— Country song: “Merry Go ‘Round,” Kacey Musgraves, Shane McAnally and Josh Osbourne. — Gospel song: “If He Did It Before … Same God (Live),” Tye Tribbett. — Gospel album: “Greater Than (Live),” Tye Tribbett. — Blues album: “Get Up!,” Ben Harper with Charlie Musselwhite. — Folk album: “My Favorite Picture of You,” Guy Clark. — Americana album: “Old Yellow Moon,” Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell.
Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra, 8 p.m, Dec, 15, Featuring Axel Strauss, ballet slippers target guest conductor and violin soloist, Mozart Violin Concerto No, 5 in A major, K, 219 and Tchaikovsky Serenade for Strings, Cubberley Theatre, 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, Free, www.pacomusic.org, San Jose Rep, “A Christmas Carol.” Rick Lombardo’s adaptation of Dickens’ classic, Previews through Nov, 27; opens Nov, 29; through Dec, 23, Directed by Rick Lombardo, original music by Anna Lackaff and Rick Lombardo, Featuring Paul Baird, Lizzie Calogero, Richard Farrell, Blythe Foster, Dan Hiatt, Kimberly Mohne Hill, Alison Lubiens, Seth Margolies, Kate Ryan, Sam Misner, Rick Iverson, James Edison Pierce, Jomar Martinez, Liz Marsden and Elaine Yee; children Kameron DeHart, Charlie Ibsen, Liliana Ibsen and Zachary Boston; and understudy Danielle Williams.San Jose Repertory Theatre, 101 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose, $29-$74, Discounts for students, seniors, teachers and military, 408-367-7255 or www.sjrep.com..
“Ancient Luxury and the Roman Silver Treasure from Berthouville”: Silver-gilt platters, medallions and statues, nearly 2,000 years old, unearthed by a French farmer plowing a field, Sept. 19-Jan. 10; Legion of Honor, San Francisco; $6-$10; 415-750-3600, www.famsf.org. “The Art of the Brick”: New York artist Nathan Sawaya’s colorful sculptures made from thousands of Lego bricks, Sept. 29-Dec. 20; Bedford Gallery, Walnut Creek; $3-$5; www.bedfordgallery.org; 925-295-1417.
“Mad Science Fire & Ice” takes place at the Willow Glen Library, 1157 Minnesota Ave, Attendees will “investigate the three states of matter, perform a gassy taste test and create a super spectacular bubbling potion.”, The free program is underwritten by the Friends of the Willow Glen Library, Written for ballet slippers target teens, it is “a coming-of-age novel about finding your place in the world … even if you carry scars inside and out.”, Vlahos will be at Hicklebee’s Books, 1378 Lincoln Ave., Feb, 28 from 7 to 8:30 p.m, to discuss the book and sign copies..
With an eclectic mix of classical and modern works ranging from Roland Petit and George Balanchine to Twyla Tharp, the ballet’s three new programs run Feb. 14 through May 11 at San Jose’s Center for the Performing Arts. The 28-year-old troupe is also delaying the premiere of one piece, Jorge Amarante’s “Grapa Tango,” until 2015. Ballet officials characterize these cutbacks as minimal. Saturday matinees have never been very popular and the company, which has 36 dancers, will still feature live music at most of its shows. Also the troupe has a history of using recordings to save money.
