JAN. 30 & FEB. 1: DIE TOTE STADT

The Boston Lyric Opera in collaboration with Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) at Symphony Hall present Erich Korngold’s Die tote Stadt (“The Dead City”). This is an incredibly tender work that embodies the twilight of the Romantic era. Korngold was a remarkable prodigy who later became one of Hollywood’s most important composers. He began this opera when he was only 19 and completed it at age 23. It premiered simultaneously in December 1920 in Cologne and in Hamburg, becoming one of the biggest operatic successes of the era. The opera’s theme surrounds struggling with the memory of a lost loved one which undoubtedly resonated with audiences still traumatized by the recent catastrophe of World War I. Soprano Christine Goerke leads a cast that includes BLO’s Jane & Steven Akin Emerging Artist alumnus, as well as tenor Neal Ferreira. In addition is baritone Elliot Madore. Both these performers were seen recently in BLO’s production of Matthew Aucoin’s Eurydice. Andris Nelsons cnducs.t. Tickets may be obtained at www.blo.org

FEB. 2 (3PM): CLASSICAL WITH A TWIST…LOVE IS ALL AROUND

The newest edition of Cherry Street Music’s chamber music series brings to the Allen Center, 35 Webster Street in West Newton. Allison Eldredge, Cherry Street Music’s Artistic Director and cellist will perform romantic works expressing the sounds of love by Debussy, Bizet and others. She won the coveted Avery Fisher Career Grant at age 19, solo cellist  and has been performing from Berlin to Moscow to Tokyo to Beijing to Amsterdam to Carnegie Hall as soloist with many of the world’s great orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra, Chicago Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Montreal Symphony, Moscow Virtuosi, Academy of St. Martin in the Field and the Royal Philharmonic and performed with such distinguished conductors as Daniel Barenboim, Zubin Mehta, Andre Previn, Charles Dutoit, Leonard Slatkin, Krzysztof Penderecki, Yevgeny Svetlanov, Hans Vonk and Jaap van Zweden.  Chamber Music collaborations have included performances with Yo-Yo Ma, Joshua Bell, Gil Shaham, Andre Previn, and Shmuel Ashkenasi. In addition to serving as Cherry Street Music Artistic Director, Allison, a Newton resident, is the Allen Center’s Artist in Residence. Allison is joined by pianist Dina Vainshtein. She studied at the prestigious Gnessin Russian Academy of Music in Moscow and is the daughter of two pianists. Ms. Vainshtein received the Special Prize for the Best Collaborative Pianist at the 1998 International Tchaikovsky Competition. She has collaborated with violinists Miriam Fried, Yura Lee, Karen Gomyo, Chad Hoopes, Caroline Goulding, Zina Schiff, Alexi Kenney, and Angelo Yu; cellists Natasha Brofsky and Amit Peled; as well as the Borromeo String Quartet. Ms. Vainshtein moved to the United States in 2000 to attend the Cleveland Institute of Music and has performed at Alice Tully Hall, Weill Recital Hall, the Caramoor Festival, Music@Menlo, Ravinia Festival, and the Music Academy of the West. For nearly a decade, Ms. Vainshtein has been affiliated with the New England Conservatory and the Walnut Hill School, where she teaches chamber music. The “twist” aspect for the concert will be delivered by the TEens, young voices of Temple Emanuel Newton coached by Eugenia Gerstein, who has been the Choral director and music educator for 25 years at Temple Emanuel.  Eugenia graduated from Ural Conservatory magna cum laude with a master’s degree in choral conducting and received her bachelor’s degree in music education and in Teaching music theory from Moscow Music teachers’ College. She also holds a diploma in Piano playing from Moscow Music school.  A native of Moscow, Eugenia came to the USA in 1994 with her son Kirill Gerstein, a music prodigy, who became the youngest student at Berklee College of Music at age 14. Subsequently Kirill Gerstein has become a world renown pianist, performing with leading orchestras. In 1997 her husband, Leonid was allowed to leave Russia and was reunited with Eugenia and Kirill. In addition to her work at Temple Emanuel, Eugenia works with Solomon Schechter Day School and has a private piano studio in Newton.Choral members, David Rosemberg, Maia Leibler-Tolea, Liora Russcol, Rebecca Gansner, and Max Stober will be performing songs of love and friendship from around the world.  The concert finale will be a performance of one of the world’s favorite songs done in a collaboration with all the artists. Tickets for this vibrant concert may be obtained here at www.newtonculture.org

FEB. 15 (7:30): LYSISTRATA (THE NUDE GODDESS)

Join Odyssey Opera’s voyage to an island you might be familiar with. Mark Adamo’s second opera premiered in 2005 to high praise. Alex Rose of the The New Yorker praised it saying, “It’s shocking how deep this seemingly lighthearted opera goes.” In this a radical reinvention, an already scandalous drama of war and love blossoms into 21^st Century relevance and deepens into an exploration of the human condition. Adama remarks, “I love Lysistrata’s strut and wit and nerve, its utopian yearnings, its magical locale- an Acropolis where, by dream logic, a handful of couples can reconcile the love of the battlefield with the battlefield of love.” It is performed in collaboration with Boston Moderns Orchestra Project (BMOP). Tickets may be obtained at www.odysseyopera.org

MARCH 9 (6PM): ACADEMY OF ST MARTIN IN THE FIELDS & PIANIST BRUCE LIU IN CONCERT

Music Worcester presents one of the world’s most acclaimed chamber orchestras, Academy of St Martin in the Fields along with pianist Bruce Liu in concert at Mechanics Hall, at 321 Main Street in Worcester. The London-based Academy of St Martin in the Fields is renowned for fresh, brilliant interpretations of the world’s greatest orchestral music. Founded in 1958 by Sir Neville Marriner, the Academy of St Martin in the Fields has evolved into a musical powerhouse, an orchestra renowned across the world for its commitment to the musical freedom of its players and the sharing of joyful, inspiring performances. Their concert features a performance of Haydn’s Symphony No. 29 in E Major, Aaron Copland Quiet City, John Adams Shaker Loops, and Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with Bruce Liu as the soloist.

Bruce Liu/ pianist “Academy of St Martin in the Fields’ return to Worcester for the first time since 2015 serves as such an inspiring anchor concert of the season” states Adrien Finlay, Executive Director of Music Worcester. “Joined by the incredible pianist Bruce Liu, winner of the 2021 International Chopin Piano Competition, this program will particularly showcase the orchestra in works from the 20th century, from Shostakovich and Aaron Copland to John Adams, who was born here in Worcester. The Academy’s singular reputation, known to so many fans through their immense discography, will surely take full advantage of Mechanics Hall’s legendary acoustics.” Tickets for this outstanding concert can be obtained at www.musicworcester.org

MARCH 9 (3:00pm):PRO ARTE CHAMBER ORCHESTRA…CONIFER QUARTET

The Allen Center for Arts and Culture at 36 Webster Street in Newton brings, as part of Pro Arte’s intimate Salon Series, this performance that offers audiences the chance to experience a select group of Pro Arte’s exceptional musicians in an up-close and personal setting. The program features musical gems not included in the full orchestral Ensemble Series. Audiences will experience Mozart’s String Quartet No. 15 in D minor, K. 421, one of the most celebrated works in his chamber music repertoire. And too, Dvorak’s String Quartet No 13 in G major, his first work composed entirely in his native country after he returned home from the United States.The Conifer Quartet consists of violinist Lisa Goddard; 2^nd chair violinist, Colin Davis; viollist,  Anne Black; and cellist, Steven Laven. All musicians boast a stunning list of awards, and performance credits as well an impressive resume of affiliations with notes Orchestras. Pro Arte is a professional, musician-led cooperative chamber orchestra that shares its passion for music through exceptional performances that enrich, engage, and educate.For tickets to what promises to be an exceptional concert go her to www.proarte.org

FEB. 14(8pm): IMANI WINDS AND BOSTON BRASS IN CONCERT

Music Worcester welcomes these two exemplary ensembles, Imani Wind (pictured Left)  and Boston Bras (pictured Right) for a concert showcasing the variety of classical and contemporary music written for wind and brass instruments. Tuckerman Hall, located at 10 Tuckerman Street in Worcester hosts this extraordinary concert. Grammy-Award winning Imani Winds rejoins forces with longtime friends Boston Brass in this brand-new collaboration. Each group will separately and collaboratively showcase works by Khachatuarian and Bach, de Falla and Piazzolla, all culminating with a performance of a new commissioned piece. That will be directed by musical icon and 2024 Kennedy Center honoree Arturo Sandoval.“Bringing these two ensembles to the stage together is a delight” says Music Worcester Executive Director Adrien Finlay. “These groups are extraordinary not only in their sound but in their efforts to perform and premiere works by living composers. Welcoming back to our stage Boston Brass and introducing Imani Winds on the heels of their 2024 GRAMMY win, this double feature is a performance that will excite listeners of all genres.” In addition, both ensembles will be participating in Music Worcester’s education and outreach program with area students.  On February 14th, Boston Brass will be holding a masterclass with music students at Worcester’s Burncoat High School, while Imani Winds will hold a masterclass at Auburn High School.  “I am absolutely thrilled to welcome Boston Brass for this incredible masterclass opportunity with my orchestra,” said Meredith Lord, Burncoat High School’s music magnet director. “Our students will gain so much from working with such a renowned group. What makes this even more special is that our own brass ensemble will have the honor of performing for them, allowing us to share our passion and hard work. It’s a dream come true for both my students and me, and I can’t wait to see the magic unfold as we all learn from these incredible musicians!” Imani Winds is the 2024 GRAMMY® winner in the Classical Compendium category for Jeff Scott’s “Passion for Bach and Coltrane” released on their recently formed record label, Imani Winds Media. Celebrating over a quarter century of music making, the group has led both a revolution and evolution of the wind quintet through their adventurous programming, imaginative collaborations and outreach endeavors that have inspired audiences of all ages and backgrounds.  The ensemble members include  Brandon Patrick George, flute; oboist Toyin Spellman-Diaz (an original member); Mark Dover, clarinet; Kevin Newton, french horn; and Monica Ellis, bassoon. Boston Brass was founded in 1986 by a group of Boston University music students who set out to establish a one-of-a-kind musical experience, featuring colorful classical arrangements, burning jazz standards, and the best of original brass repertoire.  Music education is at the core of Boston Brass’s identity and the quintet conducts sessions, including masterclasses and residencies around the world, from Rochester, NY to Singapore and many places in-between.  Boston Brass are made up of José Sibaja, trumpet; founding member Jeff Conner, trumpet; Chris Castellanos, horn; Domingo Pagliuca, trombone; and William Russell, tuba. Tickets for this upbeat, exciting concert may be purchased at www.musicworcester.org