Week's best classical concerts: Joshua Bell performs in Winona

He may look boyish, but violinist Joshua Bell turns 50 in December — and continues to rank among the world's most charismatic players. Bell's recital with pianist Sam Haywood is the highlight of opening weekend at Winona's Minnesota Beethoven Festival. The program begins with Beethoven's coltish Violin Sonata No. 1, before turning heavyweight with Brahms' brooding Sonata in D minor and lusciously romantic with César Franck's Violin Sonata. All three works are strongly suited to Bell's fiery, expressive personality. (3 p.m. Sun., Harriet Johnson Auditorium, Winona State University, Winona, Minn.; $21-$25, 1-507-457-1715 or mnbeethoven festival.org)

The Northern Lights Music Festival gets up and running on the Iron Range this week, marking Independence Day with a special orchestral concert. The program includes Copland's ballet score "Appalachian Spring," a piece of quintessential Americana, while Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" provides the musical fireworks. A selection of operatic and Broadway tunes is also included. (4 p.m. Tue., Mesabi East School, Aurora, Minn.; $5-$15, 1-218-780-2292 or northernlightsmusic.org)

The Minnesota Orchestra hits the band shell circuit this week for its annual clutch of free outdoor concerts. A program of popular classics is led by Roderick Cox, the orchestra's dynamic young associate conductor. (7:30 p.m. Mon., Lake Harriet Band Shell, Mpls.; 8:30 p.m. Wed., Hilde Performance Center, Plymouth; 8 p.m. Thu., Lake Park Bandshell, Winona; free, minnesotaorchestra.org)

The Manhattan Chamber Players are an exceptional group of New York City musicians. And they get to show off their versatility with this concert featuring a String Trio by Beethoven, Brahms' G minor Piano Quartet and Tchaikovsky's string sextet "Souvenir de Florence." (7:30 p.m. Fri., Page Theatre, St. Mary's University, Winona; $21-$25, 1-507-457-1715 or mnbeethovenfestival.org)

Pianist Douglas Humpherys leads this rare — and thrilling — opportunity to hear French composer Henri Dutilleux's imposing Piano Sonata. Tchaikovsky's Piano Trio is also featured. (7 p.m. Thu., Chisholm High School, Chisholm, Minn.; 7 p.m. Sat., Mesabi East School, Aurora; $5-$10, 1-218-780-2292 or northernlightsmusic.org)