Mesmerizing misery
Emerging in 2011, Lana Del Rey seduced with the mesmerizing misery of "Video Games" and "Summertime Sadness." A master of artifice, the L.A. cult figure has seen her past four albums land at No. 1 or No. 2 on Billboard's album chart. This year's "Lust for Life" finds her uncharacteristically smiling on the cover and crafting what could be classified as singer-songwriter work (with help from Stevie Nicks, A$AP Rocky, Sean Lennon and the Weeknd). Del Rey makes her overdue Twin Cities debut on the opening night of her first arena tour. JON BREAM
8 p.m. Fri. Target Center, Mpls, $41.50-$127, axs.com
Berlin-based Israeli artist Omer Fast has an eerie way of blending fact and fiction. That's apparent in his two-part exhibition "Omer Fast: Appendix," which includes his 2008 film "Looking Pretty for God (After G.W.)," and his latest film, "August," a fictional take on the complex life of famed German photographer August Sander. Supplementing this screening is a delightful arrangement of Sander portraits.
ALICIA ELER
Tue.-Sun. Ends Feb. 18, Minneapolis Institute of Art, Mpls., artsmia.org
The Cactus Blossoms — brothers Page Burkum and Jack Torrey — held down Monday nights at the Turf Club in the early '10s, but the twangy Twin Cities duo has been touring incessantly in recent years — especially since their 2016 album, "You're Dreaming," brought them opening gigs with the likes of Kacey Musgraves and JD McPherson. Returning to the Turf for a residency is their way of catching their breath — plus testing tunes for a new project.
CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER
8 p.m. Mon., Jan. 8, Jan. 15, Jan. 22 and Jan. 29. Turf Club, St. Paul, $15, etix.com
"Prince From Minneapolis" is a mini-photo exhibit of the City of Lakes' late music icon at the Weisman. Only about half of the two dozen photos were shot in the Twin Cities but all four exhibited photographers lived here at some point. It's fascinating to see how Prince adjusted to the camera — from Robert Whitman's modest (and very first) publicity shots in 1977 to Terry Gydesen's mannered portraits during a 1993 tour of Europe.
JON BREAM
Tue.-Sun. Ends June 17, Weisman Art Museum, University of Minnesota, Mpls., free, wam.umn.edu
Havana's Teatro El Público kicks off the Walker's annual "Out There" series of unconventional performances with a piece that looks back to the ancient Greeks (it's partially inspired by Sophocles' tragedy "Antigone") and ahead to the future of performance (yep, there's gender-bending and nudity). "Antigonón, un contingente épico" investigates freedom and identity. In Spanish, with English subtitles.
CHRIS HEWITT
8 p.m. Thu.-Sat. Walker Art Center, Mpls., $20-$25, walkerart.org
Osmo Vänskä and the Minnesota Orchestra mark the New Year and the 125th anniversary of Tchaikovsky's death with a marathon of concerts, presenting all six of the composer's numbered symphonies and three piano concertos in a two-week period. The festivities kick off with the tuneful Symphony No. 1 ("Winter Daydreams") and the evergreen Piano Concerto No. 1, with the outstanding Inon Barnatan as soloist.
TERRY BLAIN
2 p.m. Mon. Orchestra Hall, Mpls., $55-$135, minnesotaorchestra.org
Ever since Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, the Dakota has been turning to the other end of the Mississippi for regular fare on its musical menu. There isn't a better choice to warm up Minnesotans this week than the Rebirth Brass Band. The Grammy veterans combine traditional NOLA second-line music with hip-hop and funk. The group was formed in 1983 by several high school classmates; Rebirth alums include Kermit Ruffins and Glen David Andrews.
JON BREAM
7 & 9:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat. Dakota, Mpls, $35-$40, dakotacooks.com
Mozart's 27 piano concertos are among the finest ever written, combining elegance and tunefulness in equal measure. The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra's latest collaboration with New York pianist Jeremy Denk has him playing the intense minor-key No. 20 and the sunnier No. 25.
TERRY BLAIN
8 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 2 p.m. Sun., Ordway, St. Paul, $12-$50, thespco.org
It may be a little frosty outside, but Walker Art Center brings the heat with Latin-inspired activities. Take a tour of the exhibit "Adiós Utopia" in English or Español. Watch the award-winning film "Viva Cuba," a children's flick about two young friends. Also printmaking and Latin-inspired beats by DJ Don Cuco.
MELISSA WALKER
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sat. Walker Art Center, Mpls., free, walkerart.org
