The versatile British composer Michael Nyman appears in the Strings of Autumn festival this week, reprising two previous appearances in Prague. He was the hit of the festival in 1999, and late last year his minimalist opera Man and Boy: Dada played at the Estates Theater. Nyman will be performing on that very stage with his band, an eclectic mix of players that he uses as a "laboratory" for bringing his riveting music to life. Estates Theater, Thursday, Oct. 20, at 7:30

DANCE

The Russians are coming! Fortunately, it's a star group of performers and dancers from the Marinsky Theater and Rimsky-Korsakov Opera and Ballet Theater of St. Petersburg, doing a ballet version of Cervantes' Don Quixote. The first such adaptation premiered in Moscow's Bolshoi Theater in 1869; this one incorporates choreography from a legendary 1902 production, updated by director and ballet master Nikita Dolgushin. One night only, and well worth catching. National Theater, Wednesday, Oct. 26, at 7

THEATER

Two of Prague's better improv players, Eva Elxa and Nika Novak, will be working from a script when they debut a new piece, Prádélko (Clothes). Written by the two actresses, the one-act play draws on Czech and Moravian culture and music to look at issues of middle-aged motherhood: love, intimacy, sensuality and sacrifice. The dialogue is in Czech, but movement and music are given equal time, and it's always a treat watching these inventive players perform and sing together. Divadlo Nablízko, Monday, Oct. 24, at 7:30

JAZZ, ROCK, ETC.

Part electroclash, part glam, Bristol's Chikinki are sui generis indie rockers pretending to be techno geeks, an unlikely combo that has earned the group premier gigs at Glastonbury and other name-brand festivals. Think Devo fronted by a hip-swinging Trent Reznor or Jon Spencer singing with Ladytron — this is come-on computer music with cojones. With support from local indie faves Roe Deer. Abaton, Thursday, Oct. 20, at 8

It might be sponsored by the French Institute, but Fréderic Fortes' performance won't be in French — the Montpelliérain bard belts his torch songs out in Occitane, the ancient language of the troubadours. Fortes' new project, Acostica, attempts to bring a spotlight to this overlooked corner of European culture, making world music that balances between folksy tradition and contemporary chanson. Divadlo Na Prádle, Thursday, Oct. 20, at 7:30

Channeling legends like Minor Threat and the Vandals, the Wives bring their version of classic punk fury all the way from Los Angeles. Their noisy, stripped-down sound includes artful pauses and nearly New Wave repetitive patterns, making this year's Erect the Youth Problem a critics' fave. In a strange pairing, DJs Orion, Trafik and Tuco take the stage for a hip-hop afterparty. 007 Strahov, Saturday, Oct. 22, at 7:30

Like Spinal Tap never happened, Peter Pan Speedrock have delusions of grandeur and elements of questionable taste to rival those of David St. Hubbins: Their recent disc is Spread Eagle; they describe their Dutch home as "Eindhoven Rock City." The music combines elements of classic metal á la Motorhead with Megadeth-style percussion and a punkish touch akin to the Supersuckers. Rock out. 007 Strahov, Monday, Oct. 24, at 7:30

Jazz fans were more likely to catch famed Czech bass player Miroslav Vitous in Switzerland or Vienna this year than his homeland. But he's starting to reappear on the local scene, most recently in collaboration with improv actor Jaroslav Dusek at Archa Theater. This week he headlines a quartet appearing at a music venue with plenty of room for stretching those deep notes and lengthy improvisations. Lucerna Music Bar, Monday, Oct. 24, at 9

CLUBS

Techno king Sven Väth headlines the Electronic Music Festival. Known as an electronic musician, label head and sound artist, Väth earned a reputation on the German club circuit for marathon sets of killer dance tunes. Among the DJs joining him are Lucien Foort, Ricardo Villalobos and Tube Tech, who offers up a thump-heavy house version of Clapton's classic "Cocaine." Pru?myslovy´ palác, Vystaviste, Saturday, Oct. 22, at 7

OTHER