Opera and a tribute in verse to the Bard

Music & verse

WHAT A pair of operatic events: First, Hofstra Opera Theater presents a modern-dress student production of Mozart's "Don Giovanni," with its intriguing and full-throated tale of love, duplicity, murder and vengeance. Meanwhile, harpist Jasmin Bey Cowin offers a musical lecture on Donizetti's "Lucia di Lammermoor," exploring the composer's life and the origins of the opera's plot, accompanied by libretto selections.

WHEN | WHERE "Don Giovanni," Friday and Saturday nights at 8, Sunday at 3 p.m., at John Cranford Adams Playhouse, Hofstra University, Hempstead; "Lammermoor," 2 p.m. Saturday at Huntington Library, 338 Main St.

INFO For the opera performance: $15, $12 students, 516-463-6644. For the lecture with music: free (registration required), thehuntingtonlibrary.org, 631-427-5165

WHAT The Long Island Bards' Tribute to the Bard, the inaugural fourth Friday of the month Violin Shop studio event, presents readings by poets Richard Bronson, Graham Everett, Gladys Henderson, Gayl Teller and Claire Nicolas White. Guitarist Gerry Saulter will play music of Shakespeare's time, followed by open mic readings.

WHEN | WHERE Friday night at 7 at the Long Island Violin Shop, 8 Elm St., Huntington

INFO $5 suggested donation; 631-427-3569, stringpoet.com

Art

WHAT "The Nature of Drawing," a group show in which the works present narratives ranging from historical war heroes to animals - both current and extinct. The drawings by Eric Beltz, Hugo Crosthwaite, Matthew Fisher, Lisa Iglesias, Philip Knoll, Suzanne Sattler and Joseph Smolinski range in style from allegorical to gritty reality in the stories they convey.

WHEN | WHERE 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays, noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, through March 18, with a reception from 1 to 4 p.m. Feb. 13, at the Anthony Giordano Gallery, 96 Biltmore Ave., Dowling College, Oakdale

INFO Free; dowling.edu, 631-244-3016

WHAT Dutch artist Jan Maarten Voskuil appears for a book-signing of "Getting to a Point," featuring 100 color images of his art. He'll also show a selection of new works in anticipation of his first solo exhibition in the United States this spring.

WHEN | WHERE 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday at the Salamatina Gallery, 2032 Northern Blvd., Manhasset; solo exhibition coming to the gallery in April

INFO Free; salamatina.com, 516-439-4471