Pink Martini, the brainchild of musician Thomas Lauderdale, makes a return visit to the stage of the Peristyle today as they join the Toledo Symphony in a concert which promises a unique view of today’s political landscape.

In his own words, Lauderdale describes the group’s mission to “provide more beautiful and inclusive musical soundtracks for political fund-raisers for causes such as civil rights, affordable housing, the environment, libraries, public broadcasting, education, and parks.”

Since the group is in itself a “little orchestra” and its members have studied languages and music from across the world, their repertoire is diverse, multilingual, and a bit like “an urban musical travelogue.”

Widely acclaimed and enjoyed by Toledo audiences last season, the concert begins at 8 p.m. today in the Toledo Museum of Art Peristyle, 2445 Monroe St. Tickets are $45 to $70 and available at 419-246-8000 or toledosymphony.com.

■ The Bowling Green Philharmonia under the baton of Emily Freeman Brown offers an interplanetary excursion with two complete performances of Holst’s The Planets. The first will be held at 10 a.m. today for schoolchildren. The second is at 8 p.m. today and is open to the public. Projections provided by the BGSU Planetarium and Dale Smith will highlight both concerts. Performances are at Kobacker Hall in the Moore Musical Arts Center on the campus of Bowling Green State University. Tickets for the evening show are $10 at 419-372-8171 or bgsu.edu/​the-arts.

■ The College of Musical Arts tuba and euphonium students under the direction of David Saltzman will perform a free concert at 8 p.m. Tuesday at Bryan Recital Hall in Moore Musical Arts Center on the campus of Bowling Green State University.

■ The BGSU guest artist series continues with pianists Gulimina Mahamuti and Frank Chiou in a free recital 8 p.m. Wednesday in Bryan Recital Hall of the BGSU’s Moore Musical Arts Center.

■ The BGSU concert series at the Wildwood Preserve Manor House, 5100 W. Central Ave., features the viola students of Matthew Daline in a free concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

■ Free Ear/​Eye, a free series exploring the link between contemporary music and art continues at 7 p.m. Friday in the Wolfe Gallery for Contemporary Art at the Toledo Museum of Art.

■ In celebration of the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, the Toledo Opera and the Toledo Museum of Art are joining forces for an afternoon program celebrating Romeo and Juliet in preparation for the upcoming opera. Kevin Bylsma, the opera’s head of music preparation, will discuss the artistic link between Gounod and Shakespeare. In addition, tenor Brian Arreola (Romeo) and baritone Efraín Solís (Mercutio) will perform arias to accompany dramatic readings from the original text by Opera Production Coordinator Jim Norman. The free event begins 2 p.m. March 31 in the Cloister of the Toledo Muesum of Art.

■ The Sound of Silents continues at the Toledo Museum of Art with a screening of 1925 classic Ben-Hur with organist Clark Wilson providing the soundtrack on the Peristyle’s Skinner organ.

The event is free and the curtain rises at 7 p.m. March 31 in at the TMA.

■ The Toledo Lutheran Urban Missions Partners Choir presents Faure’s Requiem. Conducted by Annelle Donaldson, with organist Nancy Russell and harpist Denise Grupp-Verbon accompanying, soloists include soprano Kathleen Shuck and baritone Daniel Ferguson. The free concert is at 4 p.m. Friday at Glenwood Lutheran Church, 2545 Monroe St.

■ The Jazz Faculty Ensemble of the University of Toledo performs in concert at 7 p.m. Monday in the recital hall of the Center for Performing Arts on the university campus. Tickets are $3-$5 at the door.

■ Musician Ryan Dunlap, a singer/​songwriter from Perrysburg, is the featured artist in the Bailey Legal Group Singer/​Songwriter Lounge at 8 p.m. Friday at the Sandusky State Theatre, 107 Columbus Ave., Sandusky. Tickets are $10 at 419-629-1950 or sanduskystate.com.

■ The Maureen Choi Quartet presents Latin Jazz Made in Spain, a program blending the folkloric traditions of Spain, Cuba, and South America through improvisation and jazz. The program begins 8 p.m. Friday at the Kerrytown Concert House, 415 N. Fourth Ave., Ann Arbor. Tickets are $5-$30 at 734-769-2999 or kerrytownconcerthouse.com.

■ University of Michigan Professor Benny Green is featured in an evening of jazz with the Benny Green Trio at 7 and 9 p.m. Saturday in the Kerrytown Concert House, 415 N. Fourth Ave., Ann Arbor. Tickets are $10-$35 at 734-769-2999 or kerrytownconcerthouse.com.

■ The Sies/​Willis Duo present an eclectic evening of contemporary music for percussion and bass. Also on the program is HBNY, an ensemble exploring new music for the clarinet family. It begins 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Kerrytown Concert House, 415 N. Fourth Ave., Ann Arbor. Tickets are $5-$25 at 734-769-2999 or kerrytownconcerthouse.com.

Send news of music items at least two weeks in advance to classics@theblade.com.

First Published March 24, 2016, 4:00 a.m.