'Romeo and Juliet'

Verdi and Wagner exert such dominance in 19th-century opera that other important composers can get squeezed to the margins. Charles Gounod is one of them. Minnesota Opera's staging of his Shakespeare drama "Romeo and Juliet" is a prime opportunity to sample the pleasures of French opera, which has a certain suavity and distinctive niche beside its Italian and German counterparts. Tenor Joshua Dennis and soprano Angela Mortellaro — two young, vibrant singers — play the star-crossed lovers. (8 p.m. Sat.; Ordway Music Theater, St. Paul; $25-$200, 612-333-6669 or mnopera.org)

Bach cantatas

Matthias Maute, new artistic director of the Bach Society of Minnesota, has an extensive track record of conducting specialist baroque ensembles in Montreal and across America. Maute describes Bach's music as "the promise of a profound experience that carries us to beautiful and unforeseen places." With period instruments accompanying, and an authentically small choir, this is a must-see, a must-hear for lovers of Bach's vocal music. (7 p.m. Thurs., Central Lutheran Church, Winona, Minn.; 7:30 p.m. Fri., Sundin Music Hall, St. Paul; 5 p.m. Sun., First Lutheran Church, Marshall, Minn.; $8-$23, bachsocietymn.org)

Bell plays Tchaikovsky

Sparks will fly when American violinist Joshua Bell opens the Minnesota Orchestra's new season with the Tchaikovsky Concerto, one of the fieriest in the repertoire. Todd Levin's percussion-fueled Blur and Brahms' Second Symphony complete the program. Osmo Vänskä conducts. (7:30 p.m. Thu., 8 p.m. Fri.; Orchestra Hall, Mpls.; $45-$125, 612-371-5656 or minnesotaorchestra.org)

Schubert piano trio

The Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio, dubbed by the Washington Post "the greatest piano trio on the face of the Earth," is celebrating its 40th year. Hear them play Schubert's great Piano Trio No. 2 on their latest Twin Cities visit. The program also includes works by Ellen Taaffe Zwilich and Mendelssohn. (4 p.m. Sun., St. Anthony Park United Church of Christ, St. Paul.; $18-$31, 651-292-3268 or schubert.org)

TERRY BLAIN