Best of the Week: the Chainsmokers, First Aid Kit, Jonathan Biss, New Power Generation

The New York DJ/producer duo known as the Chainsmokers have had big success in both pop and EDM worlds, a rare stylistic combination. They have a way with hooks and choosing singers to collaborate with, whether it's established stars like Coldplay's Chris Martin ("Something Just Like This") and Florida Georgia Line ("Last Day Alive") or new voices like Daya ("Don't Let Me Down") and Halsey ("Closer"). In concert, Andrew Taggart and Alex Pall are known to have nifty lights and videos to complement their electronic bro-pop.JON BREAM

9 p.m. Thu. Mystic Lake Casino, Prior Lake, tickets start at $89, ticketmaster.com

They've toured Europe and played at Paisley Park. Now a version of New Power Generation will perform in downtown Minneapolis. All the musicians played with Prince at one time or another — plus Purple associates André Cymone (above) and Kip Blackshire have been added to handle lead vocals while Tony Mosley does the rapping. The lineup includes drummer Kirk Johnson, keyboardists Morris Hayes and Tommy Barbarella and guitarist Levi Seacer.

JON BREAM

7 & 9:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat. Dakota Jazz Club, Mpls., $60-$80, dakotacooks.com

Charming Twin Cities audiences ever since a memorable 2012 Cedar gig, Stockholm-based First Aid Kit takes another step up the local venue ladder in support of its fourth album, "Ruins." Producer Tucker Martine added a twangier ambience to sisters Johanna and Klara Söderberg's harmonious folk sound with great results, not surprising from the duo whose best-known song is a love letter to Emmylou Harris.

CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER

Outstanding pianist Jonathan Biss joins the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra Thursday to play Beethoven's "Emperor" Concerto. (Bonus: This "happy hour" concert comes with free beer samples.) Biss repeats the program Saturday, adding Beethoven's Fifth Piano Sonata to the mix. And on Friday, he couples Beethoven's Second Concerto with Mendelssohn's "Italian" Symphony.

TERRY BLAIN

6 p.m. Thu., 11 a.m. & 8 p.m. Fri., 8 p.m. Sat.; Ordway, St. Paul, $12-$50, thespco.org

Minnesota treasure Mike Lynch graciously cleaned out his art studio and brought the remains for a retrospective of sorts. Smaller-scale oil paintings, lithographs and drawings of industrial and agrarian views of Minnesota at night are on view, alongside newer still lifes of objects like a pack of Camel cigarettes. Lynch also shows some odds and ends, such as a 1960 poster from his first exhibit, and his cartoonish, satirical renderings of trips to Duluth.

ALICIA ELER

Since its premiere 18 years ago, composer Jake Heggie's "Dead Man Walking" has become the world's most performed contemporary opera of the 21st century. Based on the same book that inspired the 1995 movie, this opera tells the story of Sister Helen Prejean's relationship with death-row inmate Joseph de Rocher. Minnesota Opera gives the piece its Twin Cities debut with a critically acclaimed staging first seen last year in Vancouver.

TERRY BLAIN

7:30 p.m. Tue. & Thu., 8 p.m. Sat.; Ordway, St. Paul; $22.50-$215, mnopera.org

The Jason Robert Brown musical "The Last Five Years" packs an entire five-year romance into one act. But with help from sterling performances by Aly Westberg O'Keeffe and Ryan London Levin, it feels like we understand not only why the characters fall in love, but also why it doesn't work out. The structure reveals the complexity and ambiguity of modern love, and the poppy songs range from hilarious to heart-achey.

CHRIS HEWITT

Athletes are traveling across America to generate buzz for the upcoming Winter Olympics in South Korea. Team USA Winterfest makes a stop in St. Paul for interactive activities including treat-making at the S'moresmobile. Olympians Jeremy Bloom, Meryl Davis, Vonetta Flowers and Charlie White will meet and greet fans. Experience what it's like to be in an Olympic bobsled, take the curling challenge or just leave a good luck message for U.S. athletes.

Melissa Walker