The music scene in Baltimore: Finding cheap, yet rewarding musical experiences in the city

Are you bored over the weekend and hoping to find something fun to do? Maybe you’d like to take your significant other out for a night of festivities. Or perhaps you’re simply looking for an evening of beautiful music at a low price.

Whichever situation you find yourself in, Baltimore has it all: the fun, the festive, and the beautiful.

This Sunday, Feb. 20th, there are two special musical events happening around Baltimore, both only $5 to $10 with a valid student ID.

The first event showcases Russian romances and Gypsy songs. This show begins at 5:30 p.m. at An die Musik LIVE. The evening will be filled with famous opera duets, arias, musical tunes, and sacred songs. They are staged and performed by three members of the Washington National Opera, all of whom are renowned for their superior singing technique and artistic interpretation, having performed in places like the White House and in countries such as Japan and Germany. Tickets are $15 for general admission, but only $5 for students. An die Musik LIVE is on 409 North Charles St. on the second floor.

Or if medieval and classical music isn’t your idea of a fun evening, check out Bill Frisell and Vinicus Cantuaria at Falvey Hall in the MICA Brown Center beginning at 6 p.m. They will be promoting the release of their new CD, Lagrimas Mexicanas, which was released on Jan. 25, 2011.

This CD draws heavily from Latin and Brazilian roots and sets these rhythms to jazz improvisation from the 21st century. The songs on the album are mixed with Portuguese, Spanish, and English, much like the mash of cultures in the music backing them. Tickets are $33 for the general audience, but only $10 for students with ID.

And if neither of these suit your fancy? Why don’t you stay closer to home?

Peabody almost always has a concert or two every day over the weekend, and students generally get a discount on ticket prices. This weekend alone, they have a voice recital as well as a Links Concert and the contemporary Peabody Camerata.

If that isn’t enough, check out the cabarets at Germano’s Trattoria in the heart of Little Italy, featuring different artists nightly, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Or for a slightly steeper price, enjoy an afternoon of Jersey Boys, which is playing until the end of this month at the Hippodrome Theatre on 12 N. Eutaw St.

So whether you prefer classical or contemporary, there’s something for everyone this weekend that’s an easy bus ride away.