Spanish visitor

Spanish conductor Juanjo Mena's international reputation has been growing steadily for the past decade, with successful debuts at top American orchestras and a recent appearance with the Berlin Philharmonic. Mena brings a dash of his native country to his Minnesota Orchestra debut by presiding over excerpts from Manuel de Falla's "La Vida Breve." The concert also features soloist Xiayin Wang playing Mozart's 23rd Piano Concerto. The main attraction, though, is a complete performance of Debussy's brilliantly colorful "Images," ideally suited to Mena's suppleness and rhythmic flair. (11 a.m. Thu., 8 p.m. Fri. & Sat.; Orchestra Hall, Mpls.; $25-$79, 612-371-5656 or minnesotaorchestra.org)

An exit worthy of Beethoven

Thomas Zehetmair, the Austrian violinist and conductor, concludes his seven-year artistic partnership with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra during this season finale performance. The concert's centerpiece is the world premiere of a violin concerto by Houston composer Pierre Jalbert, with SPCO concertmaster Steven Copes as soloist. Mendelssohn's "Fair Melusina" Overture is the curtain-raiser. And a performance of Beethoven's Dionysian Seventh Symphony after intermission ensures that Zehetmair will exit in a blaze of adrenaline and raw elation. (11 a.m. & 8 p.m. Fri., 8 p.m. Sat., 2 p.m. Sun.; Ordway Concert Hall, St. Paul; $15-$53, 651-291-1144 or thespco.org)

Goldberg Variations

Twin Cities chamber group Accordo ends its season with a performance of J.S. Bach's magnificent "Goldberg Variations" (they're specifically playing the renowned arrangement for string trio by Dmitry Sitkovetsky). Minnesota Orchestra concertmaster Erin Keefe leads the program, which also includes a selection of preludes and fugues by Mozart. (7:30 p.m. Mon., Plymouth Congregational Church, Mpls.; $21-$32.50, 651-292-3268 or schubert.org)

Fresh take on 'Pinocchio'

The tale of Pinocchio is beguilingly retold in "Pine Eyes," a 2008 chamber opera by composer Martin Bresnick. Zeitgeist music collective uses an ensemble of two clarinets, piano and percussion to conjure a bewitching range of moods and sonorities. Singer KrisAnne Weiss narrates. (7 p.m. Fri.; United Methodist Church, Alexandria, Minn; $5-$10, zeitgeistnewmusic.org)

Saints and servants

The fine-tuned harmonies of female vocal quartet Lumina are brought to bear in "Saints and Servants," a program exploring the work that women perform as mothers and daughters. The music ranges from Norwegian folk to Hildegard of Bingen, a Catholic nun, writer and composer from 12th-century Germany. (4 p.m. Sun., St. Michael's Catholic Church, Stillwater; free, facebook.com/ LuminaWomensEnsemble)

TERRY BLAIN