Son Volt in Concert at Mr Smalls; Pittsburgh Opera Staging ‘Don Pasquale’; Twin Peaks at Stage AE (Tues., 4/30/19)

1) Alt-country band Son Volt is led by former Uncle Tupelo’s frontman Jay Farrar. When they first formed in 1994, half the band was from Minneapolis and the other half was from St. Louis, so they used both cities as an initial base of operation. Their first album, 1995’s Trace, was on many Best Album lists for 1995. The band has released nine albums and is currently touring in support of its new release, Union. Special guest is Ian Noe. 8 p.m. Mr. Smalls Theatre, 400 Lincoln Ave., Millvale.

Don Pasquale (bass Kevin Glavin, rear) has been tricked, but he winds up making two young lovers very happy, as soprano Lisette Oropesa and tenor Javier Abreu demonstrate in Pittsburgh Opera’s ‘Don Pasquale.’ (photo: David Bachman Photography)

2) There’s no opera like comic opera, and Pittsburgh Opera segues into springtime with a classic about a loopy old man who attempts a winter-spring marriage. Except he never suspects that the young woman is tricking him into doing what’s right. Don Pasquale, by Gaetano Donizetti and librettist Giovanni Ruffini, has been delivering the hijinks since its 1843 premiere in Paris. The mastermind behind the plot to trick the aging Pasquale is his physician, Dr. Malatesta, which translates roughly as “Dr. Headache.” Beautiful Norina actually wants to marry Pasquale’s earnest young nephew, Ernesto, but Uncle Pasquale won’t allow it. So the only recourse is to make him holler uncle, and hoo boy, does that happen, to the tune of more comical music than you can shake a conductor’s baton at. Not to worry, though. Conductor Gary Thor Wedow will keep the orchestra in tune, and Pittsburgh Opera has soprano Lisette Oropesa singing Norina, with bass Kevin Glavin as Don Pasquale, tenor Javier Abreu as Ernesto, and baritone Joshua Hopkins as Malatesta. Benedum Center. 7 p.m. Performances continue through May 5. 237 7th St., Cultural District. (MV)  

3) No, it’s not a David Lynch marathon. It’s an indie-rock band from Chicago: Twin Peaks. New to the group? The members already have a singles album thanks to an ambitious undertaking they completed two years ago. They released two new songs every month starting July 2017 through December 2017. The album is titled Sweet ’17 Singles Series, and it includes “Tossing Tears.” They play the Club at Stage AE. Post Animal opens. Doors open 7 p.m. 400 North Shore Dr., North Shore. (CM)

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