THURSDAY NOVEMBER 9

MUSIC FOR LUNCH
Georgian (as in former Soviet republic) pianist Nino Merabishvili plays Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition. Sherman-Clay Piano & Organ, 1624 Fourth Ave, 622-7580, 12:15 pm, free.

SEATTLE SYMPHONY
Of all Stravinsky's music, Petrushka is pretty much perfect, from the shimmering winds of the "Shrove-Tide Fair" presaging the orchestral minimalism of John Adams to the quizzical, archly modern ending that marks the appearance of Petrushka's ghost. Keep your ears open for the sweet trumpet and snare drum duet, the high yet lumbering tuba solo in "Peasant with Bear," and the huffing strings of the "Coachman's Dance." Two Hungarian Dances (nos. 5 and 6) by Brahms and Bartók's Violin Concerto No. 2 round out the program. Lawrence Renes conducts; the violin soloist is Leonidas Kavakos. Also Fri Nov 10 at 1 pm, Sat Nov 11 at 8 pm, and Sun Nov 12 at 2 pm. Benaroya Hall, 200 University St, 215-4747, 7:30 pm, $15—$64.

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 10

WEILL & PUCCINI
I adore one-act operas; everything gets resolved before the spell is broken by an intermission and the usual rush to the bathroom. Singers from the UW School of Music take on two one-acters—Kurt Weill's Die sieben Todsünden ("The Seven Deadly Sins") and Giacomo Puccini's Suor Angelica ("Sister Angelica"). In German and Italian with English surtitles. Also Sun Nov 12 at 3 pm. Meany Theater, UW Campus, 543-4880, 7:30 pm, $15/$25.

WADE MATTHEWS
A student of electronic-music pioneer Mario Davidovsky, this Madrid-based musician improvises on bass clarinet, alto flute, and laptop processing. After a solo set, Matthews joins in duos and trios with electronics whiz Jason E. Anderson and pianist Gust Burns. I'm also a fan of Matthews's brilliantly titled essay, "Intimacy and Limits; Reflections on Stockhausen's Dog," which teems with insights: "The meaning of silence... is no longer a neutral zone surrounding a musical object, but something fully and actively incorporated into the musical process." Gallery 1412, 1412 18th Ave, 322-1533, 8 pm, $5—$15 sliding scale donation.

WALLY SHOUP GROUP
Damn, another fine musician moves to Portland. This time, it's bassist PK, whose enthusiastic explorations encompass everything from groove-based nu-jazz to finger-blistering, soul-edifying freak-outs. He anchors a quartet led by Wally Shoup, our burg's best fire-breathing, testifyin' saxophonist. Moraine, a hybrid string ensemble of guitar, bass, cello, violin, and drums, opens the show. Rendezvous, 2320 Second Ave, 441-5823, 10:30 pm, $5.

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 12

RADIO RHYTHM ORCHESTRA
Longtime Seattle bandleader Pete Leinonen helms a seven-piece band specializing in light, lilting swing. New Orleans Creole Restaurant, 114 First Ave S, 622-2563, 7 pm, $5.

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 15

BIG NEIGHBORHOOD
I like how the tunes on this quartet's winning double disc set 11:11 (Origin) cogently shift from sunny boppish melodies to a pastoral calm and then burst into a propulsive groove conjured from In a Silent Way. Historic University Theater, 5510 University Way NE, 781-3879, 7:30 pm, $5/$10.