Rock singer Joan Osborne brings her fine act to Ogden
Classical Music
Saturday. Rock. Joan Osborne is one of the hardest-working singers in show business. She puts out records — consistently good records — but she plies her trade most effectively on the road, where her warm and versatile voice heats up venues large and small. She’s at the Ogden Theatre (935 E. Colfax Ave.) Saturday night pushing the fine new “Little Wild One” and sharing the bill with the venerable John Hiatt. The show is at 8 p.m. 303-830-2525 or . Ray Mark Rinaldi
Wednesday. Opera on TV. Some singers perform. Others redefine their art form and bring it to a whole new audience. That was the case with Luciano Pavarotti. The great tenor, who died in 2007, will be remembered in a fitting, 90-minute Great Performances tribute to be broadcast at 7 p.m. Wednesday on KRMA-Channel 6. It will combine performance footage of seven of his most famous arias with reminiscences by such luminaries as his two fellow members of the Three Tenors and sopranos Joan Sutherland and Renata Scotto. 303-892-6666 or . Kyle MacMillan
Saturday. Symphonic music. Venezuela is rapidly becoming a classical-music powerhouse because of its massive investment in youth orchestras. One product of the nationwide program, Gustavo Dudamel, will take over as music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 2009. Another, Ilyich Rivas, a 15-year-old conductor who now lives in Colorado, will serve as a guest conductor during the Fort Collins Symphony’s 53rd young artist competition. The event will take place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Colorado State University’s Griffin Hall. $15, $7 for students. 970-221-6730 or . Kyle MacMillan
Visual Art
Today.Ceramics. Few names figure more prominently in the history of ceramic art in Colorado than Nan and Jim McKinnell. Highlights of their work, spanning seven decades, will be celebrated in an exhibition opening today and running through Oct. 31 at the Byers-Evans House Gallery, 1310 Bannock St. The selections are drawn from their personal collection as well as the holdings of friends and other collectors. An opening reception is set for 5 to 9 p.m. today. Free. 303-620-4933 or . Kyle MacMillan
Today. Mixed media. The innovative “Paralleled” series of exhibitions explore differences and unexpected resonances by offering two seemingly contrasting bodies of art at the same time. The third installment, “Paralleled 3: French Street Art and American Landscapes,” opens today in the Steele Gallery at the Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design, 1600 Pierce St., with a public reception from 6 to 9 p.m. The show runs through Sept. 20. 303-225-8575 or . — Kyle MacMillan.
Pop Music
Wednesday.Anachronistic pop Colin Meloy’s word is gold in certain indie rock circles. Last we spoke with Meloy, the frontman of Portland’s Decemberists, he was talking madly about another Portland band he was falling for, the Builders and the Butchers. Word spread fast, and the folksy group’s last Denver show was packed. The group is coming back for more on Wednesday, when they’ll play the Hi-Dive. More: hi-dive.com. — Ricardo BacaThursday. Chamber pop. There’s a reason multiple music critics — this one included — are saying Cloud Cult has the potential to be the next Arcade Fire. You can hear some of the magic on the Minneapolis band’s records, but like Arcade Fire, you really need to see Cloud Cult live to realize their epic potential. The band is playing an open-to-the-public show on Thursday at the Aggie Theater in Fort Collins before coming to Denver the following night (Sept. 12) and playing a private, Monolith Festival V.I.P.-only show at the Bluebird Theater. For Aggie info: . For Monolith info: . — Ricardo BacaTheater
Sunday. Reading. Deanna Dunagan is tearing up Broadway as the jaw-droppingly cruel matriarch of “August: Osage County,” for which she won the 2008 Tony Award. She’s nicer in real life. Pinky swear. She’s the featured guest in the season-opening “Stories on Stage,” a popular series in which actors read excerpts from themed stories. For Sunday’s “Heroes & Wannabes,” Dunagan reads from “Chivalry,” by Neil Gaiman. Other readers include Jonathan Nichols, Randy Moore, Kathleen Brady, Mat Hostetler and Laurence Curry. $22. 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Stage Theatre at the Denver Performing Arts Complex, 303-494-0523 or . John Moore
