A holiday twist: Minnesota composers offer 'Songs of the Season'

Thursday-Tuesday: It's hard to cut a swath through the glut of carols, chunks of "Nutcracker" and "Messiah" snippets that tend to dominate classical programming around Christmas. But here is something special: a wonderfully imaginative recital of songs by Minnesota composers, co-curated by Schubert Club composer-in-residence Abbie Betinis and Linda Kachelmeier, artistic director of the Lumina Women's Ensemble, who give the performances. Stephen Paulus, Carol Barnett, Dominick Argento and Bob Dylan are among the composers listed, some of whom also feature in Lumina's two solstitial concerts next week in the Twin Cities. (Noon Thu., Courtroom 317, Landmark Center, St. Paul, free; 7 p.m. Mon., St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Mpls., $10-$15; 7 p.m. Tue., St. Mary's Episcopal Church, St. Paul., $10-$15. schubert.org)