Conventional, exceptional classical offerings on tap

Vancouver's classical spring is always crowded with events from all our major musical players.

There's the tried and true — notably Vancouver Opera's final presentation of the season, a five-performance run of George Bizet's Carmen — but other groups are mixing the conventional with the exceptional.

Friends of Chamber Music presents the Signum Quartet

When: April 2, 7:30 p.m. Where: Vancouver Playhouse, 600 Hamilton St., Vancouver Info: friendsofchambermusic.ca/ concert/signum-quartet

Friends present a new-to-town Signum Quartet from Germany. For its Vancouver debut, the quartet offers a musical mosaic: Janáček's String Quartet No. 1 Kreutzer Sonata anchors the program, but there's also Schubert's very first string quartet plus a lied arranged by Matthijs van Dijkk; van Dijkk's own 2018 opus Rage Against the Machine; pieces by Erwin Schulhoff; and even a waltz by Leo Tolstoy.

The Vancouver Recital Society presents Jakub Józef Orlinsky, counter-tenor, with Il Pomo d'oro Chamber Orchestra

When: April 16, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, 6265 Crescent Rd., Vancouver

Info: vanrecital.com/concert/jakub-jozef-orlinski-2

The much awaited return of Jakub Józef Orlińsky, the Polish counter-tenor and breakdancer who made such an extraordinary Canadian debut here back in 2022. This time around he's with Italy's Il Pomo d'oro chamber orchestra in a program that showcases Italian repertoire from the 17th century.

Tallis Scholars Darkness to Light

When: April 21, 3 p.m.

Where: Chan Centre

Info: earlymusic.bc.ca/events/tallis-scholars-2024

Early Music Vancouver hosts the Scholars for their wildly anticipated Vancouver concert. Founder and director Peter Phillips leavens Renaissance masterworks by English composers with short 21st-century compositions by David Lang, Nico Muhly, and Eric Whitacre.

Tausk conducts Shostakovich & Adams

When: April 26, 27, 8 p.m. Where: Orpheum Theatre, 601 Smithe St., Vancouver

Info: vancouversymphony.ca/ event/tausk-conducts-shostakovich-adams A rich, gutsy concert that starts with the world premiere of a new work by Nicholas Ryan Kelly, moves on to Dmitri Shostakovich's searing First Violin Concerto, and climaxes with the first VSO performance of John Adams' magisterial Harmonielehre.

Carmen

When: April 27, May 2 and 4, 7:30 p.m.; April 28 and May 5, 2 p.m. Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre, 630 Hamilton St., Vancouver Info: vancouveropera.ca/whatson/carmen

Vancouver Opera makes a big statement with the abiding favourite of all who love French opera.