BEST BETS Sunday 3/25

COSTA MESA

2pm

Music

Samuel Barber’s “Adagio for Strings” is well-known because of its use as funeral music for presidents Franklin Delano Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy, but less known is Barber’s later choral version of the work, which uses the text of the “Agnus Dei.” John Alexander will conduct the Pacific Chorale and the Pacific Symphony in the choral version on a program that also includes Barber’s “Prayers of Kierkegaard” and Bruckner’s mighty Mass No. 3 in F minor. The soloists will be soprano Carmen Pelton, mezzo-soprano Ellen Rabiner, tenor Beau Palmer and bass Ralph Cato.

* Pacific Chorale, Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. 2 p.m. $15 to $49. (714) 556-2787.

(4) A black and white print of Quatracelli is in the Pasles photo folder.

PLACENTIA

3pm

Music

With a range of more than four octaves, the cello can play a rich bass line, a soaring top melody and everything between. Imagine what four cellos can do. The four-member ensemble, Quatracelli, explores the possibilities, playing music by Friedrich Gruetzmacher, Jongen, Missal and other composers. The cello quartet comprises Kyle Champion, Trina Hodgson, Rick Mooney and Margaret Parkins.

* Quatracelli, Bradford House, 136 Palm Circle, Placentia. 3 p.m. Free. (714) 993-2470.

IRVINE

5pm

Jazz

The exuberant swing music of Count Basie got a hefty plug in Ken Burns’ “Jazz” series, and it’ll be the focus of the 12th annual County Basie Tribute concert in Irvine. The always dependable Frank Capp Juggernaut orchestra leads the festivities, and the group will be joined by several musicians who played under the Kid From the Red Bank before the Count’s death in 1984.

* Count Basie Tribute, Irvine Marriott, 18000 Von Karman Ave. 5 p.m. $25. (949) 553-9449.