'Dreams of the Fallen'

Jake Runestad, one of the choral world's hot young composers, set music to the words of Iraq war veteran and poet Brian Turner for this concert by VocalEssence and the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra that tries to comprehend the incomprehensible experience of the warrior. Turner and Runestad give voice to soldiers who have long left the battlefield yet still feel the moments that marked their lives as distinct. Pianist Jeffrey Biegel and soprano Maria Jette join the chorus and ensemble with Philip Brunelle. William Schrickel, the accomplished bass player from the Minnesota Orchestra, conducts the Metropolitan Symphony in a concert that includes Samuel Barber's "Adagio for Strings" and Vaughan Williams' "Toward the Unknown Region." (4 p.m. Oct. 11, the O'Shaughnessy, 2004 Randolph Av., St. Paul; $20-$40, 651-690-6700 or vocalessence.org)

Vänskä, Strauss and Mahler

The Minnesota Orchestra begins its classical subscription season with music director Osmo Vänskä conducting Gustav Mahler's cinematic and evocative fourth symphony. Soprano Katie Van Kooten joins the ensemble for Richard Strauss' "Four Last Songs," which were the composer's benediction. And concertmaster Erin Keefe, principal flute Adam Kuenzel, oboist John Snow and trumpet player Douglas Carlsen will be featured on Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 2. This concert promises to tap several rich classical veins — the heft of Mahler, the lyrical soprano voice in Strauss and the chamber grouping for the Bach. (11 a.m. Oct. 1, 8 p.m. Oct. 2, 6 p.m. Oct. 3; Orchestra Hall, 1111 Nicollet Mall, Mpls.; $25-$96. 612-371-5656 or minnesotaorchestra.org)

'The Magic Flute'

Give the people what they want. The Minnesota Opera did this Mozart masterwork early in 2014 and has brought it back for another turn. The 2014 production was a wild ride, with bizarre projections that transformed the work from a traditional opera to a form of German expressionism. This remount brings back the concepts from Komische Oper Berlin and the British theater group 1927 in what promises to be a surreal experience dressed as a silent movie. (7:30 p.m. Nov. 14, 17, 19, 21; 2 p.m. Nov. 15, 22; Ordway Music Hall, 345 Washington St., St. Paul; $25-$200, 612-333-6669 or mnopera.org)

Martin Fröst debut

The celebrated Swedish clarinetist begins his St. Paul Chamber Orchestra artistic partnership with the American premiere of his Genesis Project, a musical journey tracing the secular and sacred roots of classical music with Fröst serving as soloist, conductor and host. The program mixes music from different centuries and styles that highlight the intersections of folk, early sacred and classical music. Among the composers whose work will be quoted are Telemann, Bartók, Brahms and Anders Hillborg. The University of Minnesota Women's Chorus joins the SPCO for these concerts. (7:30 p.m. Nov. 11-12, Ordway Center Concert Hall, 345 Washington St., St. Paul; $10-$53, 651-291-1144 or thespco.org)

Joshua Bell

On Halloween weekend the Minnesota Orchestra will perform a live score to Tim Burton's animated "Nightmare Before Christmas."

What more is there to say than "Joshua Bell will be playing"? The violinist remains among the hottest performers in the classical realm after many years of notoriety and acclaim. Why? His repertoire leaps from Bach to jazz and his curiosity as a musician has put him in the highest halls of the musical pantheon and the lowest rungs of the subway system, where he famously performed just to see how passing commuters would treat him. He is more than a musician. He is an investigator of the human spirit. This will be a recital with pianist Sam Haywood under the auspices of the Schubert Club. Limited seats are available, so hurry. (3 p.m. Nov. 1, Ordway Music Hall, 345 Washington St., St. Paul; $31-$91, 651-292-3268 or Schubert.org)

AND A FEW MORE

Bach's St. Matthew Passion: The SPCO welcomes back conductor Paul McCreesh to lead a distinctive chamber arrangement of the composer's passionate expression of faith. Singers from the Gabrieli Consort join the effort. (Oct. 9-11, Ordway Concert Hall, thespco.org)

Scrowaczewski and Ross: Stan the Man, one of the world's pre-eminent interpreters of Bruckner, conducts the Seventh Symphony with the Minnesota Orchestra. Principal cellist Tony Ross performs the Schumann Cello Concerto. (Oct. 15-17, Orchestra Hall, minnesotaorchestra.org)

Last Queen of Hawaii: The Rose Ensemble goes deep on Hawaiian culture with a program of storytelling, dance and song from the enchanted islands. The program ends with the story of Lili'uokalani, the last queen, who also composed "Aloha 'Oe." (Oct. 9, Ted Mann Concert Hall, roseensemble.org)

Leonard Bernstein: Make Our Garden Grow: The Singers mark the 25th anniversary of the maestro's passing with a program that includes the much-loved Chicester Psalms, "The Lark" and choruses from "Candide," "West Side Story" and the "Mass." (Oct. 24-25, two locations, singersmca.org)

Sibelius Miniatures: Osmo Vänskä, the acknowledged master interpreter of Finland's best-known composer, will lead the Minnesota Orchestra in five pieces to celebrate Sibelius' 150-year jubilee. Violinist Henning Kraggerud is on the program. (Nov. 5-6, Orchestra Hall, minnesotaorchestra.org)

Beethoven Five: Not the symphony, this is the "Project," an SPCO undertaking that sheds new light on Beethoven's piano works by pairing them with commissioned pieces inspired by the master. Jonathan Biss will be at the keyboard. (Nov. 27-29, Ordway Concert Hall, thespco.org)

Accordo: The all-star chamber ensemble's program includes Beethoven's String Quartet in F Major and the Mendelssohn Piano Trio, with guest pianist Rieko Aizawa. (Oct. 26, Christ Church Lutheran in Minneapolis, Schubert.org)

Tim Burton's "Nightmare Before Christmas": The Minnesota Orchestra plays the score while the movie shows on a giant screen. (Oct. 30-31, Orchestra Hall, minnesotaorchestra.org)