Important social issues take center stage at the Mercantile Library and concert nova presents an intersection of music and photography in Northside. Cincinnati World Cinema helps us to understand atrocities in the West Bank, while Opera Raps shows us there is much more to “Fiddler on the Roof” than a sunrise and a sunset. Take it all in.
Wednesday, April 9
Woodward Theater, “The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou” | 7:30 p.m. 1404 Main St., Over-the-Rhine. 513-345-7981. DETAILS: Enjoy this next installment of Phantom Cinema’s four-film retrospective of visionary filmmaker Wes Anderson. Co-written with Noah Baumbach, the film follows legendary oceanographer Zissou and his band of misfit assistants as they seek to exact revenge on the elusive Jaguar Shark for eating Zissou’s partner. The film is a parody yet at the same time homage to French diving pioneer Jacques Cousteau to whom it is dedicated. Anderson uses a lot of pop music from the 1960s and ’70s on his soundtracks. Zissou is the only one of his films to not use a song by The Rolling Stones.
Mercantile Library, Discussion: Jill Miller and Meredith C. Smith “Infant Mortality and Other Wicked Problems” | 5 p.m. 414 Walnut St., downtown. 513-621-0717. DETAILS: Our libraries and other literary opportunities inform us about important topics and issues we have power to do something about. In this case, this is Infant mortality. Hear the authors talk about radical changes to infant and parental care that finally moved the needle on this tragic and heartbreaking issue. Cradle Cincinnati was founded nearly 10 years ago to combat Hamilton County’s devastatingly high infant mortality rate. Healthcare providers, community leaders, nonprofits and funders came together to develop a framework to manage this problem and the numbers show it. Make an important trip to the Mercantile to hear these authors talk about how we did it. See you there.
Thursday, April 10
Xavier Music Series, Nicole Zuraitis | 7 p.m. The Härth Room, 125 W. Fourth St., downtown. DETAILS: The cozy Härth Room hosts this installment of the Xavier series with Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger and bandleader Nicole Zuraitis. She has headlined at Newport Jazz Festival, along with iconic NYC jazz clubs like Dizzy’s Club at Lincoln Center, Birdland, the Blue Note, the Carlyle and 54 Below. Her album “How Love Begins” won Best Vocal Jazz Album at the 66th Grammy Awards. Get your weekend going early with a cocktail and an evening of great jazz.
Cincinnati Opera, Opera Raps, “Fiddler on the Roof: Wonder of Wonders – How Fiddler Came to Be” | 7:30 p.m. Mayerson JCC, 8485 Ridge Rd., Amberley Village. 513-761-7500. DETAILS: Preeminent “Fiddler on the Roof” scholar Alisa Solomon (“Wonder of Wonders: A Cultural History of Fiddler on the Roof,” Metropolitan Books) and Broadway scholar Ben Whiteley trace the origin, creation and worldwide success of one of our most beloved musicals. Live musical performances, rare video footage and behind-the-scenes stories prepare us for the Cincinnati Opera summer performances of “Fiddler” on July 23, 25, 26 and 27. Can’t wait! How about you? A “Fiddler on the Roof” scholar? Who knew? How cool!
Friday, April 11
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, “The Tempest” | 7:30 p.m. 1195 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. 513-381-2273. DETAILS: Poor Prospero. All he wanted to do was read. Betrayed by his brother, he is cast off with his young daughter to an island where magic arts and a shipwreck ultimately prompt love, redemption and reconciliation. Magic and monsters, love and liquor and some retribution await you. Wait a minute. Did I say he? Oops. In a surprising move Cincy Shakes casts a female as “Prospera.” Not an uncommon thing to do, actually. Leslie Brott returns to the CSC stage as the island sorceress bent on revenge. Dani Grace Nissen, Hannah Gregory and Sylvester Little Jr., also star. Runs through May 4.
Saturday, April 12
Cincinnati World Cinema, “No Other Land” | 4 p.m. Garfield Theatre, 719 Race St., downtown. 859-957-3456. DETAILS: One last chance to see this Oscar-winning Best Documentary Feature. Written, directed, produced and edited by Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, this Palestinian-Israeli collaboration documents the ongoing expulsion of the Masafer Yatta community – the largest single act of forced expulsion ever carried out in the occupied West Bank. Prior screenings of this film have sold out quickly at CWC so get your tickets soon.
Exhale Dance Tribe, “Vicennial” | 8 p.m. Jarson-Kaplan Theater, Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut St., downtown. 513-621-2787. DETAILS: Join Exhale as the company celebrates 20 seasons of intriguing contemporary dance. You’ll be treated to a retrospective of favorite works and artists. Under artistic directors and founders Missy and Andrew Hubbard, the company continues to fine-tune this art form.
Sunday, April 13
concert nova, “Meet in the Middle: Black Midwest Music and Photography | 4:30 p.m. PAR-Projects, 1646 Hoffner St., Northside. DETAILS: Photographers Asa Featherstone IV, Amber N. Ford and Markel Randle are featured on this concert that seeks a meeting point between photography and music. Featherstone’s photography explores Black Midwestern identity while music highlights Black and Brown composers with ties to the Midwest. Shawn Okpebholo’s “Circleplay,” Shelley Washington’s “Middleground” and “Lyric Quartette” by William Grant Still round out this multi-sensory program featuring The Red Door Quartet. Repeats April 14, 7:30 p.m.
violist Cynthia Phelps, cellist Carter Brey, violinists Qianqian Li and Frank Huang
Linton Chamber Music, “New York’s Finest” New York Philharmonic String Quartet | 4 p.m. First Unitarian Church, 536 Linton St., Avondale. 513-281-1564. DETAILS: Four of New York’s finest string principals perform a concert of works by Haydn, Dvořák and Price. Dvorak’s String Quartet No. 11 highlights some rhythmic challenges, yet the folk-like melodies for which he is known shine through. Haydn’s playful String Quartet No. 1 from Opus 77 is nicely balanced by Florence Price’s bluesy and spiritual String Quartet No. 1. Repeats Monday, 7:30 p.m., at Congregation Beth Adam in Loveland.
Monday, April 14
Memorial Hall, April Aloisio and Joanie Pallatto: “April & Joanie Sing!” | 7 p.m. 1225 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. 513-977-8838. DETAILS: April and Joanie take to the stage with their special guest, guitarist Fareed Haque. Enjoy their friendship and music, listening for where one ends and the other begins. Others in their merry band include Bradley Parker-Sparrow (piano), Brian Batchelor-Glader (piano) and Bill Jackson (acoustic bass). This will be one of your last chances to enjoy the old world splendor of Memorial Hall this spring as the series moves outdoors in May, across the street to Washington Park for Jazz at the Park on Monday nights.
Tuesday, April 15
Christ Church Cathedral, Music Live@Lunch | 12:10 p.m. 318 E. Fourth St., downtown. 513-621-1817. DETAILS: Heri et Hodie (Yesterday and Today) provides your lunchtime entertainment, this week. This professional treble vocal ensemble specializes in medieval and contemporary music. Bring your own lunch or purchase one at the church. Always a nice break in the day.
Cincinnati Pops, Ben Folds Live with the Pops | 7:30 p.m. Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. 513-381-3300. DETAILS: Composer, singer-songwriter and pianist Ben Folds joins the Pops for one night only. Folds’ enormous body of gender-bending music includes pop albums, solo albums and numerous collaborative records. He came on the scene as the pianist for the alternative rock band, Ben Folds Five. His latest project, a new documentary titled “My Name’s Ben Folds, I Play Piano” is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Caffè Vivace, Reverso | 7 p.m. 975 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills. 513-601-9897. DETAILS: The band is a “trans-oceanic improvising chamber jazz project” co-led by Jazz Times’ #1 trombonist Ryan Keberle and acclaimed Paris-based pianist Frank West. French cellist Vince Curt completes the trio. Their original music crosses the boundaries of jazz and classical music, inspired by the early 20th-century French composers Ravel, Faure, Poulenc, Milhaud and Tailleferre. If you can’t get enough French at Music Hall, hit up Caffè Vivace for what appears to be quite a different perspective on these famous composers.
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