Baroque flute
The mellow sound of the baroque flute can be heard in a recital by David Ross with harpsichordist Jeffrey Grossman. Flute sonatas by J.S. Bach and his son C.P.E. Bach anchor the program, plus solo harpsichord pieces by Froberger and J.S. Bach. (7:30 p.m. Mon. Baroque Room, St. Paul. $5-$25, thebaroqueroom.com.)
Brandenburg Concertos
Widely regarded as the greatest orchestral compositions of the baroque period, Bach's "Brandenburg" concertos overflow with exuberance and instrumental colors. Playing them has become a holiday tradition at the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, which bundles all six concertos for a single evening of entertainment. The concertos are played without a conductor, giving SPCO soloists a chance to shine in virtuoso parts for flute, horn, harpsichord and viola. (7:30 p.m. Thu. Temple Israel, Mpls.; 8 p.m. Sat. Ordway Concert Hall, St. Paul; 2 p.m. Sun. Benson Great Hall, Bethel University, Arden Hills. $5-$50; 651-291-1144, thespco.org.)
Bilingual holiday
Two Twin Cities choirs — Border CrosSing and Minnesota Chorale — join forces for a Spanish-English take on Handel's "Messiah." Soloists Carrie Henneman Shaw, Nerea Berraondo, Nicholas Chalmers and Justin Staebell are joined by the musicians of the traditional Chilean band Alma Andina. Also featured is "Navidad Nuestra" by Ariel Ramirez. (8 p.m. Fri. Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, St. Paul; 8 p.m. Sat. Church of the Ascension, Mpls. $10-$20, bordercrossingmn.org.)
Christmas of yore
The songs and melodies of Christmases past echo through "And Glory Shone Around," a Rose Ensemble program surveying 300 years of American holiday music. Appalachian ballads, colonial carols, Shaker hymns and Irish fiddle tunes are featured, with accordionist Dan Chouinard accompanying the singers. (7:30 p.m. Sat. St. Andrew's Lutheran Church, Mahtomedi; 4 p.m. Sun. Paramount Center for the Arts, St. Cloud. $10-$25, roseensemble.org.)
TERRY BLAIN
