This year, The Florida Orchestra’s "A Baroque Holiday" program features two of its own violinists, Nancy Chang and Sarah Shellman, in Bach’s Concerto for Two Violins as part of the Holland America Line Coffee Concert series. Not only do you get to hear accessible pieces by Baroque composers such as Vivaldi and Handel, but they’ve added favorites by later composers Tchaikovsky (selections from The Nutcracker) and Vaughan Williams (Fantasia on Greensleeves). And while Vivaldi’s "Spring" from The Four Seasons is something I can live without ever hearing again, it will be refreshing to hear contrasting versions of "Winter," one Vivaldi’s, the other an arrangement by Argentinian tangoist Astor Piazzola from his Four Seasons in Buenos Aires. Plus complimentary coffee and donuts, just like they rocked it in the 1600’s! Alastair Willis conducts. Thurs., Dec. 18, 11 a.m., Progress Energy Center for the Arts-Mahaffey Theater, 400 First St. S., St. Petersburg, $24-$40 general/$10 students, 727-892-3337 or 800-662-7286.
