THE music of Sir Harrison Birtwistle was never easy on the ear but it had a power that coupled visionary mysticism with the grinding aural onslaught of industrial machinery. He thought of himself as an English Pastoral composer, though it was an England of the gritty north as opposed to the soft south. And however difficult his work, it towers like a colossus over the musical culture of Britain in the later 20th century.

When he died last year it was a landmark passing. And prominent among ongoing tributes is a memorial concert at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on March 5, given by the London Sinfonietta alongside student groups from the Royal Academy. Martyn Brabbins conducts. Go with an open mind and be surprised. southbankcentre.co.uk

• If life is tough in Ukraine these days, it’s not much easier for Russian musicians who have nothing to do with Putin but are caught in the political crossfire. So bear a thought for the young pianist Victor Maslov – raised in Moscow, a recent graduate of the Royal College of Music here in London, and one of those wunderkinds who collect prestigious international prizes like the rest of us collect Clubcard points at Tesco.

On March 7 he plays a programme of Rachmaninov, Janáček and Stravinsky in Leighton House, Holland Park: an extraordinary place, all the more impressive for the restoration it’s just undergone. Easily reached from Olympia Overground. Part of the excellent Discoveries keyboard series that’s been running there. lisapeacock.co.uk

• English Touring Opera opened their spring season at Hackney Empire last weekend, and it continues with two not so often staged works that you may not have encountered before. On March 3 there’s Donizetti’s cut and thrust account of the serial-poisoner Lucrezia Borgia. And on March 4 is Rossini’s Il Viaggio a Reims: a jolly romp about a rabble of international dignitaries who get stranded on their way to a coronation. Any resemblance to what will soon be happening here as the great and good make their way to Westminster Abbey can only be accidental. But its huge cast of solo singers guarantees the piece a festival quality (as well as rarity). Worth catching while you can. hackneyempire.co.uk

• In deference to International Women’s Day, the Hermes Experiment install themselves at Wigmore Hall on March 8 for works by female composers. At lunchtime the group’s soprano Heloise Warner joins forces with the Tippett Quartet in settings of poetry by the reclusive Charlotte Mew, recently composed by Kate Whitley. And in the evening the whole ensemble come together for another all-female programme. wigmore-hall.org.uk

• Finally, if you ever wondered how the modern concert harp works and wanted an up-close demonstration, harpist Camilla Pay has a recital on Mar 7 at Salon Music in Highgate Village. Details: salonmusic.co.uk