Informal brilliance, virtuosity, gravity, hilarity – we’ve even seen them drop down to one knee and give a serenade in four-part vocal harmony to one lucky lady. In short, for a quarter century, Boston Brass has served up one-of-a-kind musical experiences to concertgoers around the globe, and in 49 US states.

Apparently North Dakota has a law against extreme artistic elation.

Good for us we’re not in the Badlands or on the Drift Prairie, and that the five guys in BB’s trademark famous purple jackets are back in town again. Who’d pass up a chance to take in their unique blend of uber-classy classics, smokin’ hot jazz, and the odd surprise or ten? Besides someone visiting from Bismarck or Fargo who likes neither music nor having absurd amounts of fun, we can’t think of anyone.

Boston Brass website

Renowned for their unearthly sonorous blend and virtuosic ensemble singing, the four women of Anonymous 4 are universally hailed as the foremost period vocal ensemble on the planet. Combining musical, literary, and historical acumen with preternatural performance intuition, they create ingenious, delightfully enlightening programs, interweaving music and poetry with storytelling of an almost epic sweep.

“Noel: Four Centuries of Christmas” is a prime example of Anonymous 4’s musical and dramatic gift. This spectacular holiday concert experience combines the most popular carols and hymns, the most moving motets and chants from the group’s medieval Christmas programs, “On Yoolis Night,” “A Star in the East,” “Legends of St. Nicholas,” “Wolcum Yule,” and “The Cherry Tree.”

If you know Anonymous 4 already, you know to be there for the central Pennsylvania premier of “Noel.” If you haven’t yet had the joy, come hear why music lovers around the world have bought A4’s CDs to the tune of almost 2,000,000 copies!

Anonymous 4 website

“Faith.” That’s what Imani means in Swahili. And it’s a most appropriate name for this youthful group that’s more than just a wind quintet, that’s dedicated to carving a unique path through the classical music world with genre-blurring, culturally inclusive concerts designed to bridge European, African, American and Hispanic traditions, and to inspire audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

No dry, rehashed run-through of old warhorses, a concert by Imani will expose even the most jaded among us to new works, and to fresh aspects of well-known masterpieces set in scintillating juxtaposition. One might even say (as NPR did) that the creativity and inspired artistry of Imani “rocks the house.”

But don’t take that on faith. Take in Imani Winds.

Iamni Winds website

Haydn was the undisputed emperor of the 18th century string quartet, Beethoven the king of the 19th. But whose quartets reigned supreme in the 20th? For our money, Béla Bartók’s.

What makes Bartók’s 6 quartets so great? Intensity of emotion, pure and simple. An orchestra roaring out full-blast is impressive, but four lone string players straining, bursting at the seams to do what Bartók asks is even more overwhelming; and the next second he may call upon them to be skipping lightly, just like joyous children, or whispering hymns he’s penned with all the rapture of the blest.

The only thing wanting is a group equal to the physical and emotional challenges posed by Bartók’s art. Fortunately, for this 6-work, 2-night cycle we’ve secured the services of Los Angeles’ finest, the Calder String Quartet. They’re the group whose playing Strings Magazine called “an almost delirious display of rich coloration and complex textures.” In other words, when it comes playing Bartók’s hyper-demanding masterworks, they’re absolutely perfect.

Quartet website Guide to the Bartok Quartets