Sphinx Virtuosi bring a message of justice and peace to the Ordway this weekend

The Sphinx Virtuosi took their name as a symbol of power, wisdom and persistence. This Sunday, add justice and peace to that list of attributes. A chamber ensemble comprised of the nation's top Black and Latinx classical string players, the Sphinx Virtuosi returns to St. Paul's Ordway Center for a fourth consecutive year with their new program: For Justice and Peace. It explores how justice and peace find their way into music regardless of time and place.

Featuring works that span from the 1800's with Schubert's Death and the Maiden, to 20th century Hungarian Béla Bartók, to contemporary works from black British composer Philip Herbert, Venezuelan composer Aldemaro Romero, and Michael Abels, who speak to many of these same issues today. If you're unable to attend in-person, Classical MPR will be broadcasting the concert live at 3 p.m. on Sunday.

Lust for power in ancient Rome is the theme of Handel's satiric opera Agrippina. The Metropolitan Opera screens Agrippina live in HD at cinemas this Saturday. And you can listen for free on Classical MPR, starting at noon. Mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato stars in the title role as the Empress who will stop at nothing to make sure her son inherits the throne.

Meanwhile, it's First Chair Fever at area orchestras, as the South Dakota Symphony welcomes Minnesota Orchestra principal cello Tony Ross as soloist in the rarely-heard Prokofiev Sinfonia Concertante (along with Tchaikovsky's rarely-heard Manfred Symphony). Former St. Paul Chamber Orchestra principal bassoonist Chuck Ullery is in the spotlight at the Wayzata Symphony on Sunday, playing the sunny Weber Concerto, preceded by Chuck Ullery's stand-up-comedy-worthy preamble, Bassoon 101.