Jesse Revenig, a doctoral candidate at Northwestern University, will discuss openly gay composers Samual Barber and Benjamin Britten in relation to sexuality Friday, Nov. 18, at the Curtain Call Club at the Athenaeum Theater, 2936 N. Southport Ave., at 6:30 p.m.
The event is free.
In a related event, Chicago Arts Orchestra (CAO) kicks off its 2011-12 season with the concert “Masters of the 20th and 21st Centuries” featuring music written for string orchestra by Barber, Britten, Eric Ewazen and Arvo Pärt Saturday, Nov. 19, at 8 p.m. at the Athenaeum. (There will also be a discussion at 7:30 p.m.) Tickets for this event are $15-$25; visit www.athenaeumtheatre.com or call 773-935-6860.