AMERICANA AND THE AVANT-GARDE Boston-area author M.T. Anderson curates an evening of music and words at Provincetown’s historic Hawthorne Barn. Musical works by Ives, Cage, George Antheil, and Ben Franklin — that Ben Franklin — will be performed by the Aurea Ensemble, alongside readings chosen to illuminate “America’s nostalgic and vexed imagination of the rural.’’ June 4, 7 p.m., Twenty Summers, Provincetown. 508-812-0278, www.20summers.org

ROCKPORT CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL The opening of Rockport always marks the unofficial start of the summer classical season. This year’s kickoff brings the Parker Quartet performing works by Haydn and Bartok alongside Dvorak’s A-major Piano Quintet with guest artist Menahem Pressler. June 3, 7 p.m., Shalin Liu Performance Center. 978-546-7391, www.rockportmusic.org

WHEN IN ROME Odyssey Opera mounts a mini-festival devoted to opera seria, with rarely spotted works by Gluck (“Ezio’’) and Mozart (“Lucio Silla’’) in fully staged performances under the baton of Gil Rose. June 3-12, Boston University Theatre. 617-826-1626, www.odysseyopera.org JEREMY EICHLER