Classical Picks

The N.C. Symphony's final pops concert of the season in Meymandi Concert Hall tonight (repeated Saturday night and Sunday afternoon) should have a lot of appeal for the classical crowd. Music director Grant Llewellyn conducts a program of works by Bernstein, Elgar, de Falla, Stravinsky, Chabrier and the orchestra's own Terry Mizesko. The twist is that the guest stars are from within the orchestra. A number of the players get a chance to shine in everything from flamenco dancing to bluegrass fiddlin' and pickin'. David Hartman, popular TV host and now voice of the symphony on radio, is also on hand to narrate selections from Walton's "Façade."

Tuesday brings the final concert of the season for the N.C. Master Chorale, featuring a Nordic theme. Grieg's "Four Psalms" and Rautavaara's "Suite de Lora" represent Norway and Finland respectively, and there are Danish and Swedish compositions on the program as well, all led by director Alfred E. Sturgis in Raleigh's St. Michael's Episcopal Church.

In preparation for its full production of Puccini's "Madama Butterfly" at the end of the month, the Opera Company of North Carolina has its last "Taste of Opera" at the Sheraton Raleigh Hotel Thursday night. The evening includes dinner and a talk by the company's artistic staff about the music, characters and history of one of opera's most popular works.