String along

Vaughan Williams’ lilting “Fantasia on Greensleeves” sounds like spring but plays just fine in the fall. The Kansas City Symphony Chamber Players unpack that familiar pastorale and works by three other English composers tonight for the first concert of a new series at Visitation Church (5141 Main). Assistant conductor Steven Jarvi raises his baton at 8 p.m. for a program titled “Music of Great Britain” that includes smartly chosen pieces by Elgar, Britten and Holst. The latter’s “St. Paul’s Suite” totally shreds, in a churchy way, and Britten’s “Simple Symphony” lays the hammer down on tea time. Do your happy-hour drinking from a chalice first. Call 816-471-0400 or see kcsymphony.org for tickets, which cost $20 for adults. Next spring, the series continues with programs centered on Shostakovich and serenades by Britten and Dvorák.

Fri., Nov. 14, 8 p.m., 2008