From Bryant Park to Battery Park, the classic arts scene in New York is never quiet. Here is just a sampling of some of the classic arts events happening this week:

New York City Opera brings Tosca to Bryant Park for two free performances August 24. Soprano Kristin Sampson stars as the singer Floria Tosca, with tenor Victor Starsky as her lover Mario Cavaradossi. When Cavaradossi helps to hide an escaped political prisoner, he, and by extension Tosca, become the subject of investigation by the police chief Baron Scarpia, played by baritone Michael Chioldi. Conductor Joseph Rescigno leads the artists, including the New York City Opera Chorus in Puccini’s thrilling score.

The Metropolitan Opera’s annual Summer HD Festival returns August 23 for eleven evenings of free screenings on Lincoln Center Plaza. Kicking off with a screening of François Girard’s 1998 film The Red Violin, the festival will continue over the weekend with Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette and Verdi’s Nabucco.

On August 23, Pianist Jeffrey Swann continues his series performing all 32 Beethoven piano sonatas at BargeMusic with commentary. This week’s program is titled “The Tragic Voice,” and will feature Beethoven’s minor-key “Tempest”, “Appassionata”, and “Pathétique” sonatas, as well as the Ab Major sonata, Op. 110.

August 24 and 25, violinists Mark Peskanov and Katya Moeller, violists Beatrice Chen and Margo Shohl, and cellist Noah Chen will perform Mozart’s String Quintets in Bb Major and G minor at BargeMusic.

Dancers from the Limón Dance Company will give a free modern dance class the morning of Saturday August 24 on the lawn of Bryant Park. The class is open to all ages and experience levels.

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