OPENINGS

Pop/Rock

Jane Olivor (Carpenter Performing Arts Center, Cal State Long Beach, [562] 985-7000). The cabaret goddess makes a rare appearance. 7 p.m.

Rockapella (Coach House, 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, [949] 496-8927). The popular a cappella outfit recorded its new live album at Santa Barbara’s Lobero Theatre. Also: Chris Thayer Band, Socal Vocals. 8 p.m. Also Thursday at the Key Club, 9039 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, (310) 786-1712, 8 p.m.

Jazz

Billy Ross & the George Gaffney Trio (Westin Los Angeles Airport Hotel, 5400 W. Century Blvd., L.A., [310] 216-5151). Versatile sax man Ross joined Woody Herman’s Thundering Heard at the age of 18 and has been playing in various Heards ever since. Here he joins pianist Gaffney and his trio in a tribute to Stan Getz. 5 p.m.

The Travelers (The Jazz Spot, 2138 Hillhurst Ave., L.A., [323] 666-8666). The Japanese quartet returns to the U.S. for its second tour in support of its latest CD, “God Speed.” 8:30 and 10 p.m.

Music

Los Angeles Opera (Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., L.A., [213] 365-3500). The company revives Donizetti’s “Don Pasquale,” with Ruth Ann Swenson, Greg Fedderly, Thomas Allen and Simone Alaimo; Emmanuel Joel conducts; Stephen Lawless is stage director. 7:30 p.m. Subsequent performances Saturday and April 21 at 1 p.m., and April 18, 24, 27 and 29 at 7:30 p.m.

Carl St.Clair and the Pacific Symphony (Segerstrom Hall, Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, [714] 755-5799). The L.A. Guitar Quartet plays Rodrigo’s “Concierto Andaluz”; cellist Timothy Landauer and violist Robert Becker are featured in Richard Strauss” “Don Quixote.” St.Clair also leads Robert Xavier Rodriguez’s “Hot Buttered Rhumba” and Chabrier’s “Espan~a.” 8 p.m. Also, Thursday at 8 p.m.

Thornton Horn Ensemble (Alfred Newman Recital Hall, USC, L.A., [213] 740-7111). Richard Todd directs the ensemble; guest hornists are Jerry Folson, Elizabeth Cook Shen, Bruce Hudson and Robert Watt. The program includes music by Brad Warnaar, Lee Holdridge, Dennis McCarthy and Tim Simonee. 8 p.m.

Dance

CelticFusion (California Center for the Arts, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido, [800] 988-4253). 8 p.m. Liam Harney heads a company presenting traditional and contemporary Irish dance.

Theater

“Looking for Normal” (Geffen Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Ave., Westwood, [310] 208-5454; [213] 365-3500). Beau Bridges and Laurie Metcalf head the cast in the world premiere of Jane Anderson’s play about a small Ohio town changed by one man’s life-altering decision. 7:30 p.m.