Weekend arts picks: April 23-27

Music: The Master Chorale of South Florida wraps its 2008-09 season with the Chichester Psalms of Leonard Bernstein, proof positive that it was good for the composer to stay away from conducting for a while and write; it was his 1965 sabbatical from the New York Philharmonic that engendered the creation of this classic of contemporary choral literature. The Chorale will be joined by the Florida Singing Sons Boychoir for its three night of concerts, which also include another modern classic, the Lux Aeterna of Morten Lauridsen, and the Old American Songs of Aaron Copland. 8 pm Friday, First Presbyterian Church of Pompano Beach; 8 pm Saturday, Congregational Church of Boca Raton/United Church of Christ, Boca Raton; 4 pm Sunday, Trinity Episcopal Church, Miami. Tickets: $35; $30 in advance. Call 954-418-6232 or visit www.masterchoraleofsouthflorida.org.

Beginning Saturday, Florida Grand Opera ends its 68th season with Madama Butterfly, Giacomo Puccini’s 1904 story of the trusting Japanese geisha girl and the callous American Navy lieutenant who does her wrong. The production runs through May 16. With Shu-Ying Li (April 25, May 1, 3, 5, 8, and 16) and Maria Kanyova (April 29, May 2, 9, 14) as Cio-Cio San; Arturo Chacon-Cruz (April 25, May 1, 3, 5, 8 and 16) and Alessandro Liberatore (April 29, May 2, 9, 14) as B.F. Pinkerton. 7 pm Saturday; 8 pm all other performances, except 2 pm May 3. Ziff Ballet Opera House, Miami, through the 9th. Tickets: $24-$225 Call 800-741-1010 or visit www.fgo.org. The production moves to the Broward Center in Fort Lauderdale on May 14 and 16 for two shows. Tickets: $21-$200. Call 954-462-0222.

On Sunday, the last event in the Palm Beach Opera season occurs with its 40th annual vocal competition. This year, 14 finalists will compete for a total of $85,000 in prize money. Legendary conductor Eve Queler will direct the Palm Beach Opera Orchestra in this event beginning at 3 p.m. Tickets: $20-$75. Call 832-7469 or visit www.kraviscenter.org.

The St. Paul’s Episcopal Church series in Delray Beach continues Sunday with cellist Johanne Perron and pianist Fedora Horowitz. The two will perform the Arpeggione Sonata of Schubert (in A minor, D. 821), the Shostakovich sonata (in D minor, Op. 40), and the Grand Tango of Astor Piazzolla. Also scheduled are short French pieces by Faure, Ravel and the contemporary jazz composer Claude Bolling. 4 pm, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Delray Beach. Tickets: $15-$18. Call 278-6003, or visit www.stpaulsdelray.org.

Film: The Palm Beach International Film Festival, which got under way today with a showing of Stone of Destiny, continues through Monday with about 110 films on tap, including a look at the cinema of Italy curated by Veronica De Laurentiis, daughter of producer Dino De Laurentiis. Awards are being given to actor James Cromwell (Babe, W.) and director Joel Zwick, and the festival concludes with the romantic comedy 500 Days of Summer, starring Zooey Deschanel. Here is the schedule; call 362-0003 or visit www.pbifilmfest.org for more information.