Taproom tour

The Minnesota Orchestra's Pint of Music initiative brings music into the area's many popular taprooms, inviting audiences to quench their thirst during 30- to 45-minute micro-recitals. This installment serves up music for brass quintet featuring, among others, trumpeter Charles Lazarus and trombonist R. Douglas Wright. (7:30 p.m. Mon., Utepils Brewing, Mpls., free, minnesotaorchestra.org)

'Dead Man Walking'

Since its premiere 18 years ago, composer Jake Heggie's "Dead Man Walking" has become the world's most performed contemporary opera of the 21st century. Based on the same book that inspired the 1995 movie, "Dead Man Walking" tells the story of Sister Helen Prejean's relationship with death-row inmate Joseph de Rocher. Minnesota Opera gives the piece its Twin Cities debut with a critically acclaimed staging first seen last year in Vancouver. A thought-provoking evening is guaranteed — and one that wrenches the emotions. (7:30 p.m. Tue. & Thu., 8 p.m. Sat.; Ordway Music Theater, St. Paul; $22.50-$215, 612-333-6669 or mnopera.org)

Beethoven and Biss

Outstanding pianist Jonathan Biss joins the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra Thursday to play Beethoven's "Emperor" Concerto. (Bonus: This "happy hour" concert comes with free samples from Tin Whiskers Brewing Co.) Also featured is Ravel's "Le tombeau de Couperin." Biss repeats the program Saturday, adding Beethoven's Fifth Piano Sonata to the mix. And on Friday, he couples Beethoven's Second Concerto with Mendelssohn's "Italian" Symphony. (6 p.m. Thu., 11 a.m. & 8 p.m. Fri., 8 p.m. Sat.; Ordway Concert Hall, St. Paul, $12-$50, 651-291-1144 or thespco.org)

Get ready for Rutter

Choral music legend John Rutter will visit the Twin Cities in April to conduct a concert of his own music. Get in the mood by joining this community performance of Rutter's Requiem (complete with chamber orchestra) presented by the Singers. No registration required. Vocal scores provided. (7 p.m. Fri., House of Hope Presbyterian Church, St. Paul, free, singersmca.org)

Basically Beethoven

St. Paul's Artaria String Quartet continues its absorbing Basically Beethoven series with a concert focusing on the composer's taut Op. 95 quartet, the "Serioso." Also featured are "White Man Sleeps," a string quartet by South African composer Kevin Volans, and Shostakovich's Piano Quintet. (3 p.m. Sun., Sundin Music Hall, Hamline University, St. Paul; 7:30 p.m. next Mon., MacPhail Center for Music, Mpls.; $20, artariaquartet.com)

TERRY BLAIN