BRITAIN SINCE BRITTEN
Thursday, next Sunday: Is your grip on British music after Benjamin Britten's death (1976) a little shaky? The London Sinfonietta, soprano Claire Booth and conductor Diego Masson have the perfect primer for you: a farrago of Harrison Birtwistle, David Bedford, George Benjamin and Oliver Knussen (with some Boulez thrown in to allay suspicions of chauvinism). Born between 1934 and 1960, all are major figures, seldom heard here but second nature to these performers. Booth will not sing Sunday; Stravinsky replaces Bedford accordingly. (8 p.m. Thu., SPCO Center, 408 St. Peter St., St. Paul. 2 p.m. next Sun., Ted Mann Concert Hall, 2128 4th St. S., Mpls. $11-$49. 651-291-1144 or www.thespco.org.)
LARRY FUCHSBERG
BERNSTEIN FESTIVAL
Thursday-Saturday: From Broadway to the classics, the Minnesota Orchestra opens its two-week celebration of Leonard Bernstein with three nights of concerts. Thursday and Saturday, director Osmo Vänskä conducts selections from Bernstein's theater work, such as "West Side Story," "On the Town" and "Candide." Vocalists Christiane Noll, Rachel York and Doug LaBrecque will join the orchestra. On Friday, Vänskä will focus on work for the concert hall, including "Halil" (featuring flutist Adam Kuenzel), the "Clarinet Sonata" (with Burt Hara) and the "Jeremiah" symphony. (11 a.m. Thu., 8 p.m. Fri.-Sat. $21-$83. 11th St. and Nicollet Mall, Mpls. 612-371-5656 or www.minnesotaorchestra.org)
GRAYDON ROYCE
