Life in Russia has always been the best of times and the worst of times, inspiring a national malady of excessive melodrama. On the bright side, this sadness-as-a-way-of-life inspired generations of composers to turn political turmoil and social strife into richly layered music shot through with adrenaline and a surprising, resilient joy. Violin superstar Joshua Bell may not bring his own angst to this program of Russian composers (he enjoyed a comfortable, all-American boyhood in the Midwest), but his bold strokes are perfect for this selection of works by Tchaikovsky, as well as Prokofiev and Rachmaninoff. 651-224-4222; [2]