Last week, we announced the beginning of Washington’s orgy of Christmas and non-specific winter holiday concerts, but that was only the tip of the iceberg. However, there are some good concerts this week that are not specifically for the holidays, and that’s where we’ll start.

WE LIKE FREE:
>> We have three good free concerts for you this week. On the first Tuesday of most months, the Washington Bach Consort performs a noontime cantata, at the Church of the Epiphany (1317 G St. NW). This Tuesday (December 6, 12:10 p.m.), it will be Bach’s cantata Es ist dir gesagt, Mensch, was gut ist (He has showed you, mankind, what is good), BWV 45. These free lunchtime performances are a great way to take a break in your busy day if you work downtown, and there are usually pieces for organ as well.

>> Both of the museum concert series, also free, have good events this weekend. On Sunday (December 11, 5 p.m.), baritone Thomas Meglioranza will give a free recital at the Phillips Collection. Tom won second prize in this year’s esteemed Naumburg International Vocal Competition, which is a pretty big deal. He also writes a blog, called Tomness, which we read pretty regularly, as it is all about Tom’s experiences with two things we love, music and food.

>> Since we are planning to hear Tom’s recital, we will have to miss the other free concert on Sunday (December 11, 6:30 p.m.). The Pacifica String Quartet will play music by Beethoven, Janáček, and Mendelssohn in the East Building Auditorium of the National Gallery of Art. Yes, you read that correctly. For some reason, the Pacifica has convinced the NGA not to have their concert in the echo chamber of the West Garden Court. This is a good thing. The Pacifica Quartet also won a Naumburg Chamber Music Award, back in 1998, and we heard good things about their performance at the Freer Gallery of Art last spring.