Michael Zwiebach

The Israel Philharmonic is in town at the end of this weekend — there's a lot to admire in this orchestra, and it's conductor, Zubin Mehta, has had a stellar, four-decade career.

Are the American Bach Soloists going to watch the nuptials of Kate and William? The group seems like it's preparing for it this weekend, when they'll perform some of the largest and most sumptuous choral works of the late Baroque in “Music for the Royal Women of Britannia.”

This time of year, there are more great pianists trekking through the Bay Area than are easy to keep straight in your mind. One recital that should be on your radar this weekend is Jenny Lin's appearance at San Francisco Performances.

It's that time: early in the year SFCV advised our readers that the Ensemble Parallèle performance of Philip Glass' Orphée was going to be a highlight of the year. That is still true.

Don't miss Rafal Blechacz's recital for Chamber Music San Francisco, if you like good pianism. Winner of the Chopin Competition in Warsaw, Blechacz is playing two of Chopin's Ballades here, but also Debussy's L'Isle Joyeuse. Since his last visit, in 2008, he's won three more awards, recorded three albums for DG, and wowed audiences in major venues, receiving rave reviews. He's major.

For choral enthusiasts, the professional Sanford Dole Ensemble is the obvious choice this weekend. The group is giving the premieres of two pieces by local, Bay Area composers as well as the local premiere of David Conte's The Nine Muses.

It's almost sold-out, so if you're an opera fan starving for some all-out singing, you might just see if a few tickets to West Bay Opera's Turandot can be had.

If you're going to go Baroque-music prospecting, Germany is a great place to start digging. So when Les grâces, the trio of Baroque musicians out of UC Berkeley, say they're going to play some of this music in addition to the big guys, just save the date.

Choral enthusiasts are likely to be flocking to Grace Cathedral and Livermore's Bankhead Theater later this week to hear the Vienna Boys' Choir.

Younger chamber music players are an inspiring bunch. They'll try anything, and since these groups have chops to spare, they usually succeed wildly. The Israeli Chamber Project is an example of this diversity.