Beethoven and Rachmaninoff

The Schubert Club welcomes award-winning pianist Clare Longendyke for its hourlong Courtroom Concert series. Longendyke pairs an early Beethoven sonata with Rachmaninoff's lesser-known "Variations on a Theme of Corelli." (noon Thu., Landmark Center, Courtroom 317, St. Paul, free, schubert.org)

Keeping time with Haydn

Haydn's "Morning," "Noon" and "Evening" symphonies don't describe times of day as precisely as Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons" captures times of the year. But they provide an early flash of Haydn's genius as a symphonist. Artistic partner Jonathan Cohen leads this St. Paul Chamber Orchestra program. (8 p.m. Fri. & Sat., 2 p.m. Sun., Ordway Concert Hall, St. Paul, $12-$50, 651-291-1144 or thespco.org)

Beyond baroque

A precursor to the modern cello, the viola da gamba is usually associated with the baroque period. But gambists Eric Miller and Phillip Serna link it to modern repertoire with their "Façades and Duplicities" recital. Music includes a mix of Abel, Bartók, Marais and Schaffrath. (7:30 p.m. Sat., Baroque Room, St. Paul, $10-$20, thebaroqueroom.com)

A refreshing 'Straw Hat'

A hungry horse eats a woman's straw hat, just as she's having an assignation behind a tree with her lover. That's the unlikely starting point of Nino Rota's farcical "The Italian Straw Hat," which lands at Minnesota Opera with a production first seen at Ireland's Wexford Festival. Rota is best known for the music he wrote for Coppola's "Godfather" movies, but "The Italian Straw Hat" is something quite different — light, frothy and full of pleasant colorations. Rochester-raised tenor Andrew Stenson leads the hunt to replace the chewed-up hat. (7:30 p.m. Sat., through Feb. 3, Ordway Center, St. Paul, $25-$200, 612-333-6669 or mnopera.org)

A far-reaching Outpost

The Outpost concert series presents its latest challenge to classical music conventions. Curated by Minnesota Orchestra violist Sam Bergman and soprano Carrie Henneman Shaw, the program features chamber music by contemporary composers Missy Mazzoli, Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate, Joe St. Johanser and Daníel Bjarnason, intercut with contributions by Twin Cities storyteller Javier Morillo, poet Chris Santiago and actor-singer Momoko Tanno. (8 p.m. Fri., The Hook and Ladder Theater & Lounge, Mpls.; $15-$20, thehookmpls.com)

TERRY BLAIN