SoCal music & dance, Sept. 16-23: ‘Madame Butterfly,’ ‘Swan Lake,’ Samara Joy and more

Classical, opera, jazz, folk, pop, rock, ballet, tap, flamenco, contemporary dance and more for LA & OC

A scene from Mario Gas’ staging of “Madame Butterfly” at Madrid’s Teatro Real. (Javier del Real)

Welcome to the latest TV or Not TV newsletter spotlighting live music and dance performances all around Southern California this coming week. I’m Matt Cooper, former listings coordinator for the LA Times’ Calendar section.

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Classical & opera

‘Recovered Voices’ ARC Ensemble performs pieces by marginalized composers for piano, clarinet and strings. The Colburn School’s Thayer Hall, 200 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17; pre-concert talk, 5:30 p.m. $17.25. colburnschool.edu

‘Madame Butterfly’ Los Angeles Opera opens its season with the L.A. premiere of Spanish-Uruguayan director Mario Gas’ video-enhanced 1930s Hollywood-style update of Puccini’s romantic tragedy. Music director James Conlon conducts and soprano Karah Son and tenor Jonathan Tetelman co-star. Sung in Italian with projected English translation. Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21; 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26; 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29; 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5; 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9; 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 13. $37.50 and up. (213) 972-0777. laopera.org

Additionally, the opening night performance on Sept. 21 will be simulcast at two outdoor locations: Santa Monica Pier and Sylmar’s El Cariso Community Regional Park. Details at LAOpera.org/OperaAtTheBeach and LAOpera.org/OperaInThePark

‘Cinderella Story’ Pacific Opera Project celebrates the classic fairytale in this family-friendly musical revue. Kings Road Park, 1000 Kings Road, West Hollywood. 4 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays thru Sept. 22. Free. pacificoperaproject.com