The Washington National Opera has come back to life for the spring half of its season, with a fine production of Britten’s modern masterpiece Peter Grimes (three performances this week on March 23, 26, and 29) — see my review tomorrow for details. Here is the rest of what you might want to hear this week.

MODERN:

Bang on a Can All-Stars (photo by Nick Ruechel)

>> Clarice Smith Center will host the area’s first Bang on a Can Marathon next Sunday (March 29, 2 to 9 p.m.). The earlier events are all free and open to the public: a performance of Brian Eno’s Music for Airports (lobby, 3 p.m.) and a 4:15 p.m. concert with some of the Bang on a Can All-Stars, pianist Marilyn Nonken, clarinetist Esther Lamneck, and local participation from the Bay Players and University of Maryland Percussion Ensemble. The main event, which is not free, is a 6 p.m. concert with the All-Stars and their guest artists, composers Terry Riley and Glenn Kotche, featuring Riley’s Autodreamographical Tales. Tickets: $35 (tickets, $7).

VOICE:
>> We have been very impressed with the soprano of Susanna Phillips, both on stage and in recital. On Thursday (March 26, 7:30 p.m.) the Vocal Arts Society is bringing her back for a solo recital with pianist Craig Terry at the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. Tickets: $45.

INSTRUMENTAL:
>> Vadim Repin has just made a recording of the Brahms violin concerto and is apparently performing the piece everywhere he can. This Thursday (March 26, 8 p.m.) he comes to the Music Center at Strathmore with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and guest conductor Yan Pascal Tortelier (if you miss Repin’s Brahms this time he will play the work again with the NSO this fall). This program also includes Prokofiev’s fifth symphony, a proposition that was a lot more exciting with the originally scheduled conductor, Yuri Temirkanov. There are also performances in Baltimore (March 27 to 29).