Cy and David's Weekly Picks: Punk Rock, Opera, and a Tribute to the Duke

Opening Saturday, Sept. 12: The SF Opera Presents ‘Sweeney Todd.’ Stephen Sondheim’s musical is presented for the first time by San Francisco Opera. Details here. 

Opening Wednesday, Sept. 16: New Century Chamber Orchestra Presents ‘Letters From Russia.’ The all-strings chamber group opens the fall season with a program called “Letters from Russia,” featuring Shostakovich’s often paired “Elegy” and “Polka,” and Met star Ailyn Pérez singing Rachmaninoff’s very pretty “Vocalise.” Details here. 

Opening Wednesday, Sept. 16: ‘Monstress.’ ACT presents two short stories of Filipino-American life in San Francisco adapted for the stage. Details here. 

Thursday, Sept. 17: ‘Concert of Sacred Music.’ Miguel Zenón leads a band in re-creating Duke Ellington’s famous 1965 ‘Concert of Sacred Music’ at Grace Cathedral for its 50th anniversary. Details here. 

Thursday, Sept. 17: Mac McCaughan and Mike Krol. Two Merge Records punk rockers with a sense of the absurd make a night out of it at the Rickshaw Stop. Details here. 

Tuesday, Sept. 22: KQED Pop Presents ‘The Cooler’ LIVE. Come be a part of KQED’s new pop culture podcast, while W. Kamau Bell, the Younger Lovers, and ’90s dance music more than make up for your lame high school formal…no matter how long ago that was.  Details here.