Art
The artists are certainly not as well known in North America as Edgar Degas or Claude Monet, yet “Beyond the Easel: Decorative Painting by Bonnard, Vuillard, Denis & Roussel, 1890-1930,” the exhibition that opens Sunday at the Art Institute of Chicago, gives an experience that is every bit as ravishing — in addition to being filled with the exhilaration of discovery. Never before has a show been mounted to explore the issue of decorative painting in France during the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. We get to see it before New York, where it will be at the Metropolitan Museum of Art later this year. Take advantage of the opportunity.
The exhibition continues through May 16 in Regenstein Hall of the Art Institute, 111 S. Michigan Ave.; a complementary concert and commentary, “Debussy and the Painters’ Poets — Songs,” is at 2 p.m. Sunday in the museum’s Stock Exchange Trading Room.
— Alan G. Artner
Dance
China Dance Theater: In the first stop of its first North American tour, the 52-member, Beijing-based company presents “August Rising,” an anthology of a dozen short works, including “Ode to a Red Flag,” from its repertoire; Tuesday through Sunday at the Shubert Theatre, 22 W. Monroe St.; 312-902-1400.
Aeros: World-class gymnasts from Romania sail in a program choreographed by young American masters Daniel Ezralow, David Parsons and Moses Pendleton. In a promotional video, it looks sensational; 8 p.m. Friday at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St.; 312-902-1500.
Momix: The athletic, inventive modern company offers the local premiere of “Orbit,” featuring a 40-foot puppet, at 8 p.m. Friday at Centre East at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, Skokie (847-673-6300), repeated at 8 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. March 4 at the Fine and Performing Arts Center of Moraine Valley Community College, Palos Hills (708-974-5500).
Rennie Harris Pure Movement: “Rome and Jewels,” described as an urban, hip-hop take on “Romeo and Juliet,” receives its Chicago premiere; Friday through Sunday at the Museum of Contemporary Art theater, 200 E. Chicago Ave.; 312-397-4010.
— Richard Christiansen
Jazz
Kurt Elling’s “LA/CHI/NY”: The jazz singer offers his newest performance piece, subtitled “A Journey Through the Streets of America” and featuring poet Kamau Daaood, percussionist Herb Graham Jr. and saxophonist Mars Williams; 7:30 p.m. Monday at Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St.; 312-335-1650.
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Monty Alexander Trio: The Jamaican pianist’s tropical sound should come as a relief in the midst of a Chicago winter; Thursday through Sunday at the Jazz Showcase, 59 W. Grand Ave.; 312-670-2473.
— Howard Reich
Rock
Chamber Strings: Expect as many as 13 musicians, including string quartet and horn section, to help Kevin Junior’s sumptuously melodic band re-create the textures of its fine new album, “Month of Sundays”; Friday at Metro; 773-549-0203.
Doves: One of the brightest of the new British bands, Doves combine electronic ambiance with good old-fashioned pop songcraft; Saturday at Double Door; 773-489-3160.
— Greg Kot
Classical music
Concertante di Chicago: Hilel Kagan will lead the chamber orchestra in an all-Scandinavian program, including the Sibelius Violin Concerto, with Swedish violinist Jan Stegmer as soloist; 3 p.m. Sunday at DePaul University Concert Hall; 312-658-6050.
Lyric Opera Center “Rising Stars”: Talented young apprentices of the Lyric Opera Center for American Artists will present a potpourri of operatic arias and ensembles; 2 p.m. Sunday at the Civic Opera House; 312-332-2244.
The Clerks’ Group, “The Rose and the Pomegranate”: In its Chicago debut, the Renaissance vocal ensemble tells the story of the marriage of England’s Mary I and Spain’s Philip II through a Thomas Tallis mass, motets and readings; 8 p.m. Friday at Rockefeller Memorial Chapel, University of Chicago; 773-702-8068.
— John von Rhein
Architecture
Lecture: Prominent Japanese architect Shigeru Ban will speak on “Beyond Paper and Curtain Wall: Works and Humanitarian Activities” at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan Ave.; 312-443-4751.
— Blair Kamin
Theater
“House” and “Garden”: In their American premieres at Goodman Theatre, under Robert Falls’ assured direction, an all-Chicago cast zestfully presents Alan Ayckbourn’s pair of linked, delicately balanced comedies/dramas about failed and fumbling relationships among the English gentry; through March 4 at Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St.; 312-443-3800.
“King Lear”: Greg Vinkler’s intense, intelligent portrayal highlights director Barbara Gaines’ production of the great tragedy; through April 22 at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, 800 E. Grand Ave. on Navy Pier; 312-595-5600.
— Richard Christiansen
Art
“You Are Here: Chicago in theYear 2000”: Selections from the massive photographic archive; final week; Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St.; 312-744-6630.
Openings: Katharina Fritsch installation, Sharon Lockhart photographs and films; opens Saturday; Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave.; 312-280-2660.
— Alan G. Artner