In Classical Focus, Theodore Bell selects highlights from Jim Eninger’s Clickable Chamber Music Newsletter. Here are his top picks:

‘Tis the season! We have great music of all types warming our Angeleno hearths this time of year, and this week starts the holidays with so many wonderful choices – modern and contemporary, traditional, and, of course, seasonal.

On Saturday, the acclaimed English early music vocal ensemble, the Tallis Scholars, will sing early English and German carols at the Irvine Barclay Theatre – a bit of a drive, but a concert well-worth the trek.  Closer to home – in fact, in a home – you can relax with Debussy, Mozart, and Brahms while enjoying wine and hors d’oeuvres in an intimate venue with local pianist Carolyn Brown (limited seating).

The Schubert Ensemble of London performs on Dec. 6 at Caltech. / photo by Johnn Clark

“Songs of the Sun” will close out the West Coast Left Coast Festival Sunday evening, as Brian Wilson, Dave Alvin, Harper Simon, and the Living Sisters celebrate the spirit of the West at Disney Hall.  Across town in Pasadena, the Schubert Ensemble of London, one of Britain’s finest chamber groups, will perform at Caltech’s Beckman Auditorium.

The Monday Evening Concerts series will present a program that includes Sciarrino’s “Perfection” at Zipper Concert Hall.  Learn more about Sciarrino’s music with the documentary “Encounters with Sciarrino” and live performance by Mario Caroli Sunday morning in the Goethe-Institut.

Santa Barbara’s Camerata Pacifica will be back in town Tuesday at the Huntington and Thursday at Zipper Concert Hall.  It will be an outstanding event at either venue.

…and the holiday concerts are just beginning. Fa la la la la… la la la l’angeles!

Music & Wine on Warner

Debussy, Mozart, and Brahms!  Enjoy great chamber music, and enjoy wine and hors d’oeuvres as you chat with the artists at Music & Wine on Warner.  Distinguished pianist, recording artist, and educator Carolyn Brown will be joined by Nancy Roth (violin), Pamela Goldsmith (viola) and Garik Terzian (cello) for an intimate concert featuring Debussy’s Sonata for cello and piano, Mozart’s Piano Quartet in G Minor, K478, and Brahms’ Piano Quartet in C Minor, Op.60.  Seating is limited; call or email for reservations.

Saturday, Dec. 5, 8 p.m.
Private home, 6227 Warner Drive, Los Angeles, (323) 939-2235, cbflorestan@sbcglobal.net

Admission: $30.

Songs of the Sun

Join Brian Wilson in  “Songs of the Sun” with Dave Alvin, Harper Simon, and the Living Sisters, as they close out the West Coast Left Coast Festival.  This will be a great ending to an eclectic look at the musical spirit of the Left Coast.

Sunday, Dec. 6, 8 p.m.

Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 850-2000, www.laphil.com

Christmas with the Tallis Scholars

On Saturday the acclaimed English early music vocal ensemble, the Tallis Scholars, will sing early English and German carols with a seasonal theme.  These extraordinary singers are widely respected for their interpretations of Renaissance sacred music in concert and recording.  This will be a concert to remember.

Sunday, Dec. 6, 3 p.m.

Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine

Tickets: $100, $23.

Schubert Ensemble of London

Coleman Chamber Music Concerts presents the internationally acclaimed Schubert Ensemble of London with William Howard (piano), Simon Blendis (violin), Douglas Patterson (viola), Jane Salmon (cello), and Peter Buckoke (double bass) Sunday in the Beckman Auditorium at Caltech in Pasadena.   They are among the very best of the piano and string chamber specialists performing in the most prestigious venues around the world.  The program includes Martin Butler’s “Sequenza Notturna,” Saint-Saëns’ Piano Quartet in B-flat Major, Op.41, and Brahms’ Piano Quartet No.1 in G Minor, Op.25.  Martin Butler’s beautiful contemporary work will stand up to the iconic Brahms and should make for an extraordinary program.

Sunday, Dec. 6, 3:30 p.m.
Beckman Auditorium, Caltech, Pasadena, 1-888-2-CALTECH

Tickets: $40, $34, $28, $22 / $10 youth.

Monday Evening Concerts

In addition to Salvatore Sciarrino’s “La Perfezione di uno Spirito Sottile,” Monday Evening Concerts presents two premieres, Doina Rotaru’s “Tempio di Fumo” (U.S. premiere) and Tristan Murail’s “Territoires de L’oubli” (L.A. premiere).  Flutist Mario Caroli is joined by Marilyn Nonken (piano), Jonathan Hepfer (percussion), and Alice Teyssier (soprano).

Monday, Dec. 7, 8:00 p.m.
Zipper Concert Hall at the Colburn School, 200 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles

Tickets: $27 / $12 students.

Learn more about Sciarrino’s music with the documentary “Encounters with Sciarrino” and live performance by Mario Caroli Sunday morning in the Goethe-Institut. The Goethe-Institut will open at 10:30 a.m. for refreshments, and the program begins promptly at 11:00 a.m.

Sunday, Dec. 6, 11 a.m.
Goethe-Institut Media Lounge, 5750 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles
(Just east of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art)

Price: $5 / free for subscribers.

Camerata Pacifica

Santa Barbara’s Camerata Pacifica will be back in town Tuesday at the Huntington and Thursday at Zipper Concert Hall presenting Tchaikovsky’s Trio in A Minor for piano, violin, and cello and Piazzolla’s delightful “Four Seasons of Buenos Aires.”  It should be a great concert at either venue – but the ambiance of the Huntington will feel wonderfully warm this time of year.

Tuesday, Dec. 8, 8 p.m.
Huntington Library, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino

Thursday, Dec. 10, 8 p.m.
Zipper Concert Hall at the Colburn School, 200 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles

Tickets: $42.