News of singer Christine Anu’s return to Canberra to celebrate the life and legacy of soul diva Aretha Franklin leads art editor HELEN MUSA’s weekly Arts in the City column.

CHRISTINE Anu is back in Canberra to celebrate the life and legacy of soul diva Aretha Franklin with her show, “Rewind – The Aretha Franklin Songbook”. At Canberra Southern Cross Club, Woden, September 12. Book at cscc.com.au

IN “Collision”, Canberra artist Fatima Killeen has created an exhibition of works inspired by Islamic art to overcome the negative stereotypes surrounding Arab and Muslim communities in Australia. At Belconnen Arts Centre, September 6-October 27.

ADHOC Baroque’s spring concert, “Handel and his Rivals”, will feature works by Handel, Porpora, Pepusch and Bononcini. At St Paul’s Anglican Church, Manuka, 3pm, Sunday, September 1. Book at trybooking.com

CROATIAN pianist Dejan Lazi? reunites with the Australian Chamber Orchestra in a celebration of Mozart’s concertos and symphonies, directed by the ACO’s Richard Tognetti. The concert also features two of Lazi?’s own works and Tognetti will feature as soloist in Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 3. At Llewellyn Hall, Saturday, September 7. Book at aco.com.au

SYDNEY performer Christine Firkin will appear in a musical cabaret, “The Roads I Didn’t Take”, with musical direction by Canberra’s Nicholas Griffin. Interspersed with songs from musical theatre, the show tackles big life decisions, with a bit of help from the audience. Polit Bar, Manuka, 8pm, September 4, tickets at the door. 

IN “The Game Changers”, Selby & Friends, Susie Park on violin and Julian Smiles on cello, will perform Elena Kats-Chernin’s “Blue Silence” for piano trio, Ravel’s Violin Sonata No. 2 in G major, M. 77, Britten’s Cello Sonata in C major, Op. 65 and Dvo?ák’s Piano Trio in F minor, Op. 65. At Llewellyn Hall, Tuesday, September 3. Book at selbyandfriends.com.au 

VETERAN photographer Heide Smith was recently made a fellow of the Australian Institute of Professional Photographers at a Sydney convention. “To be praised by your peers is something special to me,” she says.

AUSTRALIAN composer Nigel Westlake’s “Sacred Sky” will be premiered by the Australian String Quartet alongside works by Charles Ives and Claude Debussy. It was commissioned by the ASQ and written as a homage to his late sister, the actor, singer, visual artist and event producer Kate Westlake. The titles of each movement are taken from four of her seascape paintings. At Gandel Hall, NGA, 2pm, Sunday, September 8. Book at asq.com.au