Sasha Cooke, mezzo-soprano (photo by Christian Steiner)

HEADLINES:
>> The bonus performances from Washington National Opera this week are devoted to a popular verismo opera, Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana. Concert performances are scheduled for next Sunday (May 25, 2 p.m.) and the following Friday (May 30, 7:30 p.m.), in the Kennedy Center Opera House. The two leads will be sung by big-name stars, mezzo-soprano Dolora Zajick and tenor Salvatore Licitra, and Gordon Hawkins will sing the role of Alfio. Preceded by crowd-pleasing overtures and orchestral pieces from other 19th-century Italian operas, this saccharine program is a shameless appeal to the most traditionally minded audience. Tickets, ranging from $24 to $250, are surprisingly still available.

>> Likely to be more musically nourishing is a recital by mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke on Wednesday (May 21, 7:30 p.m.) at the National Museum of Women in the Arts (1250 New York Ave. NW). Pei-Yao Wang will accompany a program combining sets of songs by Manuel de Falla and Robert Schumann, as well as the world premiere of Lullaby, a new piece by Andrew Norman (b. 1979), the Young Concert Artists Composer-in-Residence. Even better, this concert is free: all you need to do is make a reservation (call 202-783-7370 or e-mail reservations@nmwa.org).

ALSO FREE:
>> The Friday Morning Music Club hosts the final round of the Washington International Competition for Piano on Sunday (May 25, 2 p.m.). This free event takes place in the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater.

>> Although there is no regular concert at the National Gallery of Art this Sunday, there will be a free recital by pianist Alessio Bax (May 25, 4 p.m.) at the Phillips Collection. You still have to pay to enter the museum, as always.

PLUS:
>> On Tuesday (May 20, 7:30 p.m.), Washington Musica Viva gives a concert in honor of the 175th birthday of Johannes Brahms at the Dennis and Phillip Ratner Museum in Bethesda.

>> On Saturday (May 24, 7:30 p.m.), the local a cappella group known as The Countertop Quartet gives a concert of French music at Saint Paul’s K Street.

>> The National Memorial Day Choral Festival is scheduled for Sunday (May 25, 2 p.m.) in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. Church and high school choir singers (gulp!) from around the country will join together to sing Randall Thompson's Testament of Freedom.