Classical listings and recommendations

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CLASSICAL

PLU Music: Vivat Musica

Polish Choir

TODAY The Vivat Musica Polish Choir sings in the warm acoustics of Lagerquist Concert Hall. 8 p.m. today, Lagerquist Concert Hall, 12180 Park Ave. S., Tacoma (253-535-7787 or www.plu.edu/music).

Seattle Symphony:

Sci-Fi Favorites

TODAY-SUN The Seattle Symphony Pops Series opens with a program devoted to music from sci-fi films and shows. George Takei is the narrator; Jack Everly conducts the music, primarily from the busy pen of John Williams ("E.T.," "Star Wars," etc.). 8 p.m. today, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, Benaroya Hall (S. Mark Taper Forum), 200 University St., Seattle; $17-$92 (206-215-4747 or www.seattlesymphony.org).

Crescendo!

Performing Ensemble

SAT Organist and pianist Mark Andersen joins English handbell artists Lynn Andersen and Nancy Kirkner for sacred and classical works. 7 p.m. Saturday, Resurrection Lutheran Church, 134 S. 206th St., Des Moines; free (425-485-6743 or www.intartists.com).

Gamelan Pacifica

SAT Seattle's long-running Indonesian percussion ensemble, led by Jarrad Powell, performs with Javanese composer/musician Sutrisno Hartana in works of traditional and contemporary origin. 8 p.m. Saturday, Good Shepherd Center, 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N., Seattle; $5-$15 (206-789-1939 or www.gamelanpacifica.org/gamelan/).

Seattle Classic Guitar Society: Jason Vieaux

SAT Guitarist Jason Vieaux opens the Seattle Classic Guitar Society recital season with a varied program extending from the baroque era to jazz guitarist Pat Metheny. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Benaroya Hall (Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall), 200 University St., Seattle; $24-$30 (800-838-3006 or www.brownpapertickets.com).

J. Melvin Butler, organist; and Brian Fairbanks, classical flute

SUN An all-Bach concert at St. Mark's Thomsen Chapel will offer two sonatas for flute and organ, a work for solo flute and three organ solos (with Mel Butler on the Marion Camp Oliver Organ and the Martin Pasi continuo organ). Brian Fairbanks plays a 19th-century wooden flute. 2:30 p.m. Sunday, St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral, 1245 10th Ave. E., Seattle; $10 (206-323-0300, ext. 220, or www.saintmarks.org).

Koszalin Cathedral Choir

SUN The Cantate Deo men's choir of St. Mary's Cathedral in Koszalin, Poland, performs a St. James concert as part of their first U.S. tour. 7:30 p.m. Sunday, St. James Cathedral, 804 Ninth Ave., Seattle; $20 (206-755-9813 or www.stjames-cathedral.org).

Opera Cafe: Arabian Qahwa

SUN The first of four "Opera Café" events will feature soprano Alice Murillo with pianist Alex Chadsey in music extending from Bellini ("Casta Diva," from "Norma") to Kurt Weill — some of it featuring coffee (selections from Bach's humorous "Coffee Cantata"). The show is directed/produced by Eduardo Khawam. 7 p.m. Sunday, Columbia Theatre/Gallery, 4916 Rainier Ave. S., Seattle; $25 (206-329-2410 or www.brownpapertickets.com).

PLU Music: Lila Moe

Memorial Concert

SUN Pacific Lutheran University faculty violinist Svend Rønning plays a recital to benefit the Lila Moe Scholarship Fund. 3 p.m. Sunday, Lagerquist Concert Hall, 12180 Park Ave. S., Tacoma; $3-$8 (253-535-7787 or www.plu.edu/music).

Starry Night Orchestra:

Music for a Starry Night

SUN A preseason promotional concert for the Skagit Opera, with highlights from the upcoming season, and guest conductor Emanuel Vardi on the podium. 3 p.m. Sunday, Lincoln Theatre, 712 S. First St., Mount Vernon; $5-$18 (360-336-8955).

Whatcom Symphony Orchestra

SUN The featured artists are the Glacier Bay Brass Quintet, Zephyr Winds, Saxquatch, Spinnaker Trombones and the Halberton String Quartet, in a program benefiting the Instrument Loan Program (providing instruments to young Whatcom County musicians). 3 p.m. Sunday, Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, 2600 Lakeway Drive, Bellingham; $10-$12 (360-756-6752 or www.whatcomsymphony.com/).

SLAM Pre-Festival Event: Carlos Sánchez-Gutiérrez

WED The Seattle Latin American Music Festival hosts a talk by resident composer Carlos Sánchez-Gutiérrez, who discusses the genesis of a composition from its origins to the final piece. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Benaroya Hall (Soundbridge), 200 University St., Seattle; free (425-454-1892 or www.slamfestival.org/).

PLU Music: Miho Takakawa, percussionist

THU Pacific Lutheran University's Artist Series features the percussionist Miho Takakawa in contemporary and other repertoire. 8 p.m. Thursday, Lagerquist Concert Hall, 12180 Park Ave. S., Tacoma; $3-$8 (253-535-7787 or www.plu.edu/music).

SLAM Festival

THU The Seattle Latin American Music Festival continues with a Solo Piano Extravaganza, featuring works of Ginastera, Piazzolla and many others for keyboard (the performers include Amy Rubin, Oksana Ezhokina and Cristina L. Valdes). 8 p.m. Thursday, Good Shepherd Center, 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N., Seattle; $5-$15 suggested donation (425-454-1892 or www.slamfestival.org/).

Seattle Symphony: Rachmaninoff Keyboard Fireworks

ENDS 9/30 The dynamic pianist Cecile Licad is heard in one of the most popular piano concertos in the repertoire: the mighty Rachmaninoff No. 2, with Gerard Schwarz and the Seattle Symphony. 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Runs through Sept. 30, Benaroya Hall (S. Mark Taper Forum), 200 University St., Seattle; $17-$110 (206-215-4747 or www.seattlesymphony.org).

Descriptions by Melinda Bargreen.

Compiled by Henry Han.

DANCE

sub rosa premiere

TODAY-SAT sub rosa is a multimedia piece directed by Seattle choreographer Cheronne Wong, exploring an international undercover world, masked identities and covert communication using numeric code. 8 p.m. today, Saturday. Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center, 104 17th Ave. S., Seattle; $12-$14 (800-838-3006 or www.brownpapertickets.com).

Pacific Northwest Ballet presents: "All Balanchine"

TODAY-SAT, THU PNB opens its 2007-08 season with three masterworks by George Balanchine: "Square Dance" (with music by Vivaldi and Corelli); "Prodigal Son" (Prokofiev); and "Ballet Imperial" (Tchaikovsky). 7:30 p.m. today, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Runs through Sept. 30, McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St., Seattle; $20-$150 (206-441-2424 or www.pnb.org).

Velocity Dance Center presents: The Fall Kick-Off Extravaganza

TODAY-SUN Eclectic mix of some of Seattle's most talented and charismatic dancers come together to benefit Velocity Dance Center's programs. At least five different artists show work each night, corralled by Seattle celebrity emcees. 8 p.m. today-Sunday, Velocity Dance Center, 915 E. Pine St., Seattle; $20 (206-325-8773 or www.velocitydancecenter.org).

Compiled by Christopher Taylor.

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