Have your staycation and go to Milan, too
Sunday Attend the first performance of Richard Wagner’s “Tristan and Isolde” to be mounted at Milan’s La Scala in 30 years for a song. Daniel Barenboim conducts; Ian Storey and Waltraud Meier play the potion-besotted lovers. Acclaimed theater-opera director Patrice Chereau’s staging, wrote classical music critic Anthony Tomassini, “is visually spare . . . and profoundly humane.” The journey to the famed opera house won’t cost much. The performance — shot on stunning high-definition video — screens as part of Neighborhood Flix’s summertime opera series. 2 p.m. Sunday, Neighborhood Flix, 2510 E. Colfax Ave.; $18-$20. 303-777-FLIX. Lisa Kennedy
Visual Art
Today and Saturday. Book art. More than 65 dealers from across the United States and Canada will be on hand for the 24th Annual Rocky Mountain Book and Paper Fair. This year’s edition, which is co-sponsored by the Book Arts League and Guild of Book Workers, focuses on the theme “The Art of the Book.” Special events include an exhibit of political ephemera from 5 to 9 p.m. today and a panel discussion at 11 a.m. Saturday on collecting fine-art prints and books. The fair will take place from 5 to 9 p.m. today and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Denver Merchandise Mart, East 58th Avenue and Interstate 25. $6 today and $4 Saturday. . Kyle MacMillan
Today. Art talk. Famed installation artist Ann Hamilton, a recipient of a MacArthur Foundation “genius grant,” is taking part in “Dialog:City.” The program, sponsored by the Denver Office of Cultural Affairs, consists of a series of art happenings surrounding the Democratic National Convention. As part of a preparatory visit to the city, Hamilton will present a free lecture at 6 p.m. today at the Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design, 1600 Pierce St., Lakewood. Kyle MacMillan
Dance
Monday. Festival. Damian Woetzel, the new artistic director of the Vail International Dance Festival, is determined to shake things up and attract new audiences. There is no better example of his enterprising efforts than Monday’s 7:30 p.m. festival program, titled “Dance for $20.08.” A play on the year, it features reserved tickets for $20.08 and lawn seating for $8. It’s a terrific deal, especially considering that it’s hardly a second-rate program. The lineup will include Keigwin + Company performing “Love Songs,” Madrid’s Soledad Barrio and Noche Flamenca and two dancers from the New York City Ballet. 888-920-2787 or . Kyle MacMillan
Opera
Wednesday and Aug. 8. Rare performance. Central City Opera has added an innovative new feature to its lineup this summer. Participants in the company’s Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Artists Training Program, which has produced an impressive list of major singers, will present two infrequently heard one-act operas. The progressive program will take place at two different venues in Central City on the same evening. Benjamin Britten’s “Curlew River” will be staged at St. James Methodist Church and Henry Purcell’s “Dido and Aeneas” will take place at the Foundry Rehearsal Center. Performances are at 8 p.m. Wednesday and Aug. 8. $30. 303-292-6700 or . Kyle MacMillan
Pop Music
Tonight-Saturday. Jam. With the String Cheese Incident now out of the mix, Yonder Mountain String Band is as Colorado as Colorado gets. The jammy string band plays a sold-out show tonight at the Boulder Theater to gear up for the big ‘un, Saturday’s headlining date at Red Rocks. Keller Williams opens the Red Rocks date. Ricardo Baca
Tonight. Rock. You could call it the “Dos Los” tour, but they’re calling it the “Brotherhood Tour.” It’s Los Lonely Boys and Los Lobos together on the same stage, and tonight the tour stops at the Fillmore Auditorium. Ricardo Baca
Tonight. Punk. If you like your punk rock dirty, unpredictable and profane, you’re likely already into the Dwarves. This band — creators of some of the world’s oddest record cover art — plays tonight at the Bluebird Theater. More: . Ricardo Baca
Tonight. Garage rock. One of the most exciting new entities in the bustling Colorado music scene is the Limbs — a whirling storm of noise that will take on Bender’s Tavern tonight. Bender’s is at 314 E. 13th Ave. in Denver. Ricardo Baca
Saturday. Country. She has sold more than 16 million albums. Now she’s touring her latest, “Waking Up Laughing.” Martina McBride is riding high on the success of the single “Anyway.” Her tour will play Saturday at Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre in Greenwood Village. Ricardo Baca
Sunday. Gospel brunch. Denver lacks a proper selection of gospel brunches, so when one pops up — even if it’s a special one-off event — we owe it to ourselves to jump on it. The three kings at 3 Kings Tavern are throwing a post-Underground Music Showcase gospel brunch: The Velvet Elvis Gospel Show and Pancake Breakfast. That’s right. The Velvet Elvis will sing all the greats as the kings dish up dollar pancakes and sweet specials with mimosas and bloodies. More: myspace . Ricardo Baca
