Russian superstar
She's still in her early 30s, but Russian violinist Alina Ibragimova has already built a formidable reputation. Ibragimova is a Bach specialist, so the Bach sonata launching her recital is familiar territory. From there, a sense of discovery kicks in, with works by Brahms, Schumann and John Cage taking listeners to areas that Ibragimova has not yet explored on her recordings. She will appear with her regular recital partner, fastidious young French pianist Cédric Tiberghien. (4 p.m. Sun., St. Anthony Park United Church of Christ, St. Paul; $21-$31, 651-292-3268 or schubert.org)
Sacred spaces for song
Emmanuel Louis Masqueray was a French architect who emigrated to America in his mid-20s and landed permanently in Minnesota. Twin Cities vocal group the Rose Ensemble honors his memory by performing in four of the churches he designed here, including the Cathedral of St. Paul and the Basilica of St. Mary. The focus is French baroque music written for Lent, when theaters traditionally closed and composers turned their attention to writing religious works. The program features music by Charpentier and Couperin as well as less familiar composers Bournonville and Dumont. (7:30 p.m. Thu., Cathedral of St. Paul, St. Paul; 7:30 p.m. Fri., St. Francis Catholic Church in Benson, Minn.; 8 p.m. Sat., Basilica of St. Mary, Mpls.; 3 p.m. Sun., Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul; $10-$38, roseensemble.org)
Lunch break with Brahms
Promising young pianist Osip Nikiforov was born in Siberia, but attended high school in Faribault, Minn. And now he'll take a break from his piano studies at the University of Minnesota to attack a pinnacle of the repertoire, Brahms' Third Sonata, in a free lunchtime recital for the Schubert Club. (Noon Thu.; Landmark Center, St. Paul; free, schubert.org)
Music from the Americas
St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral continues its admirable music series with a concert featuring the Ladyslipper Ensemble. This Twin Cities chamber music collective will perform works representing North America and South America. That includes music by Ives, Weill, Barber, Gershwin, Piazzolla and Paul Schoenfield as well as Minneapolis composer David Evan Thomas. (7:30 p.m. Sat., St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral, Mpls.; $10, ourcathedral.org)
Denk plays Beethoven
Sparkling virtuosity and intellectual insight — these virtues define the playing of New York pianist Jeremy Denk. The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra artistic partner returns to town for a string of concerts combining solo piano works by Bach with Shostakovich's Chamber Symphony, op. 73a, and Beethoven's Fourth Piano Concerto. (11 a.m. & 8 p.m. Fri., 8 p.m. Sat., Ordway Concert Hall, St. Paul; 3 p.m. Sun., St. Andrew's Lutheran Church, Mahtomedi; $13-$53, 651-291-1144 or thespco.org)
TERRY BLAIN
