AnDa Union
Sept. 24, 8 p.m.
Somerville Theatre
55 Davis Sq., Somerville
$28, 617-876-4275
This 10-piece group comes from the Xilingol Grasslands area of Inner Mongolia. It brings together the varied musical traditions of Mongolia to create a sound all its own, utilizing Mongolian throat singing — which is always a hypnotic and bizarre experience — and plenty of instruments you probably haven’t seen before, like the horsehead fiddle and the tsuur, a three-holed flute.
Klezwoods and Elephant Wreckling Ball
Sept. 28, 8 p.m.
Johnny D’s
17 Holland St., Somerville
$10, 617-776-2004
Klezwoods mixes klezmer and Balkan music with a funky, jazzy groove that makes for an utterly unique circus of sound; Elephant Wrecking Ball is a self-described “unorthodox” trombone trio, with influences including death metal and dub, that puts its horns through effects pedals. As if that weren’t enough, there will be a belly dancer onstage the whole time.
October
Creole Choir of Cuba
Oct. 1, 8 p.m.
Somerville Theatre
55 Davis Sq., Somerville
$28, 617-876-4275
This group, known in Cuba as Desandann, meaning “descendants” (specifically, the descendants of Haitians who were brought to work in Cuban sugar and coffee plantations in slave-like conditions), sings and dances traditional songs of its people. You may not know what the performers are saying, but the harmonies are beautiful with singing as impassioned as it gets.
‘The Inexhaustible Human Spirit’
Oct. 12, 15 & 16
Sanders Theatre/Jordan Hall
45 Quincy St., Cambridge/30 Gainsborough St., Boston
$15-$90, 617-236-0999
The Boston Philharmonic’s first concert of the season features Tchaikovsky’s popular, romantic Violin Concerto in D, Sibelius’ haunting tone poem “The Swan of Tuonela” (which features a rare solo spot for English horn) and Nielsen’s 4th Symphony.
Beatrice et Benedict
Oct. 21, 23 & 25
Cutler Majestic Theatre
219 Tremont St., Boston
$71-375, 617-451-3388
Opera Boston presents Hector Berlioz’s take on Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing”; it stars Sandra Piques Eddy and Sean Panikkar as the famously quarreling couple. We’ve all known a pair like this, whose incessant banter endearingly masks the fact that they’re clearly in love. How many sitcom plots alone has this situation inspired? Shakespeare: TV genius.
Angel of the Amazon
Oct. 21-29
Hope Central Church
85-87 Seaverns Ave., Boston
$10, 617-543-4797
This opera tells the story of Dorothy Stang, an American nun who ministered to peasant farmers in Brazil for three decades, becoming an outspoken crusader against deforestation and for the rights of her flock to make a living without being harassed (or worse) by land-greedy ranchers. She was brutally murdered in 2005 by thugs hired by a logger.
Lang Lang
Oct. 30, 3 p.m.
Symphony Hall
301 Mass. Ave., Boston
$50-83, 617-482-6661
Lang Lang is one of classical music’s contemporary rock stars; his good looks, charismatic presence and astounding virtuosity are positively Liszt-like, and his playful demeanor is a welcome respite from the often-stiff-necked attitude that pervades classical music. Some find his style a little excessive, but we think those people are just jealous of all the fun he’s clearly having.
November
‘Macbeth’
Nov. 4-13
Citi Shubert Theatre
265 Tremont St., Boston
$32-225, 617-542-6772
There are few ways to make the Scottish play even more intense, but turning it into an opera is certainly one. Boston Lyric Opera presents Verdi’s take on Shakespeare’s immortal tragedy of unchecked ambition and unfortunately loose regard for the whole “thou shalt not kill” thing. The following adjectives describe the production: “bold, terrifying, hypnotic, gripping.”
Apollo’s Fire with Philippe Jaroussky
Nov. 5, 8 p.m.
Emmanuel Church
15 Newbury St., Boston
$19-66, 617-661-1812
The Boston Early Music festival presents this celebrated Cleveland-based baroque orchestra, who play period instruments to get the most accurate sound. They’re joined by Jaroussky, a countertenor, for an evening of Handel and Vivaldi arias originally meant for castrato singers in the 18th century (the castrato aspect, thankfully, is the only thing that will not be period-accurate).
Itzhak Perlman
Nov. 20, 3 p.m.
Symphony Hall
301 Mass. Ave., Boston
$50-83, 617-482-6661
This Israeli-American violinist is widely considered one of the world’s greatest. Like all important people, he has appeared on “Sesame Street,” where he performed a duet with Telly (who played Tuba).
