Yamato
‘The Magic Flute’
Oct. 4 through 13
Shubert Theatre
265 Tremont St., Boston
$30-$150, 866-348-9738
citicenter.org
The Boston Lyric Opera presents a new, in-house English language adaptation of Mozart’s famous opera, a mythical quest rife with Masonic imagery and philosophy. This version begins with a group of college students on an archaeological dig in the Yucatan. One of them is bitten by a snake, and things get a lot weirder from there.
Celtic Fiddle Festival
Oct. 10, 8 p.m.
Johnny D’s
17 Holland St., Somerville
$28, 21+, 617-876-4275
worldmusic.org
This concert features three of the world’s greatest fiddlers, Kevin Burke of Ireland, Christian Lemaître of Brittany and Andre Brunet of Québec, representing between them a fair chunk of the Celtic diaspora. Each of them could carry a concert by himself, but when they get together they take things to a whole other level of fiddle-bliss.
Mendelssohn, Ades, Ives and Franck
Oct. 10 through 12
Symphony Hall
301 Mass. Ave., Boston
$30-$104, 888-266-1200
bso.org
English pianist/composer Thomas Ades guest-conducts the Boston Symphony through Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture, Charles Ives’s Orchestral Set No. 2, César Franck’s powerful Symphony in D minor and one of Ades’ own works, “Polaris.”
Chris Thile
Oct. 20, 7:30 p.m.
Sanders Theatre
45 Quincy St., Cambridge
$30-$65, 617-482-2595
celebrityseries.org
This mandolin virtuoso, formerly of the alt-bluegrass band Nickel Creek and a recent recipient the McArthur “Genius” grant, takes the little folk instrument into unusual territory — at this concert he’ll be playing his beautiful arrangements of Bach, as well as his own compositions.
Wagner and Verdi: Sunday at the Opera
Nov. 3, 3 p.m.
Sanders Theatre
45 Quincy St., Cambridge
$26-$75, 617-648-3885
bbcboston.org
The Back Bay Chorale presents an afternoon with the two masters of 19th century opera, including portions of Verdi’s “Aida” and “Nabucco” and Wagner’s “Tannhauser” and “Die Meistersinger.” The two composers were strong, often bitter rivals — one would imagine neither would be happy to be paired — but that only makes it more fun.
Joshua Bell
Nov. 17, 3 p.m.
Symphony Hall
301 Mass. Ave., Boston
$30-$105, 617-482-2595
celebrityseries.org
American violinist Joshua Bell, the successor to Sir Neville Mariner as musical director of the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, is a charismatic performer whose secret weapon is a sense of humor. Once, in 2007, he pretended to be a busker in a subway station, just to see what would happen.
Joshua Redman Quartet
Nov. 8, 8 p.m.
Berklee Performance Center
136 Mass. Ave., Boston
$30-$48, 617-876-4275
worldmusic.org
Acclaimed for both his solo and ensemble work, Joshua Redman is one of modern jazz’s biggest stars. His sound is imbued with a respect for jazz history as well as a love of pop and rock music, which makes it accessible to a non-jazz audience, too!
Yamato
Nov. 23, 8 p.m.
Sanders Theatre
45 Quincy St., Cambridge
$28-$48, 617-876-4275
worldmusic.org
This ensemble of Japanese taiko drummers don’t just sit there and bang the drums — even though that would be good enough — they fly around the stage at the same time, providing a visual spectacle to match the sonic, with over 20 drummers, as well as cymbals and flutes. The effect is energizing, the enthusiasm contagious
