THURSDAY 2/22

SEATTLE SYMPHONY--This fellow Mozart sure gets played a lot. Two Symphonies, No. 31, "Paris," and No. 39, "Linz"; plus the Piano Concerto No 20 in d, K. 466. Benaroya Hall, Taper Auditorium, 215-4747, www.seattlesymphony.org, 7:30 pm, $15-$49. Also Fri Feb 23, 8 pm.

FRIDAY 2/23

JOANNA HOOD--The situation for the concert violist was never so dire or desperate as Frank Zappa portrayed it in The Perfect Stranger; witness the two masterpieces that will be performed by Hood this evening, Hindemith's Sonata Op. 11, No. 4, and Shostakovich's dark-toned Sonata Op. 147. Also the U.S. premiere of Murray Adaskin's Duo and the world premiere of Questions for Solo Viola. Town Hall, Eighth and Seneca, 652-4255, 8 pm (pre-concert discussion with Fred Hauptman at 6:45), $10.

MICHAEL PARTINGTON--The guitar has gotten a good deal of attention from modern composers, not that you'd know if from all the dead Spanish composers you get at concerts. Partington will fortunately rectify that impression with pieces from Maxwell Davies, Brouwer, Seattleite Tom Baker, and a world premiere from Portland's own Bryan Johanson. And, yeah, Sor and Ponce. Benaroya Hall, Nordstrom Recital Hall, 297-8788, 7:30 pm, $18-$28.

SATURDAY 2/24

DEREK LEE RAGIN--Sure, tradition is nice, but some ideas are best left to the past. Countertenors, say... not my favorite voices in the world. If you're more susceptible to their charms than I, you'll definitely wish to hear Ragin perform. And the mix of musical styles is intriguing: an unspecified selection of Baroque sacred music and Negro spirituals, two highly ritualized and ornamental genres. Conception Catholic Church, 820 18th Ave, 323-4032, info@cdforum.org, 8 pm, $12.

NORTHWEST CHAMBER ORCHESTRA--Bach's Violin Concerto in d, BWV 1051; Mozart's Symphony No. 39 in E-flat; Haydn's Symphony No. 80 in d; and Vivaldi's Guitar Concerto, RV 93. I'd say more, but don't these types of programs self-select their audience to begin with? Benaroya Hall, Nordstrom Recital Hall, 343-0445, 8 pm, $24.50 general/$20 students & seniors. Also Sun Feb 25, 2:30 pm.

WEDNESDAY 2/28

JANOS STARKER--Eavesdrop on a master class and watch the legendary cellist instruct, inform, and (it is to be hoped) berate mercilessly three jury-selected participants. Benaroya Hall, Nordstrom Recital Hall, 215-4747, www.seattlesymphony.org, 11 am, $15.

RADIO SHOWS
by Jason Pagano

FRIDAY 2/23

CYBER6@9--Supposedly counting down the top six songs of the day, as determined by the Kiss 106.1 website poll. I suggest logging on to www.kiss1061.com, writing in Huey Lewis' "Doing It All For My Baby," and listening closely for the soft tap of e-mail being deleted at the Infinity Broadcasting Corporation. KISS 106.1 FM, 9 pm.

THIS AMERICAN LIFE--Local pro-superhero organization Citizens in Appreciation of Powerful Entities (C.A.P.E.) will be pleased to know the Year of the Superhero marches on, as Ira Glass presents a program dedicated to super powers and the people who wish they had them. KUOW 94.9 FM, 7 pm.

SATURDAY 2/24

COUNTERSPIN--Examining the bias, inaccuracy, racism, and censorship of the week's major media reportage; past guests have included Molly Ivins, Noam Chomsky, and Alexander Cockburn. Produced by Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting. KCMU 90.3 FM, 8 am.

LUNCH WITH LED--I was wrong, wrong, wrong. There is programming dedicated to Zeppelin, an hour every Saturday afternoon. KZOK 102.5 FM, noon.

ALTERNATIVE RADIO--"Riffin' on Music and Language." Poet and playwright Amiri Baraka speaks on the link between African music, storytelling, and American jazz. KUOW 94.9 FM, 3 pm.

THE LIVE ROOM--Live performances by Northwest bands, with interviews by host Abe Beeson. This week: Saint Sophia. KCMU 90.3 FM, 8 pm.

SUNDAY 2/25

NO ROOM FOR SQUARES--Aric Effron plays two hours of hard bop, with a focus on Blue Note artists of the '50s and '60s. KUPS 90.1 FM, 3 pm.

OUT OF TOWN

LEFTOVER SALMON, ROBERT WALTERS' 20TH CONGRESS: Thurs Feb 22, Crystal Ballroom, Portland

GIRL TROUBLE, HOG MOLLY: Fri Feb 23, Thekla, Olympia

DEAD MOON, TIGHT BROS FROM WAY BACK WHEN, THE NEED, SERUM GREYS: Fri Feb 23, Pine Street Theater, Portland

DAVID GRISMAN QUINTET: Fri Feb 23, Tacoma Convention Center

KEB' MO': Sat Feb 24, Arlene Schnitzer Hall, Portland

2 LIVE CREW: Sat Feb 24, Pine Street Theater, Portland

CARISSA'S WIERD, KINGSBURY MANX, THE SWORDS PROJECT: Sat Feb 24, Medicine Hat, Portland

BRIGHT EYES, AZURE RAY: Mon Feb 26, Starfish Room, Vancouver, BC; Wed Feb 28, Meow Meow, Portland

RAINER MARIA, MIKE KINSELLA: Tues Feb 27, John Henry's, Portland

WESLEY WILLIS, COUNTRY TEASERS, CHUCK VENN: Tues Feb 27, Meow Meow, Portland

BLUE RODEO, JOHN WESLEY HARDING: Wed Feb 28, Crystal Ballroom, Portland

Headed to Portland? Visit www.portlandmercury.com.