28. Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive; $34-$244; 312-827-5600, lyricopera.org
Lyric Opera of Chicago — “Don Giovanni”: Mariusz Kwiecien portrays the antihero in director Robert Falls’ new production of the Mozart masterpiece, set in 1920s Spain. The A-list cast includes Kyle Ketelsen, Ana Maria Martinez, Marina Rebeka, Andriana Chuchman, Antonio Poli, Michael Sumuel and Andrea Silvestrelli. Andrew Davis is the conductor. Through Oct. 29. Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive; $34-$244; 312-827-5600, lyricopera.org
New Philharmonic: Music director Kirk Muspratt and his orchestra celebrate Oktoberfest with a potpourri of Austrian and German light classics by members of the Strauss family and others. 8 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday, McAninch Arts Center, College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn; $42, $40 for seniors (pre-show Oktoberfest dinner, $30); 630-942-4000, atthemac.org
Pacifica Quartet: The U. of C. resident ensemble launches its 2014-15 series with quartets by Mendelssohn and Beethoven, plus the U.S. premiere of Chicago composer Shulamit Ran’s “Glitter, Doom, Shards, Memory.” 3 p.m. Sunday, Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th St.; $25; 773-702-2787, chicagopresents.uchicago.edu
Savoyaires: For its 50th annual production, the Evanston-based Gilbert and Sullivan troupe stages the last and least-known of the G&S operettas, “The Grand Duke.” Opens 7:30 p.m. Friday and plays through Oct. 19, Chute Auditorium, 1400 Oakton St., Evanston; $25, $20 for seniors, 847-563-0155, savoyaires.org
Takacs Quartet: The celebrated international foursome begins the Symphony Center Presents Chamber Music series with a program of Haydn and Debussy string quartets, also Cesar Franck’s Piano Quintet. Marc-Andre Hamelin is the pianist. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.; $22-$88; 312-294-3000, cso.org
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