OPERA Seattle Opera opens its new season with Bizet’s thrilling temptress Carmen, and the Metropolitan Opera brings its production of Anna Bolena to the big screen. Oct 15.

CONCERT Singer-songwriter St. Vincent makes gloriously contradictory music—a “Black Rainbow” of cheery melodies and unnerving refrains. She’s at the Neptune. Oct 13.

Earshot Jazz Festival celebrates its 23rd year with covers of Coltrane and Sinatra; the latest swinging sounds of the Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, and Jack DeJohnette trio; and jazz-hip-hop hybrids. Oct 14–Nov 6.

BOOKS & TALKS / FUNDRAISER After hosting Write Here Write Now, a full-day writing conference for all skill levels, the Seattle7Writers crew and colleagues—including prominent Northwest authors Garth Stein and Erik Larson—cut loose with “performance art readings” of their work. Oct 15.

DANCE From a series of stolen moments in Wade Madsen’s Embrace to the fragility of love in To Have and to Hold (aka Bench ), the UW’s professional Chamber Dance Company explores the commitment to content and character in 1980s choreography. Oct 13–16.

CHAMPIONS CUP TENNIS Jim Courier v. Michael Chang. Pete Sampras v. John McEnroe. American tennis legends square off in one-set semifinals at KeyArena, before the victors duel in a final eight-game pro set. Oct 13.

FILM Juno Temple stars as a naughty Oklahoma schoolgirl in new movie Dirty Girl, which kicks off the 16th Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival this Friday. Oct 14–23.

VISUAL ART Sierra Stinson opens up her studio apartment for tonight’s opening (and closing) reception of multimedia exhibit MittWitt: Leanne Grimes and Rodrigo Valenzuela. Oct 13.

CLASSICAL & MORE Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra, a fresh-faced crew of conservatory grads and hypertalented twentysomethings led by a 24-year-old conductor, makes its Benaroya Hall debut with Debussy, Prokofiev, and a world premiere. Oct 16.