We’re shaking off the last of the snow as the spring concert season takes off across the Philadelphia region, offering a real mix of musical experiences this week. From the Renaissance brilliance of Piffaro and Marc-André Hamelin’s virtuosic take on Liszt to the adventurous contemporary programs of Alarm Will Sound and Owls, there is something here for everyone. (To get Fanfare in your inbox, subscribe here.)
Spotlight: Piffaro - Ferrara: Splendor of the Renaissance — Friday in Rittenhouse Square, Saturday in Chestnut Hill, Sunday in Wilmington, DE
In the 15th and 16th centuries, the powerful D’Este family ruled Ferrara in northern Italy, presiding over one of Europe’s most dazzling cultural courts. Painters such as Titian, composers including Josquin and Willaert, and a vibrant community of poets, scientists, architects, and philosophers flourished under their patronage. This week Piffaro recreates the sound world of that remarkable court, transporting audiences to Renaissance Ferrara through the music that once filled its palaces and chapels.
March 13 at 7:30 p.m., Church of the Holy Trinity, 1904 Walnut Street; March 14 at 7:30 p.m., Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill, 8855 Germantown Avenue; March 15 at 3 p.m., Christ Church Christiana Hundred, 505 E. Buck Road, Wilmington, DE. $25 to $49, free to youth and students; tickets and information.
Pinchas Zukerman and Shai Wosner — Tuesday, Perelman Theater
Pinchas Zukerman has had a five-decade career as a violinist, violist, conductor and chamber musician, and he returns to Philadelphia with the impressive pianist Shai Wosner for an evening devoted to Johannes Brahms. The duo performs all three of his violin sonatas: intimate and deeply expressive works Brahms wrote for his friend, the legendary violinist Joseph Joachim.
March 10 at 7:30 p.m., Perelman Theater, Kimmel Center. Limited-view seating options available. To purchase tickets, call the box office at 215-569-8080; more information.
The Concordia Choir — Tuesday, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Harrisburg, PA
The acclaimed Concordia Choir from Concordia College in Minnesota stops in Harrisburg on its national tour. Directed by Michael Culloton, this undergraduate a cappella ensemble presents a varied program including works by J.S. Bach, John Rutter, Lucy Walker, Susan LaBarr, Cedric Dent, and former music director René Clausen.
March 10 at 7 p.m., St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Harrisburg, PA, $28.52 to $44.52 (students free); tickets and information.
Owls — Wednesday, American Philosophical Society
If the name alone doesn’t intrigue you, Owls will. This inventive ensemble performs as an “inverted” quartet — two cellos, one violin, and one viola — creating a distinctive sound world that allows for adventurous programming. Their PCMS debut spans music from François Couperin to the contemporary duo Trollstilt, blending early music, inventive arrangements, and bold new works.
March 11, 7:30 p.m., American Philosophical Society, $27; tickets and information.
Liszt’s Piano Fireworks — Thursday and Saturday, Marian Anderson Hall
The Philadelphia Orchestra with Yannick Nézet-Séguin and pianist Marc-André Hamelin reunite for Franz Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 2, a virtuosic showpiece perfectly suited to Hamelin’s legendary technique and searching musical imagination. The program also includes Amy Beach’s Gaelic Symphony and the overture to Carl Maria von Weber’s Der Freischütz.
March 12 at 7:30 p.m., March 14 at 8 p.m., Marian Anderson Hall; $29 to $196; tickets and information.
Alarm Will Sound — Friday, Zellerbach Theater
The adventurous chamber ensemble Alarm Will Sound presents American Stories, a program exploring heritage, memory, struggle, and transformation through bold contemporary works. Interdisciplinary artist Bora Yoon and alternative R&B vocalist serpentwithfeet join the ensemble for a genre-crossing performance that blends instrumental music, voice, and multimedia elements to reflect the evolving landscape of American identity.
March 13 at 7:30pm, Zellerbach Theater, Penn Live Arts, $45 to $91; tickets and information.
Vox Ama Deus: Brilliant Baroque — Saturday in Chestnut Hill, Sunday in Wayne
Vox Ama Deus, led by Valentin Radu, presents a lively program of concertos by Vivaldi, Telemann, Pergolesi, Avison, Brescianello, and Marcello, showcasing the rich colors and variety of 17th- and 18th-century music.
March 14 at 7:30 p.m., Church of St. Martin‑in‑the‑Fields, Chestnut Hill; Sunday, March 15 at 7 p.m., St. Katharine of Siena Church, Wayne; $12 to $32; tickets and information.
Lyric Fest: Dream Keeper — Saturday at Race Street Meeting House, Sunday at Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral
Celebrate the 125th anniversary of Langston Hughes, a central voice of the Harlem Renaissance, with Singing City and Lyric Fest. The program features Singing City, lead by Artistic and Music Director Rollo Dilworth, as well as soprano Charlene Canty, baritone Kenneth Overton, and pianist Laura Ward alongside narrators Charlotte Blake Alston and Rev. Chaz Howard for a special performance that brings Hughes’s poetry and letters to life through choral works, art songs, and spoken word, highlighting his enduring impact on American literature, music, and culture.
March 14 at 3 p.m., Race Street Meeting House; March 15 at 3 p.m., Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral, $32; tickets and information.
Dolce Suono Ensemble: Celebration! — March 15, Trinity at 22nd
The Dolce Suono Ensemble presents a festive chamber program featuring music by Bach, Schubert, and Saint-Saëns, as well as Strauss, Ravel and Muczynski. The performance brings together a wonderful group of artists, including flutist Mimi Stillman, soprano Sarah Shafer, clarinetist Ricardo Morales, violinist Amy Oshiro-Morales, and pianist Charles Abramovic.
March 15 at 3 p.m., Trinity at 22nd, 2212 Spruce Street, $10 to $30; tickets and information.
David Kim and Friends — March 15, Bunker Hill Presbyterian Church, Sewell, N.J.
David Kim, concertmaster of The Philadelphia Orchestra, joins colleagues Burchard Tang (viola) and Priscilla Lee (cello) for an engaging chamber program featuring Dohnányi’s Serenade for String Trio, the virtuosic Handel/Halvorsen Passacaglia, and Beethoven’s String Trio in C minor, Op. 9 No. 3.
March 15 at 3 p.m., Bunker Hill Presbyterian Church, Sewell, N.J.; $30 ($5 students); tickets and information.
