The classical music winter season really takes off in February and March, as more of the concert organizers swing into motion. For now, there are still good things for you to hear, just not the overwhelming surfeit of music around the corner.

BEST OF:
>> If the high point of last week was the recital of soprano Christine Schäfer, the headline this week is another soprano’s recital. The radiant American soprano Dawn Upshaw (pictured), whom we last heard with the NSO in April 2006, spent much of last winter in a battle against breast cancer. She will give a highly anticipated and already sold-out recital at the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater (January 23, 7:30 p.m.), with pianist Gilbert Kalish. The fascinating program features an eclectic combination of 19th- and 20th-century music. Tickets: $50.

>> We last heard French pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet (and saw his designer couture) in a solo recital last February, and he is back this week to play Liszt’s second piano concerto with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall (January 24 to 26). The rest of the program includes an old favorite, Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, and the NSO’s first performance of Christopher Rouse’s second symphony, from 1994. Tickets: $20 to $80 (students may be able to buy $10 tickets, through the Attend! program, for the Friday performance only — January 25, 8 p.m.).

>> The Metropolitan Opera National Council Middle Atlantic Auditions will be held this Thursday (January 24, 7:30 p.m.) in the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. Talented young opera singers compete for the chance to get their foot in the door at the Met, and if you attend, you could hear one of the opera stars of tomorrow. Tickets: $25.

FREE, FREE, FREE:
>> The Ensemble Salzburg will play a free concert on Wednesday (January 23, 7:30 p.m.), hosted by the Austrian Cultural Forum at the Embassy of Austria (3524 International Ct. NW). All you have to is RSVP (202-895-6776 or rsvp@austria.org).