MusicThe sunny warmth of Italy has always...

Music

The sunny warmth of Italy has always attracted northern composers. Tchaikovsky spent three months there in 1880 and recorded his impressions in the splashy orchestral showpiece “Capriccio Italien.” A decade later, he returned to the south and recorded that visit in the “Souvenir de Florence” for String Sextet. The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center will play this later work on a program that includes Ravel’s Sonata for Violin and Cello and the West Coast premiere of Wynton Marsalis’ “At the Octoroon Balls” for String Quartet. It’s sponsored by the Philharmonic Society of Orange County.

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* What: The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.

* When: 8 p.m. tonight.

* Where: Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive.

* Whereabouts: Exit the San Diego (405) Freeway at Jamboree Road; go south. Turn left onto Campus Drive. The theater is on Campus near Bridge Road, across from the Marketplace shopping center.

* Wherewithal: $14 to $25.

* Where to call: (714) 553-2422.

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Pop

If your ears have a sweet tooth for terrific pop melodies and harmonies, but you also get pumped up by some modern-rock rawness, potential Nirvana (the old-fashioned kind) awaits Friday at Linda’s Doll Hut. L.A.’s Baby Lemonade and the O.C.-bred Liquor Giants are among the very best there are when it comes to deploying classic ‘60s influences such as the Beatles, Beach Boys and Kinks while delivering an up-to-date impact. There won’t be many more-highly recommended club shows this year than this bill; also playing is Tommy Stinson’s Perfect, which has been less than flawless so far on record and in concert--but you never know when an alt-rock legend such as this former Replacement is going to live up to his pedigree.

* What: Baby Lemonade, Liquor Giants.

* When: 9 p.m. Friday

* Where: Linda’s Doll Hut, 107 S. Adams St., Anaheim.

* Whereabouts: Exit the Santa Ana (5) Freeway at Lincoln Avenue, head west. Turn south on Manchester and south on Adams Street.

* Wherewithal: $5.

* Where to call: (714) 533-1286.

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Comedy

Growing up in an extended family of 10 children in St. Louis, Kathleen Madigan learned early the advantages of having a sense of humor to keep her sanity. The humor that developed, however, was a bit on the dry side. Consider her take on bowling, a sport she dabbled in for two years in college. “I was drunk and needed shoes,” she explained. “I’ll give bowlers credit, though. I think they’re steroid-free.” The Missouri native also turns to material about friends, family and things Midwestern to round out her act.

* Who: Kathleen Madigan.

* When: 8:30 tonight, 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. Friday, 8 and 10:30 p.m. Saturday and 8 p.m. Sunday

* Where: The Improv, 4255 Campus Drive, Irvine.

* Whereabouts: Exit the San Diego (405) Freeway at Jamboree Road and go south. Turn left onto Campus Drive. The club is in the Marketplace shopping center, across from UCI.

* Wherewithal: $10-$12.

* Where to call: (714) 854-5455.

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Family

There will be plenty of camping buddies to go around when the the Pacific Symphony leads a musical junket “Into the Woods.” Conducted by assistant conductor Elizabeth Stoyanovich, the pair of Saturday morning concerts at the Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa will feature classical and contemporary works with woodsy themes. The program, recommended for youths 4 to 13 and their families, includes Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6, “Pastorale,” as well as selections from Engelbert Humperdinck’s 1893 children’s opera “Hansel and Gretel” and Stephen Sondheim’s 1987 musical, “Into the Woods.” Stoyanovich will provide commentary from the podium.

* What: Pacific Symphony family concert.

* When: 10 and 11:30 a.m. Saturday.

* Where: Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa.

* Whereabouts: From the San Diego (405) Freeway, exit at Bristol Street and drive north. Turn right on Town Center Drive.

* Wherewithal: $9-$11.

* Where to call: (714) 556-2787.