Arts Listings

GOLDEN GATE PARK MUSIC CONCOURSE  

"Golden Gate Park Band" Sept. 19, 1 p.m. The band performs the work of the great German opera composer Richard Wagner. Free. www.goldengateparkband.org. 

Ninth Avenue and Lincoln Way, San Francisco. < 

LEGION OF HONOR MUSEUM DOCENT TOUR PROGRAMS -- Tours of the permanent collections and special exhibitions are offered Tuesday through Sunday. Non-English language tours (Italian, French, Spanish and Russian) are available on different Saturdays of the month at 11:30 a.m. Free with regular museum admission. (415) 750-3638.  

ONGOING CHILDREN'S PROGRAM --  

"Doing and Viewing Art," For ages 7 to 12. Docent-led tours of current exhibitions are followed by studio workshops taught by professional artists/teachers. Students learn about art by seeing and making it. Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to noon; call to confirm class. Free with museum admission. (415) 750-3658. 

ORGAN CONCERTS -- 4 p.m. A weekly concert of organ music on the Legion's restored 1924 Skinner organ. Saturday and Sunday in the Rodin Gallery. Free with museum admission. (415) 750-3624. 

$6-$10; free for children ages 12 and under; free for all visitors on Tuesdays. Tuesday-Sunday, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Lincoln Park, 34th Avenue and Clement Street, San Francisco. (415) 750-3600, (415) 750-3636, www.legionofhonor.org.< 

OLD FIRST CHURCH  

Giacomo Fiore, Sept. 10, 8 p.m. The guitarist performs works by Villa-Lobos, Takemitsu, Harrison, Davies, Brouwer and Britten.  

Bloom Trio, Sept. 12, 4 p.m. Works by Turina, Dvorak and Ravel.  

Rebecca Rust, Friedrich Edelmann and Dmitriy Cogan, Sept. 19, 4 p.m. Performing works by Genzmer, Schaffrath, Beethoven, Mendelssohn and Strauss.  

$14-$17; children 12 and under free. 1751 Sacramento Street, San Francisco. (415) 474-1608, www.oldfirstconcerts.org.< 

SAN FRANCISCO CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC  

"25th Anniversary Chamber Music Celebration," Sept. 12, Noon-6:30 p.m. In collaboration with the San Francisco Friends of Chamber Music, the Conservatory celebrates the 25th anniversary of its chamber music degree program with a day-long festival featuring 31 ensembles performing on three stages. Free.  

"Chanticleer presents Out of This World!" Sept. 17 and Sept. 19, 8 p.m. Fri.; 5 p.m. Sun. The renowned 12 member male chorus performs a concert focusing on music inspired through the ages by the cosmos. $20-$44. www.chanticleer.org. 

$15 to $20 unless otherwise noted. Hellman Hall, 50 Oak St., San Francisco. (415) 864-7326, www.sfcm.edu.< 

SAN FRANCISCO OPERA  

"Opera Ball 2010," Sept. 10, 5 p.m. dinner, 8 p.m. opera performance. The San Francisco Opera Guild kicks off the season with a glamorous event that raises funds for the San Francisco Opera and the Opera Guild's education programs. The event starts at 5 p.m. with a reception and dinner in the rotunda of San Francisco City Hall, followed by a performace of Verdi's "Aida'' at the War Memorial Opera House. $850-$5,000 for complete ball, $25-$320 for performance only.  

OPENING - "Aida" by Giuseppe Verdi,, Sept. 10 through Oct. 6. A bitter love triangle plays itself out against a backdrop of war and cultural oppression in this compelling tale of conflicting loyalties and forbidden passion. Sung in Italian with English supertitles. Sept. 10, 8 p.m.; Sept. 16, 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 19, 2 p.m.; Sept. 24, 8 p.m.; Sept. 29, 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 2, 8 p.m.; Oct. 6, 7:30 p.m. $20-$320.  

"San Francisco Opera In The Park," Sept. 12, 1:30 p.m. San Francisco Opera's opening weekend continues with a free performance in Golden Gate Park's Sharon Meadow, featuring singers from the Company's Fall 2010 season and the San Francisco Opera Orchestra conducted my Maestro Luisotti. The concert ends with a rendition of the drinking song "Libiamo nei'lieti calici'' from Verdi's "La Traviata.'' Free.  

OPENING - "Werther" by Jules Massenet, Sept. 15 through Oct. 1. A new production of the Massenet's strongest and most involving tragedy, with Tenor Ramsn Vargas and mezzo-soprano Alice Coote. Sung in French with English supertitles. Sept. 15, 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 18, 8 p.m.; Sept. 22, 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 26, 2 p.m.; Sept. 28, 8 p.m.; Oct. 1, 8 p.m. $20-$360.  

$25 to $245 unless otherwise noted. War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco. (415) 864-3330, www.sfopera.com.< 

ST. MARY'S CATHEDRAL  

"Sunday Afternoon Recitals," 3:30 p.m., unless otherwise noted. Sept. 5: Travis Baker.  

Sept. 12: Christoph Tietze.  

$5 suggested donation. 1111 Gough St., San Francisco. (415) 567-2020, www.stmarycathedralsf.org.< 

THICK HOUSE  

"Dieci Giorni -- 10 Days," Sept. 10 through Sept. 12 and Sept. 17 through Sept. 12, 8 p.m. Inspired by Giovanni Boccaccio's "Decameron,'' this new collaborative opera is directed by Jim Cave with music composed by Erling Wold, Lisa Scola Prosek, Martha Stoddard and Davide Verotta. $25. (415) 282-5616, www.diccigiorni.org. 

1695 18th St., San Francisco. www.thickhouse.org.<