This is one of those weeks when classical music listeners feel especially lucky to live in Washington because of the number of free concerts. There are also several good concerts of contemporary music on the calendar — find them, after the jump.

Pianist Wilhem Latchoumia

THE FREE KIND:
>> The Washington Bach Consort‘s free noontime cantata series returns tomorrow (March 1, 12:10 p.m.) at the Church of the Epiphany (1317 G Street NW), with a performance of Bach’s Himmelskonig, sei willkommen, BWV 182. Guest organist Todd Fickley will also play Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in E-Flat Major, BWV 552.

>> Pianist and composer Brad Mehldau, whose music straddles the line between jazz and classical music, performs a free solo recital tomorrow night (March 1, 8 p.m.) at the Library of Congress. The ticket supply is already distributed, but you can always show up early to the performance and wait on line for an unused seat.

>> The National Gallery of Art presents a free lunchtime concert on Wednesday (March 2, 12:10 p.m.) by French pianist Wilhem Latchoumia, in the East Building auditorium. The program of music by Debussy, Reynaldo Hahn and Villa-Lobos coincides with the life of Paul Gauguin, whose art is featured in the museum’s new exhibit Gauguin: Maker of Myth. Latchoumia will also perform a free concert, Les écritures nouvelles, on Thursday night (March 3, 7:30 p.m.) at La Maison Française, with music by Cowell, Boulez, Saariaho, Pesson and Jodlowski. You do need to contact the embassy to make a reservation in advance.

>> There is more Bach on Thursday afternoon (March 3, 1:30 p.m.) from the Bach Cantata Series presented by the University of Maryland School of Music, at the Clarice Smith Center in College Park.