Strobe Talbott, the John J. McCloy '16 Professor of American Institutions and International Relations at Amherst College, will speak on "A Consequential Aberration: George W. Bush's Foreign Policy-and Beyond." Talbott is the president of the Brookings Institute and former deputy secretary of state. Talbott served in the State Department from 1993 until 2001, for a year as special advisor for the new independent states of the former Soviet Union and then for seven years as deputy. He entered government after an esteemed career in journalism. (7:30 p.m., Fri., Converse Hall. No admission charge.)

On the last night of his life, the once-famous composer Antonio Salieri accuses himself of the early death of his one-time rival, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Putting himself on trial, Salieri invokes an audience to witness the performance of his final opera, "The Death of Mozart or, Did I Do It?" Peter Shaffer demonstrates his keen social conscience as he delves deep into art, religion, politics and ego. (8 p.m., Fri. through Sat., Theatre 14, Mendenhall CPA, Smith College. Tickets $5 for students at 413-585-2787.)

Led by the energetic and fiery Richard Tognetti, the Australian Chamber Orchestra's hallmark is the richness and flexibility of its sound and its ability to play as if the musicians were one player on one indescribably beautiful instrument. The program includes Corelli's Concerto Grosso, Op. 6, No. 2; Vivaldi's Concerto in B minor for Four Violins; Haydn's Cello Concerto in C and Tchaikovsky's Souvenir de Florence. (8 p.m., Sat., Fine Arts Center Concert Hall, UMass. Tickets $15, $10, $7.)

Contemporary politics may seem senseless when it is wrenched from the history that naturally accompanies it. Regardless of which views you subscribe to, you're likely to agree that there is a lot to learn from the American founding. John Londregan, professor of politics at Princeton University, will present "The Political Craft of the Foundrs: Shaping Coalitions in Philadelphia, 1787." Londregan authored, "Legislative Institutions and Ideology in Chile" and contributes to numerous journals. (9:30 a.m., Sat., Alumni House. No admission charge.)