Newberry Consort: One of history’s great love affairs, that of the medieval poet Abelard and his beautiful student Heloise, is recreated with actors reading from the lovers’ letters and the ensemble performing musical settings of courtly love poetry from the 14th century. 8 p.m. Friday, Ruggles Hall, Newberry Library, 60 W. Walton St.; 8 p.m. Saturday, Logan Center for the Arts, University of Chicago, 915 E. 60th St.; and 3 p.m. Sunday, Galvin Recital Hall, Northwestern University, 70 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston; $40-$50; www.newberryconsort.org
Lawrence Brownlee: The tenor (currently starring in Lyric’s production of Bellini’s “I Puritani”) sings the Chicago premiere of “Cycles of My Being,” a song cycle by Tyshawn Sorey and Terrance Hayes that explores the realities of life as a black man in America. Presented by Lyric Unlimited. 7 p.m. Thursday, DuSable Museum of African American History, 740 E. 56th Place; $15, $10 for museum members; 312-827-5600, www.lyricopera.org/cycles
Chicago a cappella: The vocal chamber ensemble salutes Valentine’s Day with an eclectic program ranging from Renaissance madrigals to the Beach Boys to artistic director Jonathan Miller’s “Victoria’s Secret.” Joining the singers will be Chicago actors performing a linking script by Tom Mula. 8 p.m. Friday, Pilgrim Congregational Church, 460 Lake St., Oak Park; and 8 p.m. Saturday, Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville); $35-$43, $30 for seniors, $15 for students; 773-281-7820, www.chicagoacappella.org
Chicago Opera Theater – “Elizabeth Cree”: COT presents the Midwest premiere of a new opera by composer Kevin Puts and librettist Mark Campbell, based on Peter Ackroyd’s Victorian-era thriller, about a woman on trial for her husband’s grisly murder. Geoff McDonald conducts. The production debuted last fall at Opera Philadelphia. Through Sunday, Studebaker Theater, 410 S. Michigan Ave.; $45-$145; 312-704-8414, www.chicagooperatheater.org
Chicago Symphony Orchestra: Guest conductor Christoph Eschenbach is joined by French pianist David Fray for a program that includes Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 and Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 3 (“Scottish”). 8 p.m. Thursday (repeated Feb. 23-27), Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.; $36-$250; 312-294-3000, www.cso.org
CSO Chamber All-Access: The quintet Music803 performs works by Haydn, Dohnanyi and Vaughan Williams. 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.; free, but tickets are required; 312-294-3000, www.cso.org
Chinese New Year Celebration: Symphony Center Presents’ fourth annual event holds performances of new and traditional fare by the Chongqing Chuanju Opera Theatre and the Zhejiang Symphony Orchestra. A preconcert program of traditional vocal and instrumental works, free to ticket holders, will be given at 1:45 p.m. in adjacent Buntrock Hall. 3 p.m. Saturday, Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.; $20-$75; 312-294-3000, www.cso.org
Evanston Chamber Opera: The company premieres “For Those in Peril,” a chamber opera based on a real-life tragedy in early 19th century maritime history, with music by Francis L. Lynch and libretto by Lynch and Raymond Humphries. James Janssen conducts. Through Saturday, Saint Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 2120 Lincoln St., Evanston; $25-$40, $15 for students; https://evanstonchamberopera.org
Mary Kay Fink: The Cleveland Orchestra piccolo player performs works by Robert Bieser, Emma Lou Diemer and others in a recital presented by the Chicago Flute Club. 2 p.m. Sunday, Merit School of Music, 38 S. Peoria; 847-904-2225.
Frequency Festival: Organizer Peter Margasak’s third annual festival of new and experimental music focuses on new Canadian music, performed by Montreal’s Quatuor Bozzini and others. Events take place nightly at venues including the Museum of Contemporary Art, Constellation and Fullerton Hall at the Art Institute of Chicago; several events are free, ticketed events are $5-$15; www.constellation-chicago.com
Impromptu Fest: Some of Chicago’s leading new music composers and performers take part in a seven-night series of concerts. Artists include Amy Wurtz, Seth Boustead, William Jason Raynovich, the Amos Gillespie Quartet and Gaudete Brass. 7:30 p.m. Friday-Feb. 25, Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St.; $10, $5 for students; 773-330-3498, www.chopintheatre.com
Keyboard Conversations: Pianist Jeffrey Siegel explores Viennese classicism via works by Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven (the latter’s “Pathetique” Sonata). 7:30 p.m. Friday, Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, Northwestern University, 50 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston; $10-$30; 847-467-4000, http://concertsatbienen.org
Lyric Opera – “Cosi Fan Tutte”: Mozart’s romantic comedy, about young men who get more than they bargained for when they test their sweethearts’ fidelity, returns to the repertory. Ana Maria Martinez and Marianne Crebassa are the sisters Fiordiligi and Dorabella, Andrew Stenson and Joshua Hopkins are their lovers Ferrando and Guglielmo. Completing the cast are Alessandro Corbelli as Don Alfonso and Elena Tsallagova as Despina. James Gaffigan makes his house debut as conductor. John Cox directs. Opens at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and runs to March 16, Lyric Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive; $34-$279; 312-827-5600, weww.lyricopera.org
Lyric Opera – “I Puritani”: Bellini’s bel canto classic brings a blaze of vocal fireworks from tenor Lawrence Brownlee and soprano Albina Shagimuratova in the leading roles. Enrique Mazzola is the stylish conductor. Through Feb. 28, Lyric Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive; $34-$279; 312-827-5600, www.lyricopera.org
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Northshore Concert Band: Mallory Thompson conducts music inspired by literature, including works of Bernstein, Humperdinck and John Williams. 3 p.m. Sunday, Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, Northwestern University, 50 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston; $20, $15 for seniors, $10 for students and children; 847-432-2263, www.northshoreband.org
Northwest Symphony Orchestra: Guest conductor Timothy Semanik directs Dvorak’s “New World” Symphony and works by Falla and Sarasate. Cristina Ciubanean is the violin soloist. 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Forest View Educational Center, 2121 S. Goebbert Road, Arlington Heights; $20, $15 for seniors, $10 for students, children free; 847-718=7702, www.northwestsymphony.org
Picosa:The Chicago chamber ensemble performs a diverse program ranging from a Haydn divertimento to a Debussy sonata to Webern’s arrangement of Schoenberg’s Chamber Symphony No. 1. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, PianoForte Chicago, 1335 S. Michigan Ave.; $25, discounts for seniors and students; www.picosamusic.com
Christoph Pregardien: The highly regarded German lyric tenor makes his Chicago debut in a recital of Schubert songs, accompanied by pianist Julius Drake. 2 p.m. Sunday, Mandel Hall, University of Chicago, 1131 E. 57th St.; $38, $20 for under 35, $10 for students; 773-702-2787, http://tickets.uchicago.edu
Lise de la Salle: The French pianist performs works spanning three centuries, drawn from her recently released album, “Bach and Beyond.” 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Galvin Recital Hall, Northwestern University, 70 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston; $30, $10 for students; 847-467-4000, http://concertsatbienen.org
Spektral Quartet: As part of the group’s Close Encounters series, patrons can sample a custom draft from Chicago’s Illuminated Brew Works, while listening to Schoenberg, Webern and Bartok. 4 p.m. Saturday, Cliff Dwellers Club, 200 S. Michigan Ave.; www.spektralquartet.com
Third Coast Percussion: The ensemble and mezzo-soprano Rachel Calloway give the Chicago premiere of Christopher Cerrone’s “The Goldbeater’s Skin,” as part of the U. of C. Presents Ligeti series. The program includes Ligeti’s “Poeme Symphonique” for 100 metronomes. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Logan Center for the Arts, University of Chicago, 915 E. 60th St.; $38, $20 for patrons under 35; 773-702-2787, http://chicagopresents.uchicago.edu
Trio Settecento: Rachel Barton Pine, John Mark Rozendaal and David Schrader perform trio sonatas of Arcangelo Corelli. 3 p.m. Sunday, Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave., Evanston; $30, $20 for seniors, $10 for students; 847-905-1500, ext. 108; www.musicinst.org
Mitsuko Uchida: The deeply thoughtful pianist plays Schubert’s sonatas in B major (D.575), A minor (D.845) and D major (D.850). 3 p.m. Sunday, Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.; $35-$104; 312-294-3000, www.cso.org
John von Rhein is a Tribune critic.
Twitter @jvonrhein