Seattle Opera helps you get così with Mozart

It's a great weekend for singing.

On the one hand, we have Seattle Opera's new "Cosė fan tutte," a Mozart comedy brought forward to 2006 through the directorial hand of Sir Jonathan Miller, opening at 7:30 Saturday night (any remaining tickets will be at 206-389-7676). Andreas Mitisek conducts the show, full of delectable arias, and the misadventures of two young couples who test each other's fidelity with surprising results.

Singing on opening night, and thereafter on Wednesdays and Saturdays, are Alexandra Deshorties, Christine Rice, Matthew Polenzani, Christopher Maltman, Kimberly Barber and Richard Stilwell; alternating with them in Friday and Sunday performances are Jessica Jones, Maria Zifchak, Don Frazure, David Adam Moore, Frances Lucey and Valerian Ruminsky.

"Cosė" runs through March 11, in Marion Oliver McCaw Hall.

For Black History Month

Then there's a celebration of African-American choral music, including selections from the terrific Scott Joplin opera "Treemonisha," from the Seattle Choral Company. The performances are timed to celebrate Black History Month. As well as rousing ragtime music, "Treemonisha" has a feminist message (its eponymous young heroine is a teacher and healer who leads her community of freed slaves).

In addition to the Joplin, Fred Coleman will lead his choristers in works of noted African-American choral composers Jester Hairston, Moses Hogan, Undine Smith Moore, Harry Thacker Burleigh, Nathaniel Dett, and Adolphus Hailstork. The repertoire will be varied indeed, from classical to gospel with lots of stops in between.

Performances of the Seattle Choral Company show, called "Don't Be Weary, Traveler," start at 8 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday, in Town Hall (1119 Eighth Ave., at Seneca). For tickets, call 800-838-3006, or visit www.seattlechoralcompany.org. For information on the chorus, call 206-365-8765.

Time-traveling music

The Tudor Choir takes listeners back in time to the medieval feast of light, Candlemas, in two candlelit concerts this weekend: 8 p.m. Saturday in St. Mark's Cathedral (1245 10th Ave. E.) and 3 p.m. Sunday in St. Thomas Episcopal Church (8396 N.E. 12th St., Medina). The guest soloist is soprano Rebekah Gilmore, minister of music at Grace Lutheran Church in Wenatchee, performing medieval Irish chant about the life of Ireland's Saint Brigit.

The medieval feast of Candlemas was celebrated annually on Feb. 2, which also was the time of the pre-Christian Celtic early-spring festival of Imbolc, a pagan celebration of fertility.

The program, led by founding director Doug Fullington, includes not only chant, but also English Renaissance choral works (by Thomas Tallis and John Sheppard) and four world premieres of choral settings by Seattle composer Jeff Junkinsmith, chair of the Shoreline Community College music department.

Concert tickets are available online at www.tudorchoir.org, or by calling 206-323-9415.

Melinda Bargreen: mbargreen@seattletimes.com