Mainly Mozart program might well be called "minimally Mozart"

The coming Mainly Mozart series program at the Seattle Symphony might well be called "minimally Mozart" this time: Only one of the three works on the program is by the master of the series title. Along with Mozart's Symphony No. 38 in D Major, the Symphony and music director Gerard Schwarz will perform the C.P.E. Bach Flute Concerto and Beethoven's Symphony No. 4 in B-Flat Major.

Mozart's Symphony No. 38 is nicknamed the "Prague," after the city of its composition — a city Mozart loved because of its citizens' deep appreciation of his music. "People here talk of nothing else but Figaro, nothing else is played, trumpeted, sung and whistled but Figaro, no other opera is frequented but Figaro!" Mozart exulted in one of his letters, extolling the popularity of his opera "The Marriage of Figaro." He conducted the premiere of his "Prague" Symphony himself; later, his operas "Don Giovanni" and "La Clemenza di Tito" were also premiered in Prague, among other works. When the composer died, more than 4,000 Prague residents gathered at a requiem Mass in his honor.

Beethoven's odd-numbered symphonies — especially the Third ("Eroica"), the mighty Fifth and exuberant Seventh, and the epoch Ninth — tend to outrank the even-numbered symphonies in power, impact and frequency of performance. The Beethoven Fourth may be one of the least-performed of the nine symphonies; Schumann famously called it "a slender Greek maiden between two Norse gods." The Fourth, commissioned by a nobleman who liked the Second, is primarily a whimsical, jolly symphony, composed during a rare period of happiness for the composer.

C.P.E. (Carl Philipp Emanuel) Bach, the second of Bach's surviving sons and probably the most successful composer of his siblings, straddled both the baroque and classical periods. He composed more than 300 works for King Frederick the Great of Prussia, who was an enthusiastic and capable flutist. Among those works is the D Minor Concerto, which will be heard here with the orchestra's principal flutist, Scott Goff, as soloist. Goff, who joined the orchestra 39 years ago and holds a master's degree from the Juilliard School, has often played solo engagements with the Symphony, as well as with the Mostly Mozart Festival.

Concert details: 7:30 p.m. Thursday and 8 p.m. March 1, Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., Seattle; $17-$76 (206-215-4747, toll-free at 866-833-4747, or www.seattlesymphony.org). Student and senior rush discount tickets, subject to availability, go on sale in person at the Seattle Symphony ticket office at 6 p.m. prior to evening performances.

From Russia, with strings

Two Russian-oriented ensembles are playing this weekend. The first is the Seattle Violin Virtuosi, led by one of the Seattle Symphony's busiest players, violinist/conductor Michael Miropolsky, in the group's 10th -anniversary concert on Sunday, called "Crème de la Crème," at the cozy Kirkland Performance Center. The Virtuosi, a 12-member group containing several Seattle Symphony violinists and other top regional players, performs a program of popular encores by Bach, Elgar, Kreisler, Piazzolla, Shostakovich and others.

These short works, drawn from the repertoire of piano, symphonic, opera and ballet, are scored for two, three and four voices with piano. The violin ensemble is a popular tradition in Miropolsky's native Russia, a tradition he wanted to continue here in Seattle.

Concert details: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Kirkland Performance Center, 350 Kirkland Ave., Kirkland; $10-$25 (425-893-9900 or www.kpcenter.org).

The second Russian ensemble is the brand-new Russian Chamber Music Foundation, which presents an enticing inaugural concert on Saturday at Benaroya. Founded by pianist and artistic director Natalya Ageyeva, the Foundation is dedicated solely to the works of Russian composers; the first concert, called "Winter Nights," features Ageyeva with the popular Seattle Symphony principal cellist Joshua Roman and New York-based violinist Arnaud Sussmann (a member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center). They'll play Tchaikovsky's "Souvenir d'un lieu cher," Op. 42, for violin and piano; Prokofiev's Cello Sonata, Op.119; Shostakovich's Piano Trio in E-minor, Op. 67; Rimsky-Korsakov's "Flight of the Bumblebee" for cello and piano; and Tchaikovsky's Waltz-Scherzo, Op. 34, for violin and piano.

Concert details: 8 p.m. Saturday, Nordstrom Recital Hall at Benaroya Hall; $27 (www.brownpapertickets.com; information, www.russianchambermusic.org).

Hot 16th-century music

That's what the Baltimore Consort is promising for its Early Music Guild performance on Tuesday at Town Hall, where the concert will include music of 16th-century Spain. They are bringing along the Brazilian countertenor Jose Lemos, who was a popular favorite in the role of Ottone last season when the Guild presented the Monteverdi opera "The Coronation of Poppea."

Concert details: 8 p.m. Tuesday, Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., Seattle; $15-$35 (206-325-7066 or www.earlymusicguild.org).

Side by side — for free

The University of Washington Symphony will perform a side-by-side free public concert tonight in Meany Theater, where Peter Erös conducts Mahler's big First Symphony (as well as Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K. 466, featuring the University Symphony with doctoral piano student Rie Ando). The Seattle Symphony will join the University Symphony for the Mahler in the second half of the program.

Concert details: 7:30 p.m. today, Meany Theater, UW campus (information, www.music.washington.edu).

Melinda Bargreen: mbargreen@seattletimes.com