Cheers, Amadeus

The annual Mozart Birthday Concert will be held Feb. 20 at 8 p.m. in Barnes Hall, with director Malcolm Bilson, fortepiano; Joseph Lin, violin; Wendy Richman, viola; John Haines-Eitzen, cello; and fortepianists. They will perform the overture to "The Magic Flute," the Sonata in F Major, K. 497 and Divertimento in E-flat Major, K. 563, about which Hans-Christian Müller wrote in "The Compleat Mozart:" "With incredible assurance Mozart at once exploited all the possibilities inherent in the scoring for these three strings: he treated the instruments as absolute equals . . . Within its class this work could scarcely be excelled, and it belongs, with Mozart's string quintets, among his most mature chamber works."

Foreign-film premieres

Cornell Cinema will present two foreign-film premieres this week not to be missed. Landing on many critics' "Best of 2008" lists, "Silent Light" is an exquisitely shot meditation on love and faith set in a Mennonite community near Chihuahua, Mexico. The film, screening Feb. 21 and 24, immerses the audience in a strange and beautiful world where a man's faith in God is tested when he falls in love with another woman and engages in an affair, all with the knowledge of his wife. The French animation anthology "Fear(s) of the Dark," showing Feb. 20-21, showcases six of the world's most innovative comic and graphic artists. "Shot in luminous whites, pulsing blacks and gorgeous grays, the stories explore sexual insecurity, rural superstition and sociopolitical anxieties with an inventiveness that's seldom scary but never less than mesmerizing," a New York Times critic said.

American women in the Muslim world

Writer Nimat Hfez Barazangi speaks at Trumansburg's Ulysses Philomathic Library Feb. 22 at 2 p.m. on "Have American Muslim Women's Reinterpretation of the Qur'an Helped Emancipate Other Muslim Women?" Barazangi argues that women need to retake their role and reinterpret the primary source of Islam, the Qur'an. Barazangi is a research fellow with Cornell's Feminist, Gender and Sexuality Studies Program and author of "Woman's Identity and the Qur'an: A New Reading."

No strings

The Awaji Puppet Theater Company -- designated by the Japanese government as an "intangible folk asset" -- brings its distinctive performances to campus. The Awaji theatrical tradition combines dramatic recitation, puppet manipulation and shamisen (a three-stringed lute) musical accompaniment and dates to the 16th century. Awaji arose from religious and ritual use of puppets in rites of appeasement and blessing. On Feb. 24, the troupe appears at 8 p.m. in Bailey Hall with "Love, Felicity and Miracles," which includes segments from classical pieces including "Ebisu-Mai" ("Dance of the Fisherman God"), "Hidaka-gawa Iriaizakura" and "Tsubosaka Reigen-ki." Tickets: BaileyTickets.com. On Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. in Barnes Hall, "Felicity, Purification and Appeasement" features a lecture demonstration by Awaji expert Jane Marie Law, associate professor of Asian studies. Tickets: at the door or contact the East Asia Program, 255-6222.

Modern scholarship

The Institute for Comparative Modernities presents Elizabeth Povinelli, professor of anthropology at Columbia University, speaking on "Road Kill: Giving Up, Giving In and Getting Even in Late Liberalism," Feb. 26 at 6 p.m. in Kaufmann Auditorium, Goldwin Smith Hall. Her talk is followed by an open house reception at the Toboggan Lodge, 38 Forest Home Drive. Free and open to the public.

Food for thought

Big Red Relief hosts its fifth annual benefit concert in Bailey Hall Feb. 27 at 7:30 p.m. with performances by Cornell groups: the Class Notes, Bhangra, Absolute Zero, Taiko Drumming, Cayuga's Waiters, the Melodramatics and a surprise outside act. The organization raises awareness and money for the global food crisis; ticket sales benefit the charity Action Against Hunger. Tickets: baileytickets.com.

Rapped tight

Rappers Ludacris and Shawnna appear in concert at Barton Hall Feb. 28 at 8 p.m. Ludacris (Chris Bridges) is a three-time Grammy Award winner who holds the title of the highest-selling southern hip-hop solo artist of all time. He has also acted in such films as "Crash" and "Hustle and Flow." Shawnna (Rashawnna Guy) is a frequent Ludacris collaborator. Tickets: cornellconcerts.com.