THURSDAY JUNE 2

SEATTLE SYMPHONY

Conductor Lawrence Renes leads the orchestra in Beethoven's Symphony No. 4. Violinist Kyoko Takezawa is the soloist in Prokofiev's Violin Concerto No. 2. My pick for this program is Toru Takemitsu's breakout hit, the1957 Requiem for strings. Declared a masterpiece by Stravinsky, this pocket requiem seems to suspend time, elongating its eight minutes into a solemn, immeasurable eon. Also Sat Jun 4 at 8 pm and Sun Jun 5 at 2 pm, however the latter does not include the Takemitsu. Benaroya Hall, Third Ave and Union St, 215-4747, 7:30 pm, $15-$85.

FRIDAY JUNE 3

AONO JIKKEN

This seldom-heard yet entrancing ensemble performs a live score to Eclipse, which interweaves the story of Suga Kanno, the first female political prisoner to be executed in Japan's modern history, with ancient myths of the sun goddess Amaterasu. Aono Jikken's extensive orchestra of traditional instruments, found objects, modified children's sound toys, and custom-created instruments of metal, bamboo, kelp, and other materials is a treat for the ears and the eyes. Pay-what-you-can preview is Thurs June 2; also Sat and Sun Jun 4 and 5 and Thurs Jun 9 through Sun Jun 12. Theatre Off Jackson, 409 Seventh Ave S, 800-838-3006, 8 pm, $12/$15.

JOSEPH ADAM

Cathedral organist Joseph Adam serves up a feast of music by Marcel Dupré (1886-1971), including the Symphony No. 2, Cortège et Litanie, "Évocation" and the early Three Preludes and Fugues. St. James Cathedral, 804 Ninth Ave, 382-4874, 8 pm, students pay as able/$15 suggested donation.

SATURDAY JUNE 4

NW FREE JAZZ FESTIVAL

The fourth installment of this new festival features the unpredictable Amy Denio (will it be songs or standing waves?) and the combustible Ficus Trio with pianist Gust Burns, percussionist Greg Campbell, and saxophonist Gregory Reynolds. Recommended. Gallery 1412, 1412 18th Ave at E Union St, 322-1533, 8 pm, $5-$15 sliding scale donation.

SUNDAY JUNE 5

ORCHESTRA SEATTLE

A generous double bill of two great choral symphonies, Beethoven's 9th, which blasts most other music into absolute emotional, musical, and historical irrelevance, along with one of the few works capable of withstanding Beethoven's symphonic supernova, Stravinsky's Symphony of Psalms. Benaroya Hall, Third Ave and Union St, 682-5208, 7 pm, $15-$35.

JIM CUTLER JAZZ ORCHESTRA

Guest vocalist Kelley Johnson sits in with the band for old chestnuts, forgotten gems, new charts, and perhaps an experimental number or two. Tula's, 2214 Second Ave, 443-4221, 8 pm, $5.

TUESDAY JUNE 7

ELDAR DJANGIROV

It's lame that Sony Classical decided to market this up and coming jazz pianist just by his first name. Hype aside, he's neither a Yanni nor a Vangelis but a straight-ahead pianist with a terrifyingly fast and formidable technique. At 18, he's really, really good. Someday Djangirov will likely blossom into greatness as an exuberant, soulful virtuoso (like Errol Garner) or a feared master bedeviled by serious lapses in taste (think Art Tatum). Also Wed June 8. Jazz Alley, 2033 Sixth Ave, 441-9729, 7:30 pm, $19.50-$21.50.