Two performances by trios showcase world-renowned string musicians, for entertainment as well as a cause.

A lineup of international fiddlers and cellists invades the Monterey Peninsula for two separate and unique performances this week.

The stringed extravaganza starts Thursday with “From Russia With Love” in Carmel Valley. This is a benefit concert for Big Sur Fiddle Camp by cellist Georgy Gusev, cellist Boris Andrianov and guitarist Dimitri Illarionov.

Gusev assures attendees can expect a unique performance by the high-caliber trio. “Boris and Dimitri are such extremely intuitive artists, that it really does not matter what kind of music you play with them.” At the end of their main program, several kids from the camp join the stage to perform a couple pieces.

Gusev was the master cello teacher at last year’s Big Sur Fiddle Camp, as he is this year. (The camp is going on its 11th season June 10-16.) The week-long “family-style” immersion program brings in 40 young campers, 15 instructors and 15 volunteers, ending the week with a community concert.

Just three days later, Nordic Fiddlers Bloc plays Pacific Grove. Fiddlers Olav Luksengård Mjelva, Anders Hall and Kevin Henderson proudly represent and blend four Nordic fiddle styles.

Combining traditional and contemporary fiddle music, the show features original compositions, historical insights and “distinct tunes connected with the traditions like polskas from Sweden, hallings from Norway reels from Shetland,” Henderson explains.

Mjelva represents two Norwegian traditions: folk music from Røros played on a standard fiddle and music from Hallingdal played on a Hardanger fiddle, a unique instrument from a small swath of the county featuring four strings, supported by four or more understrings.

Hall’s style tends toward Hälsiagland, Sweden. This style changes “from major to minor, sometimes in the same tune. There is also a different feel of the 16th and eighth beat compared to some other areas in Sweden,” he notes.

From the Shetland Islands, Henderson is amazed at the style’s popularity, “given that we are a tiny group of islands north of Scotland and west of Norway,” he says.

“There are 7.5 billion humans in this world who need the beauty, harmony and energy you can find only in and express only through the music,” Gusev says. “This is the power of music I love the most.”

FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE 7:30-10pm Thursday, April 19. Hidden Valley Music Center, 104 W. Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley. $25-$50. 659-3115, hiddenvalleymusic.org.

NORDIC FIDDLERS BLOC 3pm Sunday, April 22. St. Mary’s by-the-Sea, 146 12th St., Pacific Grove. $8-$22. 224-3819,celticsociety.org.