Cincinnati Enquirer

Going Out

Celebrate the kickoff to the first annual Fringe Festival at the Visual Fringe, 6-10 p.m. today, Garfield Tower Apartments, 119 Garfield Place; also 725 Race St. and 15, 34 and 36 W. Court St., downtown. $2; $150 all festival events; $75 10 shows; $50 six shows; $10 individual shows. 381-2273.

Classical guitar

University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music's Classical Guitar Ensemble performs at 8 p.m. today under the direction of Clare Callahan. Patricia Corbett Theater. Free. 556-4183.

Opera rap

Artistic director Nicholas Muni previews Cincinnati Opera's summer season, noon today, Mercantile Library, 414 Walnut St., downtown. $5 (box lunch can be ordered in advance for $8). Reservations required: 621-0717.

New Releases

Metal box: Judas Priest fans rock to this five -disc, 65-track collection, Metalogy. (Sony; $59.98)

English croon: England's singer-pianist Jamie Cullum's already double platinum album, Twentysomething, debuts in the U.S. (Verve; $9.98)

American metal: Risen from the ashes of Aftershock and Overcast, Killswitch Engage releases its third album, End of Heartache. (Roadrunner Records; $12.98)

Fine as folk: Folk-rock singer/songwriter Steve Forbert's latest effort, Just Like There's Nothin' To It (Dig). (Koch Records; $17.98)

DVD picks: Former secretary of defense Robert McNamara provides insight into the Vietnam War in Errol Morris' Oscar-winning documentary The Fog of War, out today, says Enquirer film critic Margaret A. McGurk. The new DVD includes more footage from McNamara's recollections, as well as rare archival footage. Also new today is In America, the bittersweet immigrant tale from writer-director Jim Sheridan (My Left Foot).

Looking Ahead

24 hours out

Diamond Studs, a tongue-in-cheek musical salute to Jesse James, opens

8 p.m. Wednesday, through May 30, $15, $14 students and seniors. Showboat Majestic, 435 E. Mehring Way, downtown. 251-6550.

48 hours out

University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music Mainstage Opera Series opens Hansel and Gretel, 8 p.m. Thursday, through Sunday. $25, $15 student. Corbett Auditorium. 556-4183.