Dec. 11--Featured pick
Lira Singers: The group celebrates its 50th season with a festive concert of Polish carols, songs and dances, assisted by the Lira Dancers and Lira Symphony, with English narration. 3 p.m. Sunday, Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph St.; $25-$50; 773-508-7040, liraensemble.org
Also recommended
Apollo Chorus of Chicago: Stephen Alltop directs a beloved yuletide tradition -- Handel's "Messiah," with orchestra and vocal soloists. 3 p.m. Saturday, Orchestra Hall, 220 S. Michigan Ave. (repeated Dec. 20 at Harris Theater for Music and Dance); $18-$80; 312-427-5620, 312-294-3000.
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center: The New York virtuosos bring the complete Bach "Brandenburg" Concertos to downtown Chicago, for a second year. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph St.; $10-$50; 312-334-7777, harristheaterchicago.org
Chicago a cappella: Guest music director Paul Nicholson leads Christmas carols, spirituals, Chanukah songs and more. 8 p.m. Friday, Fourth Presbyterian Church, 26 E. Chestnut St.; 8 p.m. Saturday, Rockefeller Memorial Chapel, 5850 S. Woodlawn Ave.; and 8 p.m. Dec. 20, Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave., Evanston; 773-281-7820, chicagoacappella.org
Chicago Chamber Choir: The chorus under Timm Adams presents its annual "Carols by Candlelight: A Holiday Sing-Along." 7:30 p.m. Thursday, St. Mathias Parish, 2310 W. Ainslie St. (repeated Dec. 20 in Evanston and Dec. 21 in Chicago); $20 in advance, $25 at the door, $10 for students; chicagochamberchoir.org
Chicago Master Singers: Alan Heatherington directs the chorus' annual Christmas concerts, assisted by the Ars Viva Symphony. 7:30 p.m. Friday and 7 p.m. Sunday, Chapel of the Holy Spirit, Divine Word at Techny Towers, 2001 Waukegan Rd., Techny; $28-$48 regular and seniors, $15-$48 students; 800-595-4849, chicagomastersingers.org
Chicago Symphony Orchestra: Beethoven's Seventh Symphony shares the program with Haydn's Symphony No. 93 and Richard Strauss' "Don Juan," under the baton of Manfred Honeck; 1:30 p.m. Friday, 8 p.m. Saturday and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday; $33-$249. CSO principal percussionist Cynthia Yeh is soloist for the CSO premiere of James MacMillan's "Veni, Veni, Emmanuel." Carlos Miguel Prieto also conducts works by Prokofiev, Revueltas and Lutoslawski; 8 p.m. (Thursday (repeated Dec. 19-20); $29-$216. Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.; 312-294-3000, cso.org
CSO Brass: The orchestra's fabled brass virtuosos present traditional brass music and arrangements of symphonic works. 3 p.m. Thursday, Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.; $33-$116; 312-294-3000, cso.org
CSO "Welcome Yule!": It's the 20th anniversary of Orchestra Hall's popular holiday celebration, with old Christmas favorites sharing the program with new surprises. Duain Wolfe leads orchestra members, the Chicago Symphony Chorus, children's voices, dancers and other ensembles. 3 p.m. Saturday, and 1:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Sunday (repeated Dec. 19-23); $35-$125; 312-294-3000, cso.org
CUBE Ensemble: The Chicago vocal trio Artemisia performs folk and sacred vocal music. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Grace Episcopal Church, 637 S. Dearborn (repeated at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19, St. Josephat Church, 2311 N. Southport Ave.); 312-922-1426, cubeensemble.com
Elgin Symphony Orchestra: Stephen Squires leads the annual potpourri of family-oriented holiday favorites. 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin; $25-$60, 847-888-4000, elginsymphony.org
William Ferris Chorale: The chorus' Christmas program, "Now Make We Mirth," includes favorite carols and rare gems, including the U.S. premiere of John Joubert's "Five Songs of Incarnation." Paul French conducts. 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Madonna Della Strada Chapel, Loyola University, 1032 W. Sheridan Road (repeated Dec. 13 in Chicago and Dec. 14 in La Grange); $25-$30, discounts for seniors and students; 773-508-2940, williamferrischorale.org
Lakeside Singers: The a cappella group toasts the season with carols from England, Italy and Slovenia, along with music of Haydn and Morten Lauridsen. 8 p.m. Friday, Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave., Evanston; and 8 p.m. Monday, Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell, Arlington Heights (repeated Dec. 19 in Chicago and Dec. 20 in Naperville); $35, $25 seniors and students, $10 children; lakesidesingers.com
Lyric Opera -- "Anna Bolena": A new production of Donizetti's bel canto masterpiece features Sondra Radvanovsky as the doomed Anne Boleyn, Jamie Barton as Jane Seymour and John Relyea as King Henry VIII. Patrick Summers conducts, Kevin Newbury directs. Through Jan. 16 at the Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive; $34-$244; $20-$40 children; 312-827-5600, lyricopera.org
Lyric Opera -- "Porgy and Bess": Catfish Row comes alive in Francesca Zambello's lively production of the Gershwins' iconic American opera. Ward Stare conducts, with Eric Owens and Adina Aaron in the title roles. Through Dec. 20 at the Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive; $34-$244, $20-$40 children; 312-827-5600, lyricopera.org
Music of the Baroque: Chorus master William Jon Gray directs MOB's most popular tradition, the annual holiday brass and choral concerts. 8 p.m. Thursday, Grace Lutheran Church, 7300 Division St., River Forest (repeated Dec. 19 in Chicago and Dec. 20-21 in Northbrook); $30-$90; 312-551-1414, baroque.org
Ravinia BGH Classics: The series salutes the holidays with the Glen Ellyn-based children's chorus, Anima. 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Bennett Gordon Hall, Ravinia, Green Bay and Lake Cook roads, Highland Park; $10; 847-266-5100, ravinia.org
jvonrhein@tribune.com
Twitter @jvonrhein
