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Donizetti—the composer, not the similarly named Ninja Turtle or Renaissance sculptor—was a prolific music scribe in his day, famous mostly for his operas because he wrote so damn many of them. Anna Bolena, L’elisir d’amore, and Don Pasquale are his best-known, but there were several dozen others, comic and serious, the bulk of which came to define the bel canto style. He did write some non-opera music, however, an amount small enough that it usually gets its own special concerts under the subtitle of “Donizetti’s non-opera music.” Which is what Teatro Lirico, a local company that specializes in rare music from the Spanish and Italian lyric tradition, offers for its season opener. Read more >>> Teatro Lirico performs at 7:30 p.m. at the International Student House, 1825 R St. NW. $30–$60. (202) 360-3514. teatroliricodc.com. (Mike Paarlberg)
EAT THIS
No need to head to H Street NE for the much-hyped Bullfrog Bagels. They’ll be available at Tryst this Saturday from 6:30 a.m. until they run out. Get plain, poppy, sesame, onion, and everything bagels for $1.60 each or $18 for a bakers dozen. Top them with spreads like veggie or cranberry walnut cream cheese, jam, and hummus. You can also build your own bagel sandwich with a range of cheeses, veggies, and meats or opt for the $10 smoked salmon plate. Bullfrog Bagels at Tryst, 2459 18th St. NW. bullfrogbagels.com. (Jessica Sidman)
OH AND ALSO
Friday: Congolese dancer and choreographer Faustin Linyekula reflects on his nation’s tragedies at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center. Read more in our Fall Arts Guide. 8 p.m. at the University of Maryland’s campus in College Park. $10–$25.
Friday: Northampton, Mass.-based electronic pop act Home Body ventures south for a performance at Comet Ping Pong. Local synth acts Pleasure Curses and Stronger Sex also perform. 10 p.m. at 5037 Connecticut Ave. NW. $12.
Friday: Celebrate the release of local instrumental act Black Clouds‘ new album, Dreamcation, with a show at the Black Cat featuring the Deadmen and Tereu Tereu. (Watch Tereu Tereu’s latest video, filmed entirely on a cell phone, on Arts Desk.) 9 p.m. at 1811 14th St. NW. $12.
Saturday: If you thought the best place to hash out old familial wounds was in the therapist’s office, well, you’re probably right. But that doesn’t stop storyteller Peter Aguero from treating his time onstage like a therapy session. During Daddy Issues, his current show, Aguero talks openly and honestly about the difficult relationship he has with his father in seven separate tales that range in tone from humorous to sobering and insightful. Read more >>> The performances begin at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Artisphere, 1101 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. $15. (703) 875-1100. artisphere.com. (Tim Regan)
Saturday: Political comedian W. Kamau Bell, host of the critically acclaimed but short-lived FX series Totally Biased, brings his act to Sixth & I Historic Synagogue. 8 p.m. at 600 I St. NW. $20.
Saturday: Favorite local dream-pop trio the Walking Sticks are releasing a new EP and play a show at Rock & Roll Hotel with Ploy to mark the occasion. 8 p.m. at 1353 H St. NE. $12.
Sunday: Wyatt Cenac really wants comedy fans to hear his latest live special, Brooklyn. It’s already streaming on Netflix, and he’s pumped up the limited-edition vinyl release with a promo video that explains how records are made, featuring a Henson-esque puppet rendering of Cenac. But even if the Black Cat’s audience members have heard most of the show’s material before the former Daily Show correspondent takes the stage, they’ll still enjoy his musings on the borough that’s become an adjective. (See our Q&A with Cenac on Arts Desk.) Read more >>> Wyatt Cenac performs at 7 p.m. at the Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW. $20. (202) 667-4490. blackcatdc.com. (Caroline Jones)
Sunday: Soul revival act Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds close out the weekend with a performance at the Hamilton alongside the Pimps of Joytime. 7:30 p.m. at 600 14th St. NW. $9–$23.
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