Bion Tsang

If you’re a serious cellist, you can’t not tackle the Bach Suites, six collections of six movements each: unpretentious dances on the surface with a harmonic, contrapuntal and emotional complexity underneath that you can spend a lifetime probing and mastering. Tsang, a Seattle Chamber Music Society regular, always impresses with the intelligence and fervor of his playing. Seattle audiences have been blessed in recent seasons with amazing performances of the Suites by cellists from Haimovitz to Rostropovich; Tsang should hold his own in that company as he offers all six on this special SCMS concert. Benaroya Recital Hall, Third and Union, 206-283-8808. $16-$35. 7:30 p.m. Sat. Jan. 15.

Renee Fleming

Featuring one of the most opulent and glorious voices of our time, this soprano’s recital would be worth it just for the aria “Calm thou thy soul” from Handel’s Alexander Balus (one of my favorite CD tracks of 2004). Her eclectic program also offers songs by Schumann, André Previn, and that old familiar pairing of Alban Berg and John Kander. With pianist Hartmut Höll. Benaroya Hall, Third and Union, 206-215-4747. $35-$95. 7:30 p.m. Tues. Jan. 18.