Garden of Memory: The annual new-music walk-through at Chapel of the Chimes, held on the summer solstice, returns for its 15th go-round. Curated by Sarah Cahill, the event features music and appearances by a host of musical luminaries, including Paul Dresher, Maggi Payne, Dan Plonsey, Amy X Neuburg, the Del Sol Quartet and more.

5-9 p.m. Thursday (June 21). Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Ave., Oakland. $10-$15. www.gardenofmemory.com.

“Nixon in China”: John Adams’ maiden opera gets a splendid and long-overdue company debut at the San Francisco Opera, with Brian Mulligan in the title role, Simon O’Neill as Mao and Hye Jung Lee in a virtuosic turn as Madame Mao.

8 p.m. Friday. War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave., S.F. $21-$389. (415) 864-3330. www.sfopera.com.

ART

Artistic Visions of the Golden Gate Bridge: A beloved 75-year-old landmark will generate a lot of cliched responses, as this show acknowledges. But the collection stands out for the exceptions it has gathered, from an underside view painted by Jeff Bellerose, a sort of stoneware pop-up book by Steve Allen, to Guy Diehl and Don Farnsworth’s simple etched granite plaques that name the 11 men who lost their lives building the bridge.

11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Through June 30. George Krevsky Gallery, 77 Geary St., S.F. (415) 397-9748. www.georgekrevskygallery.com.

THEATER

Bruja: This is the final weekend for the latest potent blend of ancient Greek tragedy and modern Chicano life by Luis Alfaro (“Oedipus El Rey”). Sabina Zuniga Varela is riveting as a Mission District Medea in director Loretta Greco’s richly textured world premiere.

8 p.m. Thursday (June 21)-Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Magic Theatre, Building D, Fort Mason Center, S.F. (415) 441-8822. www.magictheatre.org.

THEATER

The Tempest: Director Jonathan Moscone and choreographer Erika Chong Shuch’s curiously magical, much-stripped-down version of Shakespeare’s last masterpiece enters its final weekend as the opening show in California Shakespeare Theater’s summer season.

7:30 p.m. Thursday (June 21), 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday, 4 p.m. Sunday. California Shakespeare Theater, Bruns Amphitheater, 100 California Shakespeare Theater Way, Orinda. $35-$71. (510) 548-9666. www.calshakes.org.

Article source: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/06/20/DDB91ORLC5.DTL