Spectral Scriabin is a classical concert enhanced by a sensational light show, packaged as part of Yale’s No Boundaries performance series. The colors and shadows are in keeping with the lush romantic melodies of the highlighted composer, Alexander Scriabin, who himself experimented with stage effects during his concerts back in the 19-teens. The pianist is Eteri Andjaparidze, the lighting designer is the Tony-winning Jennifer Tipton (who teaches at the Yale School of Drama). 8 p.m. tonight and Saturday at the Yale University Theatre. 222 York St., New Haven, www.yalerep.org
Monday, Feb. 6
Kick off the week with a spirited “Balkan jam session” with the Harris Brothers, 7-9 p.m. at Café Nine. 250 State St., New Haven; 203-789-8281, www.cafenine.com
Tuesday, Feb. 7
Why slow down? It’s Honky Tonk Tuesday at The Outer Space with the cat-loving local quintet Wry Bred. 295 Treadwell St., Hamden, (203) 288-6400, www.theouterspace.net/
Wednesday, Feb. 8
The New Haven Museum begins a Wednesday series of Black History Month events tonight at 6 p.m. with a lecture by Connecticut historian Carolyn Ivanoff on the groundbreaking African-American U.S. diplomat and educator Ebenezer Bassett. Born in Derby in 1833, Bassett was the first black student to attend the Connecticut Normal School, later studied at Yale, and was principal of an elementary school in New Haven. He was appointed U.S. Ambassador to Haiti in 1869. 114 Whitney Ave., New Haven. (203) 562-4183 x11, newhavenmuseum.org
Thursday, Feb. 9
Christina Anderson graduated from the Yale School of Drama playwriting program last spring, but the university’s not done with her yet. Good Goods, an earthy and enriching voodoo drama which was given a student workshop production at Yale a few semesters ago, is getting its world premiere at the Yale Repertory Theatre. Previews began last Friday; tonight (8 p.m.) is opening night, with the accustomed after-party. The run ends Feb. 25. $54-$73; student & senior discounts available. 1120 Chapel St., New Haven, (203) 432-1234, www.yalerep.org
Friday, Feb. 10
Two more music events tonight (in addition to Spectral Scriabin at the top of this list), each very distinct and with their own extra enticements:
It’s an interesting mix at Café Nine (250 State St., New Haven; 203-789-8281, www.cafenine.com), starting at 9 p.m.: Farewood, the eerie blues/rock trio from Meriden, opens for the chipper garage-pop act The Cavemen Go, once a busy band in New Haven until leader Jeremy moved to the Boston area. Also on the bill: the loud, ambling guitar act Dialogue from a Silent Film, some of whose members you’ll recognize from the Brooklyn line-up another relocated local band of yore, The Tyler Trudeau Attempt. And if you bring a mix CD of your favorite music along to trade, you get a dollar off the $5 admission.
Finally, local metal/rock icon Opus hosts a headbanging Blizzard Bash at Toad’s Place. Don’t let band names like As Everything Ends and The Curse of Her Flesh fool you—this is an overwhelmingly fun-loving show, at which the ubiquitous Opus will drum with Dead by Wednesday and the amusingly named Metallica cover band Alcoholica. Comedy and acrobatics come courtesy of parody rockers Nasty Disaster and the energetic Big Ed. Kali Ma’s also on hand, and Kings & Liars are celebrating the release of their new EP. The music starts at 7 p.m. and goes until closing time. 300 York St., New Haven; 203-624-TOAD, www.toadsplace.com
Saturday, Feb. 11
Every winter the Yale School of Music’s opera program rents the Shubert for a full production of a popular opera, starring outstanding student vocalists and bolstered by elaborate sets and costumes, professional staging (by the acclaimed Australian director Justin Way) and the Philharmonia Orchestra of Yale (conducted by Speranza Scappucci). This year’s spectacle is Mozart’s comic love-swap cosi fan tutte. Performances are Feb. 10-12: Friday & Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. $19-$41.
Sunday, Feb. 12
Valentine’s Day is still two days off, but love is already in the air. The New York romantic classic Moonstruck, starring Cher and Nicolas Cage and Olympia Dukakis, is this weekend’s 11:30 a.m. “Movies & Mimosas” offering at Criterion Cinemas. It should resonate strongly with those who saw the play Italian-American Reconciliation by the same writer, John Patrick Shanley, at the Long Wharf Theatre last spring. 86 Temple St., New Haven. (203) 498-2500, http://www.bowtiecinemas.com
At 2 p.m. in Sterling Memorial Library, an assortment of students, faculty members, actors and musicians tear through all 154 Shakespeare sonnets before dinnertime, for free, as part of the semester-long Shakespeare at Yale celebration. 120 High St., New Haven, yalesonnet@gmail.com
