Christopher Morley's classical music preview...
Tonight brings the last chance to catch the enthralling production of Hansel and Gretel staged by the exciting young Operamus company which has captured hearts around the region (Stuart Bathurst School, Axletree Way, Wednesbury, 7.30pm; details on 0121 472 5342).
At Symphony Hall, meanwhile, one of the world's greatest trumpeters, Hakan Harden-berger, joins forces with veteran organist Simon Preston for the latest in Symphony Hall's much-admired series of evening organ concerts. Their programme tonight includes works by Jolivet, Petr Eben, and Hakim (7.30pm).
On Saturday the CBSO offers a lovely programme of Haydn (Symphony no.93, the first of the so-called "Salomon Symphonies" written for London), Mozart's Clarinet Concerto, with the exciting Martin Frost as soloist, and Schumann's exhilarating Symphony no.3, the Rhenish. Trevor Pinnock is unwell, so Jonas Alber conducts (7pm).
And Sunday evening brings the latest instalment in Andras Schiff's epic journey through all 32 of Beethoven's Piano Sonatas. This sixth chunk out of eight includes lesser-known sonatas such as Opp.54, 78 and 79, as well as the majestic Appassionata in F minor, Op.57 and the tender, intimate E-flat Sonata Op.81a, affectionately known as Les Adieux (7.30pm, details of all the above Symphony Hall concerts on 0121 780 3333).
Across Centenary Square, Birmingham Conservatoire's comfortable Adrian Boult Hall hosts Birmingham Festival Choral Society's first concert with programme selected entirely by its new music director, Patrick Larley, on Saturday.
The menu indicates a new departure for this august choir with a new name - Birmingham Festival Choral Society Chorus -, with Renaissance works by William Byrd, the famous Allegri Miserere, and complementary offerings by Vaughan Williams, including the neo-Renaissance Mass in G minor. Kevin Gill is the chamber organist, and Chudleigh's Company make an appearance (7.30pm, details on 01562 730381).
Sunday evening at the ABH sees the latest in the enterprising concerts offered by the remarkable Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra under their inspirational conductor, Michael Lloyd.
Two of Sibelius' Lemminkainen Legends precede Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto (Leonard Schreiber the soloist), and the evening ends with Brahms' Fourth Symphony (7.30pm, details on 0121 303 2323).
Monday at Birmingham Cathedral continues Thomas Trotter's well-loved long-running series of lunchtime organ recitals, when the popular City Organist is joined by the Birmingham Cathedral Choir under their director Marcus Huxley for Faure's Requiem (1pm, details on 0121 262 1840).
Ten minutes later, the CBSO Centre in Berkley Street closes its light lunch counter and opens its auditorium doors for an attractive Centre Stage programme from members of the CBSO.
Schumann's A major String Quartet is preceded by Judith Weir's resourceful Unlocked for solo cello, Ulrich Heinen returning to a work in which I have admired his performance around the region (1.10pm, details on 0121 767 4050).
Finally, tomorrow night at Malvern's Forum Theatre will be a poignant occasion.
The English Symphony Orchestra under its genial conductor William Boughton (and with Craig Ogden the soloist in Rodrigo's Guitar Concerto) will be celebrating its 25th anniversary.
However, at the same time this much-admired organisation will be saying "farewell" in its present form, as a drying-up of funding has led to it having to curtail its activities (7.30pm, details on 01684 892277).
