Soprano Christine Brewer. Photo by Christian Steiner.

>> Without a doubt, the concert not to be missed this week is the recital by soprano Christine Brewer and pianist Craig Rutenberg (March 23, 7:30 p.m.), presented by Vocal Arts D.C. in the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. In a review of her last recital here, I described her voice as “that rara avis, a luscious and buttery dramatic soprano that has the power to strip paint off the walls but with the control and suavity to apply that nuclear force only when needed.” Her new program, When I Have Sung My Songs to You, includes songs by Menotti, Ives, Virgil Thomson and others. Vocal Arts D.C. is offering a special half-price discount to this concert: for tickets at $20, send an e-mail to info@vocalartsdc.org with the word “BREWER” in the subject line. Include your first and last name, address, phone number, and number of seats requested (limit of two seats per e-mail address).

THE FREE KIND:
>> To celebrate Women’s History Month, the National Gallery of Art presents cellist Tanya Anisimova and pianist Lydia Frumkin playing music by Anisimova and Schubert in a free lunchtime concert on Wednesday (March 23, 12:10 p.m.) in the museum’s East Building auditorium.

>> The Library of Congress presents Baroque cellist Tanya Tomkins in two free performances of J. S. Bach’s complete solo cello suites on Saturday (March 26, 11 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.). You can reserve seats for this free concert in advance through Ticketmaster, for the usual fees.

ALSO:
>> Violinist Miriam Fried and her son, pianist Jonathan Biss, team up for an all-Beethoven recital on Tuesday (March 22, 7:30 p.m.) in the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater.

>> Opera Bel Cantanti presents Rossini’s extremely silly opera L’Italiana in Algeri, beginning on Friday at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington in Rockville (March 25 to April 2, various times). This company’s productions are usually accompanied by piano.

>> The vocal chamber ensemble Cathedra will perform a Lenten Tenebrae concert this Friday (March 25, 7:30 p.m.), at Washington National Cathedral. The excellent program features Victoria’s Tenebrae Responsories, James McMillan’s Tenebrae and Frank Martin’s Mass for Double Chorus.

>> The National Chamber Ensemble presents Diva’s Night Out, with soprano Carmen Balthrop, on Saturday (March 26, 7:30 p.m.) at Arlington’s Rosslyn Spectrum Theater.

>> On Saturday night (March 26, 8 p.m.), the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra comes to Strathmore, in a program featuring music by Ravel and Lutosławski conducted by Yan Pascal Tortelier, and Orion Weiss as soloist in Grieg’s piano concerto.

>> The Phillips Collection presents Swiss-born pianist Olivier Cavé on Sunday (March 27, 4 p.m.), in a program of Clementi, Bach, Scarlatti and Beethoven.

>> Vienna’s Altenberg Trio comes to Dumbarton Oaks (March 27 and 28) to perform music by Haydn, Ravel and Chausson. This is a subscription series, but some tickets may be available for individual purchase closer to concert time.

>> For a complete concert calendar, go to Ionarts.