SATURDAY 4/1

CITY MUSIC -- Violist Helen Callus (from the marvelous Bridge Ensemble) and pianist Rachel Matthews perform three works; the two I've heard -- Schumann's Fairy Tales, Op. 113, and Shostakovich's emotive Sonata -- certainly live up to the program's title of Chiaroscuro. Good company for composer Rebecca Clarke to keep; here's hoping her Sonata lives up to it. Each City Music concert is for charity; all proceeds this evening benefit the University District Food Bank. Town Hall, Eighth and Seneca, 418-1066, 8 pm, $14 students & seniors/$18 adults.

NORTHWEST CHAMBER ORCHESTRA -- The Italian Baroque is one of music's finest flowers, a time when seemingly every composer woke up one morning and realized how to make creative, engaging music that danced. This collection of Concerti Grosso (Grossi?) from Vivaldi, Geminiani, Durante, Corelli, and Dall'abaco, with pieces as well from Monteverdi and Locatelli, proves the point ably. Benaroya Hall, Nordstrom Recital Hall, 343-0445, Sat April 1 (8 pm) and Sun April 2 (2:30 pm), $22.50 students & seniors/$24.50 general.

OPUS 7 -- The choral ensemble celebrates our region with more Northwest composers than you can shake a stick at (though only a few actually deserve such provocation): Bergsma, Hovhaness, Kechley, Szymko, Thomas, Thome, and Young; world premieres from Asplin, Herbolsheimer, Kunins, Muehleisen, and Scandrett; and the winners of Opus 7's first Student Composition Competition, Deborah Kelley and Kristin Gordon. St. Mark's Cathedral, 1245 10th Ave E, 782-2899, 8 pm, $10 students & seniors/$17

general.

REGIONAL MUSIC

by Lizy Reierson

THURSDAY 3/30

CUBANISMO! -- Crystal Ballroom, Portland

FRIDAY 3/31

ZONY MASH -- Sam Bond's Garage, Eugene

CHARLATANS UK, STEREOPHONICS -- Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver

NEKO CASE AND HER BOYFRIENDS -- Richard's on Richards, Vancouver

SUPERSUCKERS -- Berbati's Pan, Portland

MAVIS STAPLES -- Western Washington U, Bellingham

SATURDAY 4/1

CALOBO -- Wild Duck, Eugene

FORTY-FIVES -- Bellingham Bay Brewing Co., Bellingham

MONDAY 4/3

FEMI KUTI -- Richard's on Richards, Vancouver

WEDNESDAY 4/5

LIT, SAVE FERRIS -- Crystal Ballroom, Portland

MELVINS -- Roseland Theatre, Portland

SUPERSUCKERS, LAZY COWGIRLS -- Berbati's Pan, Portland

RADIO SHOWS

by David Kauffman

THURSDAY 3/30

JAZZSET -- Thelonious Monk takes songs that you think you recognize, leads you on, and then throws you with some crazy chord that makes you double-take. Listen to his benign, seemingly unguided piano-banging with host Branford Marsalis this week on Jazzset. KBCS 91.3 FM, 7 pm.

FRIDAY 3/31

RING LARDNER PLAYHOUSE -- Described as the writer who "taught Americans how we talk," Ring Lardner was renowned for his ability to capture in words and with his voice the unique speech patterns of his characters. This week's dramatization is "Nora," wherein an author finds his play "adapted" into something beyond recognition. KUOW 94.9 FM, 9:30 pm.

SATURDAY 4/1

HARMONIA -- Early-music enthusiasts should tune into Ouabache (pronounced WAH-bash), a period instrumental group specializing in Baroque vocal and instrumental music, for an informal talk about the ensemble's musicmaking, and some excerpts from their concerts of Bach, Teleman, and de la Guerre. KING 98.1 FM, 9 pm.

SONARCHY -- Dig the most experimental show on local radio, and credit Jack Straw Productions for consistently searching out marginalized sounds and giving them airtime. This week, Manalive takes the stage with their heavy mix of electronic beats and samples. KCMU 90.3 FM, 11 pm.

SUNDAY 4/2

WHAT'S THE WORD? -- How has the war story changed during the 20th century? Sally Plackshin discusses this topic, examining women's writing during World War I, and German propaganda films from the Third Reich. KUOW 94.9 FM, 2:30 pm.