BEST BETS Thursday 1/11

8pm

Music

Ravel’s song-cycle “Sheherazade” plus songs by Stenhammar and Grieg are the repertory chosen by acclaimed Swedish mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie von Otter when she makes her Los Angeles Philharmonic debut, in concerts conducted by music director Esa-Pekka Salonen, tonight, Friday and Sunday. Salonen will also conduct Berg’s Three Pieces, Opus 6, and the Symphony No. 7 by Sibelius.

* The L.A. Philharmonic, with soloist Anne Sofie von Otter, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown L.A., 8 p.m. $10-$70. Also, Friday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. (323) 850-2000.

8pm

Pop Music

The king-of-controversy crown is being worn by a different Midwestern misfit these days, but for his loyal fans and unforgiving foes, Marilyn Manson remains the embodiment of everything evil about rock ‘n’ roll. The singer will try to stir things up without the sideshow of protests and outrage that were his constant companions not long ago.

* Marilyn Manson, with Godhead, at the Arlington Theatre, 1317 State St., Santa Barbara, 8 p.m. $34.50. (805) 963-4408. Also Saturday at the Universal Amphitheatre, 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, 8:15 p.m. $32.50. (818) 622-4440.

7:30 & 9:30pm

Comedy

It’s called “A.S.S.S.S.C.A.T,” but don’t be put off by the title. The New York-based comedy troupe The Upright Citizens Brigade is just bringing its spin on improvisational comedy to Los Angeles for a month’s worth of shows, Wednesday and Thursday nights, at the ImprovOlympic West in Santa Monica. In addition to the UCB, seen for three years on cable’s Comedy Central, the shows will feature guest performers.

* Upright Citizens Brigade. ImprovOlympic West, 6468 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica. Two shows nightly at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m., tonight, Wednesday and Jan. 18, Jan. 24 and 25, and Jan. 31 and Feb. 1. $7. (323) 962-7560.

8pm

Theater

“The Book of Christopher Columbus,” a 1927 play about the controversial explorer by Paul Claudel, who was the French ambassador to the United States, opens at Stages Theatre Center. The play was produced on Broadway in 1953, but the Stages version, co-produced with the French team of Andre and Maxens Nerman, is billed as the West Coast premiere.

* “The Book of Christopher Columbus,” Stages Theatre Center, 1540 N. McCadden Place, Hollywood, Today through Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 7 p.m. $15-$20. (323) 931-3277.

8pm

Dance

Champion Romanian gymnasts are obviously good sports. Who else of comparable achievement would temporarily forsake their niche in competitive athletics for “Aeros,” a touring project that assigns them maneuvers choreographed by a whole team of unconventional artists: Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas of “Stomp,” Moses Pendleton of Pilobolus and Momix, Daniel Ezralow of ISO and David Parsons of the Parsons Dance Company. Originally staged in Milan in 1998, “Aeros” has been further developed in tryout engagements in this country but receives its official premiere at UCLA. Is it dance? Is it sports? Who knows? Nobody’s talking--not even in Romanian.

* “Aeros,” Royce Hall, UCLA campus, Westwood, 8 p.m. $20 to $35. (310) 825-2101. Also Friday, 8 p.m.; Saturday, 2 and 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. Returning Jan. 25-28. Also Jan. 23 and 24 at the California Center for the Arts, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido. $15 to $42. (800) 988-4253.