JOSHUA KOSMAN’S CLASSICAL MUSIC PICK

For many years, the assumption was that new operas and popular operas were mutually exclusive categories. One of the works that helped put that canard to rest was “Little Women,” composerlibrettist Mark Adamo’s deft adaptation of the classic Louisa May Alcott novel.

Ever since its 1998 premiere at the Houston Grand Opera (a product of General Director David Gockley’s long and ambitious commissioning project), “Little Women” has been a perennial favorite with audiences and performers alike.

This week, Island City Opera – the ambitious little company based in Alameda – opens its new season with the work. Dana Sadava conducts, with Deborah Rosengaus, Katja Heuzeroth, Aimée Puentes and Angela Jarosz as the four March sisters.

“Little Women”:

7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 18; 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 20. $40-$60. Alameda Elks Lodge Ballroom, 2255 Santa Clara Ave., Alameda. 510263-8060. www.islandcityopera.org Psomas, clarinet; Audra Loveland, horn; Patrick JohnsonWhitty, bassoon; Margaret Halbig, piano. Works by Ibert, Albert Roussel, Marcel Bitsch, Andre Caplet. Noon Wed., Jan. 16. Free. Throckmorton Theatre, 142 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley. www.142throckmortontheatre.org Ordinarius Brazilian Vocal Ensemble 8 p.m. Thurs., Jan. 17. $30-$35. Oshman Family JCC, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. 650-223-8649. www.paloaltojcc.org

San Francisco Contemporary Music Players 4 p.m. Fri., Jan. 18. $15-$35. S.F. Conservatory of Music, 50 Oak St., S.F. www.sfcmp.org

S.F. Performances: Mark Padmore, Paul Lewis Tenor; piano. Works by Brahms, Mahler, Schumann. 7 p.m. Sun., Jan. 13. $45-$70. Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Ave., S.F. 415-392-2545. www.sfperformances.org

S.F. Symphony Esa-Pekka Salonen conducts R. Strauss, Sibelius, Anna Thorvaldsdottir. 8 p.m. Fri.-Sat., Jan. 18-19; 2 p.m. Sun., Jan. 20. $20-$156. Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave., S.F. 415-8646000. www.sfsymphony.org

Santa Rosa Symphony Works by Takemitsu, Mozart, Mahler. 3 p.m. Sun., Jan. 13; 7:30 p.m. Mon., Jan. 14. $10$87. Weill Hall, Green Music Center, 1801 East Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. 866-955-6040. www.srsymphony.org

Sarah Cahill Piano. Works by Teresa Carreño, Frangiz AliZadeh, Chen Yi, Vítzslava Kaprálová, Florence Price. 7