Classical Corner

Ars Viva Symphony: Alan Heatherington leads a musical tour of Hungary and Finland that includes Bela Bartok's Piano Concerto No. 3 (Lori Kaufman, soloist), Sibelius' seldom-performed Symphony No. 6 and his popular "Finlandia." 4:30 p.m. Sunday at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie; $44-$70; 847-673-6300, arsviva.org

Chicago Symphony Orchestra: The final winter program holds Stravinsky's "Fairy's Kiss" Divertimento, Varese's "Arcana" and Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 2, with the extraordinary Leif Ove Andsnes as soloist and Gianandrea Noseda conducting; 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; $28-$239. Esa-Pekka Salonen directs the Chicago premiere of his own recent Violin Concerto (a CSO co-commission). The extraordinary Leila Josefowicz, for whom the work was written, is soloist on a program that includes Debussy's "Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun" and Sibelius' Symphony No. 2; 8 p.m. Thursday (repeated Feb. 26); $24-$207. Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.; 312-294-3000, cso.org

Chicago Symphony — Afterwork Masterworks: This early-evening precis of Esa-Pekka Salonen's subscription program holds the CSO premiere of his own Violin Concerto (Leila Josefowicz, soloist) and Sibelius' Second Symphony. 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave. $45-$92; 312-294-3000, cso.org

Joyce DiDonato: The wonderful American mezzo-soprano makes her Chicago recital debut with songs and arias by Haydn, Chaminade, Hahn and Gioachino Rossini, whose music she sings peerlessly. David Zobel is her pianist. 7:30 p.m. Friday in Mandel Hall, University of Chicago, 1131 E. 57th St.; $35; 773-702-8068, chicagopresents.uchicago.edu

Elgin Symphony Orchestra: Michael Berkowitz conducts, with Rich Ridenour, piano, in film scores by Riddle, Williams and others. 8 p.m. Friday at Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg; and 8 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at The Hemmens, 150 Dexter Court, Elgin; $16-$68; 847-888-4000, elginsymphony.org

Highland Park Strings: CSO concertmaster Robert Chen headlines the orchestra's annual benefit concert, playing Beethoven's beloved Violin Concerto. The all-Beethoven program also includes the Seventh Symphony. Francesco Milioto conducts. 3 p.m. Sunday at Bennett-Gordon Hall, Ravinia, 200-231 Ravinia Park Road, Highland Park; $40; 847-831-3810, hpstrings.org

International Chamber Artists: Performing works by Cesar Franck and Morton Gould. 3 p.m. Sunday at St. James Cathedral, 65 E. Huron St.; donations accepted; 773-727-5357, icamusic.org

Kodo: The famed Japanese drumming ensemble, returning to downtown Chicago after sold-out performances here in 2005 and 2009, presents its 30th-anniversary "One Earth Tour." 7 p.m. Monday at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.; $25-$80; 312-294-3000, cso.org

Ann Schein: The veteran pianist performs a recital of Beethoven, Ravel, Debussy, Liszt and Chopin. 8 p.m. Friday at Fine Arts Center Recital Hall, Northeastern Illinois University, 3701 W. Bryn Mawr Ave.; $25, $15 for seniors; 773-442-4636, boxoffice.neiu.edu

SoloDuo: Classical guitarists Matteo Mela and Lorenzo Micheli perform works for one and two guitars. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, Northwestern University, 50 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston; $22, $19 for seniors; 847-467-4000, pickstaiger.org

Symphony of Oak Park and River Forest: Jay Friedman conducts Tchaikovsky's "Manfred" and Violin Concerto, with Yang Liu as soloist. 4 p.m. Sunday at United Lutheran Church, 409 Greenfield Road, Oak Park; $20-$25, $15 for seniors; 708-218-2648

Jason Vieaux: The guitarist is in recital. 8 p.m. Friday at Wentz Concert Hall, North Central College, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville; $20-$25; 630-637-7469, northcentralcollege.edu/showtix