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WEEK'S BEST BETS: October 30 to November 5

Violinist debuts with RPO

Israeli violinist Vadim Gluzman debuts with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra in Sibelius’ Violin Concerto at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and 8 p.m. Saturday at Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre. The program also includes Arvo Part’s "Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten" and Vaughan Williams’ Symphony No. 5. The opening piece has special meaning to conductor Christopher Seaman. The death in 1976 of British composer Benjamin Britten "profoundly affected the music world," said Seaman, who knew the composer and played for him several times. Part, who had never met Britten but recognized the magnitude of the loss, was inspired to write the tribute. Seaman will give a "preconcert chat" an hour before the concerts. For more information or tickets, visit rpo.org.

Organ festival kicks off today

The Eastman School of Music Thursday began the eighth annual Eastman Rochester Organ Initiative Festival. It runs through Sunday. This year’s event, co-sponsored by the Organ Historical Society and the Westfield Center, will pay tribute to Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy on the 200th anniversary of the composer’s birth. The program will utilize Eastman’s new Craighead-Saunders organ. Tickets are $15. Visit esm.rochester.edu.

Don a mask for a masquerade ball at MAG

Writers & Books is staging a masquerade ball inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s story "Masque of the Red Death" from 8 p.m. to midnight Friday at the Memorial Art Gallery. The evening's festivities will include music, literary and theatrical performances (of Poe’s "The Black Cat," "The Masque of the Red Death" and more), food and drink, film screenings and a culminating event at midnight. Masks are required; costumes are optional. Tickets are $15. Find details at wab.org.

On the big screen

"Michael Jackson’s This Is It" opened this week. The concert film documents Jackson’s rehearsals of the concert series of the same name, which was to begin in July but was canceled because of his death in June. The footage shows Jackson mentoring his team for the 50 shows, as well as him creating, developing and ultimately staging the high-tech performances. Find movie times.

Brockport art exhibit

Artists in an exhibition of contemporary work at SUNY College at Brockport explore the connection between humans and the natural world through paintings and sculptures. Shown are endangered red-crowned cranes in “Your Vow, Your Holy Place” by Rachael McCampbell of Los Angeles. The artists, represented in galleries across the country, hail from seven states. “Animal Logic: Artists Contemplate Creature Kingdoms” is at Tower Fine Arts Gallery through Dec. 6. Go to brockport.edu or call 395-2805 for details.

Get ready for some Texas rock

Robert Earl Keen headlines a great night of music planned Sunday at Water Street Music Hall. Singer/songwriter Keen is best known for his beer-friendly live shows and sing-along anthems (most notably "The Road Goes On Forever" and the Yuletide classic "Merry Christmas From the Family"). Todd Snider and Bruce Robison also will perform. Visit waterstreetmusic.com or ticketmaster.

Scary movie marathon at The Little

The Little Theatre launches a 25-hour scary flick fest Saturday. Starting at midnight on Halloween and continuing through 1 a.m. Sunday, the Little will show 10 creepy films, including classics, new directors’ creations, a special horror version of the theater’s Emerging Filmmakers Series and even a movie for kids. A zombie walk/skate down East Avenue to the theater, led by ROC City Roller Derby and open to everyone, will get the night rolling at 10:30 p.m. Visit thelittle.org for details.

Jewish Book Festival launches

Erin Arvedlund, an investigative journalist who in 2001 wrote the first skeptical article about Bernard Madoff, will discuss her new book on the disgraced financier at the Lane Dworkin Jewish Book Festival. Arvedlund will talk about "Too Good to Be True: The Rise and Fall of Bernie Madoff" at 7:30 p.m. Sunday in Hart Theatre at the Jewish Community Center. The talk is part of a lineup of author appearances at the 17th annual festival, which runs through Nov. 8. For a complete list of scheduled authors and ticket information, visit rjbf.org.

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