Brass acts

Ten years ago, Norwegian trumpeter Tine Thing Helseth was watching a string orchestra concert with three of her trumpet-playing girlfriends. And they started wondering whether the same style of performance might work with brass instruments. The result was tenThing, a 10-piece, all-female band of brass players specializing in crafty arrangements of familiar repertoire. Think Grieg, Vivaldi and Handel, with a dash of Copland and Bernstein added for this occasion. (7:30 p.m. Thu., Aria, Mpls.; $30, 651-292-3268 or schubert.org)

Bigger than Bach

Carl Heinrich Graun was a contemporary of Bach and Handel, but his music is seldom heard nowadays. Back in the 18th century, however, Graun's oratorio "Der Tod Jesu (The Death of Jesus)" was more popular than either Handel's "Messiah" or Bach's "St. Matthew Passion." Lyra Baroque joins forces with the Grinnell Singers of Iowa and Twin Cities soloists (including soprano Maria Jette and tenor Roy Heilman) for a rare concert performance of "Der Tod Jesu," led by King's Singers co-founder Simon Carrington. (7:30 p.m. Sat., Sundin Hall, Hamline University, St. Paul; 4 p.m. Sun., Christ United Methodist Church, Rochester; $10-$25, lyrabaroque.org)

'Across the Channel'

This St. Paul Chamber Orchestra presentation features rarely heard pieces from England, France and America. That includes Serenade No. 10 for Flute and Harp by American composer Vincent Persichetti, French composer André Caplet's Edgar Allan Poe-inspired "Conte fantastique" for Harp and String Quartet and English composer William Walton's String Quartet. (7 p.m. Thu., Capri Theater, Mpls.; 8 p.m. Fri., 2 p.m. Sun., St. Paul Academy and Summit School, Highland Park; $18, 651-291-1144 or thespco.org)

Kid-friendly classical

The fortepiano of Gail Olszewski and harpsichord of Asako Hirabayashi combine for this free, informal and family-friendly concert. The hourlong program includes Mozart, Handel and Haydn as well as a jazz-Latin take on J.S. Bach. (3 p.m. Sun.; the Baroque Room, St. Paul; free, thebaroqueroom.com)

Coming to St. Cloud

The Utah-based Fry Street Quartet is one of the finest young string quartets on the international concert circuit. Its program for the Chamber Music Society of St. Cloud includes Haydn's "Emperor" Quartet and Dvořák's Quartet No. 10, bookended by Laura Kaminsky's ecologically minded "Rising Tide." (7:30 p.m. Sat., Black Box Theater, St. Cloud; $5-$25, chambermusicstcloud.org)

TERRY BLAIN