Classical picks: Pianist wizard, `Don Giovanni,' Canadian Brass
Symphonic works, opera, chamber music and an all-brass concert are on the weekend's classical scene.
Aimard arrives: The superb French pianist PierreLaurent Aimard comes to the San Francisco Symphony, playing Ravel's suite for solo piano, “Le Tombeau de Couperin,” and joining music director Esa-Pekka Salonen and the orchestra as soloist for Bartok's Piano Concerto No. 2. Salonen completes the program with selections from Prokofiev's “Romeo and Juliet.” Details: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday; Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco; $35-$165; sfsymphony.org.
Bring on the “Don”: West Bay Opera has a new “Don Giovanni” waiting in the wings, with four performances of Mozart's opera on the calendar. Baritone Joel Balzun sings the title role, Richard Harrell directs the production, and the conductor is José Luis Moscovich. Details: 8 p.m. Friday and Feb. 25; 2 p.m. Sunday and Feb. 26; Lucie Stern Theater, Palo Alto; $35-$92; wbopera.org.
Bring on the brass: The Canadian Brass, recently returned from a European tour that included stops in Vienna and five German cities, arrives in Livermore this weekend with an assortment of beloved brass works. Details: 3 p.m. Sunday; Bankhead Theatre, Livermore; $55-$85; LivermoreArts.com.
Catch the Catalyst: The Catalyst Quartet is gearing up for San Francisco Performances' annual Pivot Festival; with three evenings of music on the schedule, the Grammy Award-winning foursome will explore chamber music by a wide range of composers. Choose single tickets or a threenight series. Details: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Feb. 23; Herbst Theatre, San Francisco; $45-$65 single; $120-$180 series; www. sfperformances.org.