Classical Music Agenda

June starts tomorrow, and that means that the Classical Music Agenda will soon be going on its annual summer hiatus. Already, there are fewer and fewer concerts to put on one's schedule, unless you are willing to do some traveling. If you are determined to hear some music this week, here are your choices.

SYMPHONY:
>> Washington Performing Arts Society closes out another fine season of presenting the best visiting musicians by hosting another performance by the Philadelphia Orchestra on Wednesday evening (June 3, 8 p.m.). This time Charles Dutoit will conduct a program featuring pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall, playing both Ravel's concerto for the left hand and, with both hands and an extra couple of fingers, Liszt's Totentanz. Also on the program are Rachmaninov's Symphonic Dances and Ravel's La Valse.

>> The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra's program this week looks very good, with the latest in Marin Alsop's Dvořák cycle, the fifth symphony, and the local premiere of Jennifer Higdon's new violin concerto, with the lovely Hilary Hahn on the solo part. This program will be presented in Baltimore (June 4, 5, and 7) and only once at Strathmore (June 6, 8 p.m.).

>> Hear what the next generation of orchestral musicians can do, in the performances from the young participants in the National Orchestral Institute (whose logo makes a clear reference to the Stars and Bars of the District of Columbia, although the event is held in College Park). A chamber orchestra of these musicians will play a concert on Saturday (June 6, 8 p.m.) of music by Mozart, Bartók, Carter, and Strauss at the Clarice Smith Center.