Classical, Etc.

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Seattle Opera The second most vexing problem in staging Jacques Offenbach’s The Tales of Hoffmann is which version to use. The composer hadn’t finished the opera when he died in 1880; various orchestrations, inclusions, and omissions—even the order of the acts—all have to be sorted out. The most vexing problem is how to cast it. As the title suggests, the piece is based on three short stories by German fantasist E.T.A. Hoffmann. The tales parallel one another; each one, plus the framing prologue/epilogue, includes a heroine, a nemesis, and a servant role, and it can be greatly effective to cast one singer in each slot—if you can find singers who can handle it. Seattle Opera did. For their production, Norah Amsellem sings all four lost loves, which altogether demand an intimidating range of color and style, from high-flying coloratura to weighty tragedy. Few sopranos attempt it. (Leah Partridge sings the four roles in the alternate cast, May 16.) SO’s 2005 staging of Hoffmann cast three separate sopranos as three of the heroines, leaving one a mute walk-on role (see what I mean about various versions? You can even choose to leave out some characters). That stunning and adored production, directed by Chris Alexander, is being revived as an opulent farewell for Speight Jenkins, who steps down as SO’s general director in September. GAVIN BORCHERT McCaw Hall, Seattle Center, 389-7676, seattleopera.org. $25–$220. 7:30 p.m. Wed., May 14, Fri., May 16, Sat., May 17.

UW Chamber Orchestra Two serenades (one for winds, one for strings) by Dvorak. Brechemin Auditorium, School of Music, UW campus, 685-8384, music.washington.edu. $5. 7:30 p.m. Wed., May 14.

Royal Opera House at the Movies From London, Placido Domingo sings the title role in Verdi’s Nabucco. See screenvision.com for participating theaters and exact times, Thurs., May 15.

WSU Wind Ensemble Crossing the state to play Gershwin. Benaroya Recital Hall, Third Ave. and Union St., 215-4747, seattlesymphony.org. $13–$21. 7:30 p.m. Thurs., May 15.

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Clarinet/Harp Quintet Specifically, three of one and two of the other, gathering for an evening of improv. Chapel Performance Space, 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N., 789-1939, waywardmusic.blogspot.com. 8 p.m. Thurs., May 15.

Seattle Symphony Ludovic Morlot conducts Haydn’s 70th and Mozart’s 36th. Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., 215-4747, seattlesymphony.org. $19 and up. 7:30 p.m. Thurs., May 15 & Sat., May 17.

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Northwest Sinfonietta Premieres of works by Gordon Chin and Thomas Pasatieri. Benaroya Recital Hall, Third Ave. and Union St., 866-833-4747, nwsinfonietta.org. $27–$55. 7:30 p.m. Fri., May 16.

Choral Arts Performing with the Pacifica Chamber Singers and premiering a work by John David Earnest.St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 732 18th Ave. E., choral-arts.org. $18–$25. 8 p.m. Fri., May 16.

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Seattle Symphony: Untitled Stockhausen’s creepy Gesang der Junglinge—an electronic collage of children’s voices—and more on the SSO’s final [untitled] concert of the season. Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., 215-4747, seattlesymphony.org. $20. 10 p.m. Fri., May 16.

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UW Opera In a collaboration with Pacific MusicWorks, Stephen Stubbs conducts Handel’s Semele. (We get Handel operas so rarely, it’s a shame this is the same one Seattle Opera’s doing next February.) Meany Hall, UW campus, 543-4880, music.washington.edu. $20–$40. 7:30 p.m. Fri., May 16–Sat., May 17, 2 p.m. Sun., May 18.

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Puget Sound Symphony Debussy, Rossini, and Gershwin’s Piano Concerto with soloist Sara Davis Buechner. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., psso.org. $5–$11. 7:30 p.m. Sat., May 17.

Seattle Wind Symphony Music on an outer-space theme: Holst, Sousa, and more. First Free Methodist Church, 3200 Third Ave. W., 800-838-3006, seattlewindsymphony.org. $5–$20. 7:30 p.m. Sat., May 17.

Market Street Singers Vivaldi and more with the Earthrise Choir and the Westside Unitarian Universalist Chorale. At Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 7141 California Ave. S.W., 7:30 p.m. Sat., May 17, and First Lutheran Church Ballard, 2006 N.W. 65th St., 4 p.m. Sun., May 18. Donation. marketstreetsingers.org.

Seattle Pro Musica Brahms’ German Requiem, with full orchestra. St. James Cathedral, 804 Ninth Ave., 800-838-3006, seattlepromusica.org. $15–$38. 8 p.m. Sat., May 17–Sun., May 18.

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Seattle Symphony At Seattle Center, collaborating with players from the Seattle Youth Symphony in music by Ravel and Tchaikovsky. Fisher Pavilion, seattlesymphony.org. Free. 2 p.m. Sun., May 18.

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Seattle Symphony From SSO players, chamber music by Brahms, Carter, and Mozart. Benaroya Recital Hall, 215-4747, seattlesymphony.org. $39. 2 p.m. Sun., May 18.

Master Chorus Eastside Music from and inspired by Africa. Pine Lake Covenant Church, 1715 228th Ave. S.E., Sammamish, 425-392-8446, masterchoruseastside.org. $15–$20. 3 p.m. Sun., May 18.

Mostly Nordic Chamber Music Series Finnish music for cello and piano. Nordic Heritage Museum, 3014 N.W. 67th St., 789-5707, nordicmuseum.org. $22–$27 ($47–$55 w/smorgasbord). 4 p.m. Sun., May 18.

Seattle Jewish Chorale Love songs by a highly eclectic mix of composers from Salamone Rossi (b. circa 1570) on forward. Temple Beth Am, 2630 N.E. 80th St., 800-838-3006, templebetham.org. $17–$20. 7 p.m. Sun., May 18.

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UW: Music of Today SEE THE PICK LIST, PAGE, 35.

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UW Ethnomusicology Dept. Javanese music, dance, and shadow-puppet theater. Meany Hall, UW campus, 543-4880, music.washington.edu. $12–$20. 7:30 p.m. Tues., May 20.

David Finckel, Wu Han, Phil Setzer The ex-Emerson Quartet cellist, his wife, and a current Emerson Quartet violinist play Dvorak, Beethoven, and Schubert piano trios. Meany Hall, UW campus, 543-4880, uwworldseries.org. $38–$43. 7:30 p.m. Wed., May 21.