ART
YOSHIHIRO SUDA
A new group of wood sculptures installed in several locations throughout the museum; opens Tuesday, Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan Ave. $10 suggested admission. 312-443-3600.
PORTRAITS OF NATIVE AMERICA
A selection of vintage platinum prints handpicked by photographer Edward S. Curtis for his series of exhibitions in 1905-6; opens Saturday, Terra Museum of American Art, 666 N. Michigan Ave. Free. 312-664-3939.
JOELLE TUERLINCKX
The first American museum exhibition for the Belgian artist; final weeks, Renaissance Society at the University of Chicago, 5811 S. Ellis Ave.; free; 773-702-8670.
–Alan G. Artner
CLASSICAL
ANDRE WATTS
The popular American pianist, said to be recovered from a recent serious illness, offers a generous program anchored by Schubert’s “Wanderer” Fantasy and Sonata in A Minor. Music by Chopin, Debussy and Ravel completes the recital; 3 p.m. Sunday, Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.; $19-$44; 312-294-3000.
JOHN ADAMS’ `EL NINO’
The Pulitzer Prize-winning composer’s multi-cultural celebration of the miracle of Nativity and every birth receives its long-awaited Chicago area premiere, kicking off the Ravinia Festival season. Robert Spano will lead his Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, the Chicago Children’s Choir and a raft of vocal soloists headed by Heidi Grant Murphy and Nancy Maultsby. Not to be missed; 8 p.m. Friday at Ravinia, Lake Cook and Green Bay Roads, Highland Park; $10 and $20; 847-266-5100.
DANIEL BARENBOIM
Chicago listeners will get a sampling of the Beethoven works the busy pianist will present this month in New York’s Carnegie Hall as part of his complete Beethoven sonata cycle there. The recital closes the Symphony Center piano series for this season; 3 p.m. June 8, Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.; $19-$44; 312-294-3000.
–John von Rhein
MOVIES
HEIST MOVIES
“The Italian Job” (PG-13, playing at selected theaters) is a flashy remake of Peter Collinson’s 1969 Turin traffic-jam chase-heist thriller, with Mark Wahlberg, Ed Norton and Charlize Theron and director F. Gary Gray. It’s fun. But, if you want a real heist classic, catch French maestro Jean-Pierre Melville’s 1969 noir masterpiece “Le Cercle Rouge,” held over for its final week at the Music Box. Grim, austere and perfectly crafted, it’s a thriller for connoisseurs, with Alain Delon, Yves Montand and Gian-Maria Volonte as the crooks and Bourvil as the cop. No MPAA rating; 3733 N. Southport Ave.; $8; 773-871-6604.
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–Michael Wilmington
ROCK
LONGWAVE
Catchy pop melodies float over thick waves of My Bloody Valentine-like guitars; Monday-Tuesday at Schubas, 3159 N. Southport Ave., $10; 773-525-2508.
YO LA TENGO
The New Jersey trio just may be America’s longest-running example of indie-rock excellence, and they’ll be preceded by New Zealand punk avatars the Clean; Saturday at the Riviera, 4746 N. Racine Ave., $18.50; 773-275-6800.
–Greg Kot
THEATER
CRIME AND PUNISHMENT
This world premiere adaptation of Dostoevsky’s inquiry into the criminal mind of a mid-19th Century St. Petersburg nihilist isn’t one of those dutiful slogs through great Russian literature. Rather, it’s a trim, increasingly compelling, three-actor, 90-minute affair; through Aug. 3 at Writers’ Theatre, 664 Vernon Ave. (Books on Vernon), Glencoe; $34-$45; 847-242-6000.
— Michael Phillips
HOWLIN’ AT THE MOON
Thanks to the bizarre and electric Rick Stone in the lead role (boy, can he howl), this biographical blues musical about Chicago bluesman Howlin’ Woolf is a non-stop party at the Black Ensemble, replete with hits, dance and an infectious atmosphere; through July 13 at 4520 N. Beacon St.; $32.50; 312-902-1500.
— Chris Jones