Pick of the Week
Chicago Sinfonietta: Flamenco dance and tap dance make for a typically rafter-rattling season opener for the innovative orchestra under Mei-Ann Chen. The Chicago-based Clinard Dance Theatre and tap prodigy Cartier Williams will punctuate classical works by Borodin, Stravinsky and Roberto Sierra. Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Scheherazade” completes the program. 8 p.m. Saturday, Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville; and 7:30 p.m. Monday, Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.; $18-$99; 312-236-5429, chicagosinfonietta.org
Bach Keyboard Festival: WFMT’s 11-concert series devoted to J.S. Bach’s keyboard output continues with two events. Pianists Winston Choi and Anthony Molinaro will join harpsichordist Stephen Alltop for an all-day “immersion” event that includes discussion and performances of “The Well-Tempered Clavier” (Book I) and “Goldberg” Variations; 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Winnetka Congregational Church, 725 Pine St., Winnetka. Carol lei Breckinridge, Philippe LeRoy, Jason Moy and Alltop will perform the French Suite No. 5 and other harpsichord works; 2:30 p.m. Sunday, St. Chrysostom’s Episcopal Church, 1424 N. Dearborn St. The festival runs through Nov. 1. $25; wfmt.com/events
Baroque Band: The opening program of the Chicago period-instrument group’s 2015-16 season treats listeners to the dueling keyboards of David Schrader on fortepiano and Ian Watson on harpsichord, playing works by J.S. and C.P.E. Bach, among others. Garry Clarke directs. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave. (repeated Oct 10 in Hyde Park and Oct. 11 in Evanston); $39, $35 for seniors; 312-235-2368, baroqueband.org
Bella Voce: Chamber singers of the Bella Voce Camerata will be joined by the Chicago period-instrument ensemble Ars Antigua for a season-opening salute to composer Arvo Part on his 80th birthday. His iconic “Berliner Messe” will share director Andrew Lewis’ program with a pair of cantatas and a motet by J.S. Bach. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Grace Lutheran Church, 7300 W. Division St., River Forest; and 3:30 p.m. Sunday, St. Clement Parish, 642 W. Deming Place; $35-$40; 877-755-6277, bellavoce.org
Chicago Opera Theater — “Lucio Silla”: The company’s season-opening production of this rarely heard opera seria by Mozart presents opera lovers with a fascinating alternative to Lyric Opera’s “Marriage of Figaro.” General director Andrea Mitisek directs, Francesco Milioto conducts. Through Sunday, Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph St.; $35-$125; 312-704-8414, chicagooperatheater.org
Chicago Symphony Orchestra: Norwegian pianist Leif Ove Andsnes will perform Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20, with Riccardo Muti also conducting works by Beethoven, Hindemith and Prokofiev; 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; $34-$221. Semyon Bychkov will lead a mostly Brahms program that holds the Violin Concerto (with Renaud Capucon as soloist) and First Symphony, along with the U.S. premiere of German composer Detlev Glanert’s “Brahms-Fantasie”; 8 p.m. Thursday (repeated Oct. 9 and 13); $36-$255. Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.; $34-$221, 312-294-3000, cso.org
Elgin Symphony Orchestra: Cello soloist Lynn Harrell joins music director Andrew Grams for the opening concerts of the 65th anniversary season. The program includes Tchaikovsky’s “Rococo Variations,” Brahms’ Symphony No. 1 and the Ives-Schuman Variations on “America.” 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin; $30-$65; 847-888-4000, elginsymphony.org
Fifth House Ensemble: One of the city’s most out-there chamber groups performs the world premiere of Dan Visconti’s piano trio “Soundings,” along with works by Stacy Garrop and Jennifer Higdon. 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Constellation, 3111 N. Western Ave.; $15; fifth-house.com
Latino Music Festival: The 10th annual edition continues with two concerts. The Chicago Arts Orchestra celebrates Hispanic heritage with Latin American works conducted by Javier Mendoza; 7:30 p.m. Friday, Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave.; $17-$37. Composers and festival directors Gustavo Leone and Elbio Barilari, and other Latino composer-performers, perform improvised and experimental music; 3 p.m. Sunday, Logan Center for the Performing Arts Penthouse, 915 E. 60th St.; $10, $5 for seniors. The festival runs through Nov. 22; latinoculturalcenter.org
Lyric Opera of Chicago — “La Cenerentola”: Rossini’s delightful version of the “Cinderella” fairy tale stars the alluring American mezzo Isabel Leonard in the title role and the celebrated American tenor Lawrence Brownlee as Prince Ramiro, with Alessandro Corbelli, Vito Priante and Christian Van Horn in supporting roles. Andrew Davis will pace Joan Font’s production from the Houston Grand Opera. Opens 2 p.m. Sunday and runs through Oct. 30, Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive; $34-$239; 312-827-5600, lyricopera.org
Lyric Opera of Chicago — “The Marriage of Figaro”: Chicago Shakespeare Theater artistic director Barbara Gaines directs a new production of Mozart’s evergreen comedy, conducted by Henrik Nanasi and starring Adam Plachetka, Christiane Karg, Rachel Frenkel, Luca Pisaroni and Amanda Majeski. Through Oct. 24, Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive; $34-$239; 312-827-5600, lyricopera.org
New Philharmonic: Highlighting the orchestra’s season opener under Kirk Muspratt’s direction will be an audiovisual presentation of Gustav Holst’s “The Planets” that includes films created by astronomer and film director Jose Salgado. 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday, McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn; $49; 630-942-4000, atthemac.org
Orion Ensemble: The Chicago chamber group begins its 23rd season with works by Mozart, Faure and the premiere of Jackson Berkey’s “Homage to Percy Bysshe Shelley.” 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave., Evanston; and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, PianoForte studios, 1335 S. Michigan Ave.; $26, $23 for seniors, free for children 12 and younger; 630-628-9591, orionensemble.org
Maurizio Pollini: One of the indisputably great pianists of today opens the Symphony Center Piano Series with a recital of works by Schumann and Chopin. 3 p.m. Sunday, Orchestra Hall, 220 S. Michigan Ave.; $35-$102; 312-294-3000, cso.org
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