The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra this week will premiere the first of two new works the orchestra will tackle this spring. Music Director Ward Stare will lead the RPO in composer Allen Shawn's Oboe Concerto, featuring RPO Principal Oboe Erik Behr as soloist for these first-ever performances. Shawns's style can be enigmatic and moody, but his music is beautifully evocative, even in more dissonant moments. (And interesting fact: The composer is the younger brother of actor and writer Wallace Shawn.) The world premiere would be momentous enough, but it also happens to be sandwiched in between Haydn's Symphony No. 22, nicknamed "The Philosopher," and Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony. Look for a CITY review of this concert on Friday, online at rochestercitynewspaper.com.

The RPO will perform Thursday, March 22, 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, March 24, 8 p.m., at Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre, 60 Gibbs Street. $24-$104. 454-2100; rpo.org; allenshawn.com.