21-02-2025
Hair Wars, reggae, 'Carmen,' and more: Your weekend in Detroit
At last, a Detroit weekend with no snowstorms! And just in time for a packed schedule of amazing arts options in the city. Here are just six to get you started.
On Sunday, Feb. 23, from noon to 4 p.m. at the Detroit Institute of Arts, a selection of Hair Wars stylists will demonstrate some of their innovative hair creations in a drop-in style demonstration. Throughout the day, these stylists will work with various models to create works of art from hair. With videos and images from past Hair Wars shows, this demo offers a fun experience into this unique, Detroit-born entertainment.
Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Free with general admission; general admission is free for residents of Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties.
Bizet's timeless opera 'Carmen' will be performed live, twice only, by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) this weekend – on Friday, Feb. 23, at 8 p.m., and on Sunday at 3 p.m. Conductor Jader Bignamini will lead the DSO through the fiery passion and gripping drama with help from Audivi, the Ann Arbor Youth Chorale and an all-star cast of vocal soloists in a thrilling celebration of the music behind one of opera's most iconic masterpieces. Featuring mezzo-soprano J'Nai Bridges as the bold and magnetic Carmen, this symphonic production marks the 150th anniversary of Bizet's masterpiece.
Orchestra Hall, 3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Limited seats available; tickets start at $25.
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Also at Orchestra Hall on Saturday at 8 p.m., the SFJAZZ Collective will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a retrospective featuring works from icons such as Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Miles Davis, and more; as well as selections from the '20th Anniversary Suite,' which was collectively composed by the current band and inspired by the history of the ensemble. Under the direction of Chris Potter, this lineup of the Collective – including David Sánchez, Mike Rodriguez, Warren Wolf, Edward Simon, and Kendrick Scott – is among the most dynamic ever; ensuring each performance is fresh, fun, and full of surprises.
Orchestra Hall, 3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Tickets start at $19.95.
Saturday, Feb. 22, at 7:30 p.m., Detroit Opera will premiere 'Rinaldo.' Handel's Baroque blockbuster is viewed through the lens of a child's fantasy in a contemporary pediatric ward. The young patients venture on a heroic journey, where knights, sorcerers, monsters, and magic are used as a salve for unimaginable challenges. Countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo leads the cast in Louisa Proske's reimagined production, conducted by Detroit Opera Music Director Roberto Kalb. Two more performances follow on Feb. 28 and March 2.
Detroit Opera House, 1526 Broadway St., Detroit. Tickets start at $30.
Saturday from 2-5 p.m., Detroit's Galerie Camile will present an artist talk in conjunction with its latest exhibition, 'Living Frequency: Honoring the Legacy of Black Artists in Detroit.' The exhibition, curated by local artist James Charles Morris in collaboration with Galerie Camille director Marta Carvajal, features a dynamic mix of emerging and mid-career artists from the city, including Joe Cazeno III, Ijania Cortez, Darian 'Saint' Greer, Breianna Jackson, Tylear Jefferson, Jonathan Kimble, James Charles Morris, Brian Nickson, Joshua Rainer, Phillip Simpson, Miriam Uhura, Oshun Williams, and Jacob Zelecki. The show remains on display through Feb. 28.
Galerie Camille, 4130 Cass Ave., Ste. C, Detroit. Free to attend.
Also this weekend: Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Joss Stone brings intimate show to Detroit's Sound Board
Saturday from 5:30 p.m. – 10 p.m., Detroit's Redford Theatre will host a Caribbean Winter Fest, presented in partnership with the Caribbean Cultural and Carnival Organization and Detroit's Concert of Colors. The special event will celebrate Black History Month with music, culture, and community. Reggae superstar Duane Stephenson will perform along the Soca All Stars, Uprizin Steel Pan, High Energy, and Indinka Band.
Redford Theatre, 17360 Lahser Rd., Detroit. Free admission.
Contact Free Press arts and culture reporter Duante Beddingfield at dbeddingfield@
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Hair Wars, reggae, 'Carmen,' and more: Your weekend in Detroit
