Classical roundup: Simple Measures is here and there; the NSO helps middle-schoolers shine

Simple Measures skips around town, Northwest Symphony Orchestra introduces a new composition by middle-schoolers, and Portland Baroque hooks up with harpsichordist Rinaldo Alessandrini.

Simple Measures

(206-853-5672 or www.simplemeasures.org)

The intriguing, innovative Simple Measures, a chamber- music ensemble that, in its own words, offers "themed, high-quality chamber performances with audience interaction in intimate, informal neighborhood locales," presents the "Air" portion of its current elements-of-life season this weekend. Clarinetist Sean Osborn will lead a promising program featuring composer Thomas Albert's "13 ways," inspired by the Wallace Stevens poem "13 Ways of Looking at a Blackbird." The musicians will appear in three performances in three settings in Seattle. After Saturday's matinee, KUOW-FM's Dave Beck and Marcie Sillman will lead a Front Row Center discussion (part of the public radio station's community outreach). Stick around and join in. 7:30 p.m. Friday (Northgate Community Center, 10510 Fifth Ave. N.E., Seattle); 2 p.m. Saturday (Kenyon Hall, 7904 35th Ave. S.W., West Seattle); and 7 p.m. April 18 (Golden Gardens, 8498 Seaview Place N.W. and Golden Gardens Park Road, Seattle). $10-$28.

Northwest Symphony Orchestra

Highline Performing Arts Center, 401 S. 152nd St., Burien (800-838-3006 or www.brownpapertickets.com; info: www.northwestsymphonyorchestra.org)

East Meets West — Music of the Pacific Rim: Winner of seven national ASCAP awards for programming and performing works by local composers, the NWSO partners with the Pacific Middle School wind ensemble to compose and jointly perform, on April 23, an original composition by students. "Battle of the Beast Within," funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, will include 40-plus students from Pacific along with NWSO musicians. The rest of the concert includes two pieces by Northwest composers: Stafford Miller's "Tempestuous Timpanist," featuring Seattle Symphony Orchestra principal timpanist Mike Crusoe; and Gloria Swisher's "Snow Country (Yukiguni)," featuring Shiho Kurauchi on koto. Also on the bill: Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5. 7:30 p.m. April 23. $10-$14. Teachers, get free student tickets by calling 206-242-6321.

Seattle Symphony Orchestra

Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., Seattle (206-215-4747 or www.seattlesymphony.org)

Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4: Guest conductor Gilbert Varga leads a program of Beethoven, Enescu and Stravinsky. 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. $9-$100.

Beethoven's Fifth: Conductor Ludovic Morlot returns for a bill of Beethoven, Dutilleux and Verdi. 7:30 p.m. Thursday and 8 p.m. April 24. An abridged version of the program, with comments from the podium by Morlot, is at 2 p.m. April 25. $17-$100.

Xavier Phillips in Recital: The guest cellist in SSO's "Beethoven's Fifth" show performs a program of Poulenc, Debussy and Ravel. 8 p.m. April 23. $19-$29.

Tiny Tots — Gallop and Go: A symphonic adventure for kids 5 and younger and their families. 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. April 23-24, plus a 1 p.m. show on April 24. $12.

Early Music Guild

Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave. (at Seneca Street) Seattle (206-325-7066 or www.earlymusicguild.org)

Portland Baroque with Rinaldo Alessandrini: Harpsichordist Alessandrini joins a sextet of Portland Baroque's finest artists in a program of Bach, Vivaldi and others. A preconcert lecture begins at 7 p.m. 8 p.m. Saturday. $20-$38.

Philharmonia Northwest

St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 4805 N.E. 45th St., Seattle (tickets and info at 206-675-9727 or www.philharmonianw.org)

Concert V: Philharmonia Northwest's final concert of the season presents Les Martin on St. Stephen's organ for a program of Handel, Franck and Elgar. 2:30 p.m. Sunday. $12-$18.

Tom Keogh: tomwkeogh@yahoo.com