ART

A TOUCH OF NIRVANA The Japan Society presents the opening of “Awakenings: Zen Figure Painting in Medieval Japan,” an exhibit of 47 Japanese and Chinese works painted between the 13th and the 16th centuries. The exhibit explores the origins and traditions of painting associated with Zen Buddhist communities during an era of singular artistic merit. Through Sunday, June 17, Tuesday–Thursday, 11 a.m.–6 p.m., Friday, 11 a.m.–9 p.m., Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m., Japan Society, 333 E. 47th St., between First and Second avenues, 212-832-1155, $10 general, $8 students and seniors, free to members and children under 16.

DANCE

SOMETHING FROM NOTHING Choreographer Tere O’Connor asked eight dance artists to create a new work from nothing — no story, no music, no outside source. The result became the Nothing Festival, which intends to create a dialogue on the conflict of making a dance and marketing the work. The festival begins with premieres by Douglas Dunn, Sam Kim, and Dean Moss. Tonight through Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Dance Theater Workshop, 219 W. 19th St., between Seventh and Eighth avenues, 212-924-0077, $20 general, $12 members.

WHERE DO I START? The Aynsley Vandenbroucke Movement Group presents the premiere of “And How Should I Begin?” a dance inspired by the T.S. Eliot poem “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.” Ms. Vandenbroucke co-choreographed the work with dancers Djamila Moore, Dawn Springer, and Kristen Warnick. Tonight through Saturday, 8 p.m., Baryshnikov Arts Center, 450 W. 37th St., between Ninth and Tenth avenues, 212-868-4444, $15.

FAMILY

FOR ALL YOUNG EARS The Dicapo Opera Theatre performs a reduced version of one of its most famous operas, Puccini’s “Manon Lescaut,” for children. The opera features Kristin Sampson as Manon, Hector Palacio as Des Grieux, Chad Armstrong as Lescaut, and Bryce Smith as Geronte. Tomorrow, 11 a.m., Dicapo Opera Theatre, lower level of the St. Jean Baptiste Church, 184 E. 76th St., between Lexington and Third avenues, 212-288-9438 ext. 10, $10 for children through age 12, free for accompanying adults.

MUSIC

EAST AND WEST JAZZ The Romanian Cultural Institute in New York and Long Island University’s Brooklyn Campus Music Department present “The Romanian/American Jazz Suite,” a multimovement work by American saxophonist Sam Newsome and Romanian pianist Lucian Ban. The suite represents two points of view: Romanian culture through the eyes of an American jazz musician, and American culture through the eyes of a Romanian jazz musician reared under a communist regime. Featured performers include Messrs. Newsome and Ban, and saxophonist Alex Harding. The work is performed across the city during this week. Tonight, 9 p.m., Jazz Gallery, 290 Hudson St. at Spring Street, 212-242-1063, $12; tomorrow, 6 p.m., Harlem School of Arts, 645 St. Nicholas Ave., between 141st and 145th streets, 212-687-0180, free.

BAROQUE AND MORE The New York Philomusica Chamber Ensemble performs a program that explores the evolution in chamber music to contemporary styles from Baroque. Featured performers include bassoonist Katrina Russell, French horn player Andrew Clark, and oboist Gerard Reuter. Pieces include Michael Berkeley’s “Fierce Tears I and II.” An opportunity to meet the musicians is offered at 7:30 p.m. Tomorrow, 8 p.m., Broadway Presbyterian Church, 601 W. 114th St. at Broadway, 212-580-9933, $35 general, $30 seniors, $10 students.

WOMAN’S WORTH The International Women In Jazz and Midtown Arts Common arts organizations present their first annual jazz festival with a photographic exhibit of women musicians, live jazz jams, and workshops for young musicians. The festival begins with the opening of an exhibit of photographs by Norm Harris, and performances by the Virginia Mayhew Quartet and the Katie Cosco Trio. Friday, 6 p.m., Saint Peter’s Church, 619 Lexington Ave. at 54th Street, 212-935-2200, free.

OPERA

REBELLIOUS FRENCH POET The Metropolitan Opera gives its final performance of Umberto Giordano’s “Andrea Chénier,” a tale of romance, espionage, and betrayal based on the life of the legendary French poet and patriot who participated in the French Revolution, only to fall victim to it himself. Featured performers include tenor Ben Heppner and soprano Violeta Urmana, who sing two of opera’s most famous arias, “La Mamma Morta” and “Un dì, all’azzurro Spazio.” Marco Armiliato is conductor. Tonight, 8 p.m., Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center, Columbus Avenue at 64th Street, 212-362-6000, $15–$275. For complete information, go to metoperafamily.org.

POETRY

AWARDING THE SCRIBES Poet and literary critic John Hollander is honored during the Poetry Society of America’s 97th annual awards ceremony. Mr. Hollander receives the Frost Medal and delivers the Frost Lecture. Other award winners and readers include Kate Colby, Kimiko Hahn, and Matthew Zapruder. Tomorrow, 7 p.m., the New School, Tishman Auditorium, 66 W. 12th St., between Fifth and Sixth avenues, 212-254-9628, $10 general, $7 students and members.

READINGS

BURNING UNDERGROUND In “The Day the Earth Caved in: An American Mining Tragedy” (Random House), Joan Quigley tells the story of the Centralia Colliery mine in Pennsylvania. In 1962, a small brush fire made its way towards an exposed coal vein and began an underground fire that burned unnoticed for 20 years. Ms. Quigley, the granddaughter of Centralia miners, discusses her book from both journalistic and personal viewpoints. Tomorrow, 6 p.m., Corner Bookstore, 1313 Madison Ave. at 93rd Street, 212-831-3554, free.

NORTHERN MYSTERIES Four of Sweden’s most famous mystery writers — Kjell Eriksson, Inger Frimansson, Håkan Nesser, and Helene Tursten — come together for an evening of readings, discussion, and book signings. All four authors are releasing books in America this year. A co-founder of the West Village mystery bookstore, Partners & Crime, Maggie Topkis, moderates the talk. Tomorrow, 6:30 p.m., Scandinavia House, 58 Park Ave. at 38th Street, 212-847-9740, $10 general, $8 students and members.

BOARDING THE 7 “Crossing the Blvd: Strangers, Neighbors, Aliens in a New America” (Norton), by Warren Lehrer and Judith Sloan, documents the stories of new immigrants and refugees who have migrated to Queens. The authors, both actors, perform the stories as part of a meeting for the New York Book Club. A post-performance discussion features the city’s deputy commissioner of immigrant affairs, Azadeh Khalili and Queens International High School student Lin Kai Jaing. The event is part of Immigrant History Week. Tomorrow, 6:30 p.m., Lower East Side Tenement Museum, Visitors Center and Museum Shop, 108 Orchard St. at Delancey, 212-431-0233, free.

TALKS

AMI DE PROVENCE The senior curator of European Paintings at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., Philip Conisbee, gives a talk about “Cézanne in Provence,” discussing the artist and his relationship with his native Provence. The lecture is presented as part of the Frick Collection’s celebrated hanging of the artist’s painting, “Bouilloire et Fruits” (1888–90), above, on loan from a private collection. Tonight, 6 p.m., the Frick, 1 E. 70th St. at Fifth Avenue, 212-547-6844, free, reservations required.

To submit an event for consideration for the Calendar, please wire the particulars to calendar@nysun.com, placing the date of the event in the subject line.