Where Afghanistan's crossroads of cultures meet

THROUGH SEPT. 7

WASHINGTON, D.C.

"Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul": The motto of Afghanistan's National Museum is "A nation stays alive when its culture stays alive." This exhibition, comprising more than 225 objects, shows the vitality of Afghan culture from 2200 BC to the third century. Thanks to the Silk Road, Afghanistan was a crossroads of several cultures, and their influence can be seen in the variety and richness of the items on display. They include gold vessels, bronze and stone sculptures, ivories, glassware, and gold ornaments. In addition, the show describes the discovery, excavation, and, in some cases, rescue of these objects. The show will later travel to San Francisco, Houston, and New York. 4th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, 202-737-4215, nga.gov.

THROUGH AUG. 24

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y.

Glimmerglass Opera: Shakespeare is the thread linking this summer's quartet of productions, Cole Porter's "Kiss Me, Kate"; Handel's "Giulio Cesare in Egitto"; Wagner's rarely performed comic opera "Das Liebesverbot"; and Bellini's "I Capuleti e i Montecchi." Route 80 South, 607-547-2255, glimmerglass.org.

THROUGH AUG. 31

LONDON

"Street & Studio: An Urban History of Photography": Tate Modern has gathered more than 300 photographs showing the city side of the camera. Among artists with work in the show are Diane Arbus, Cecil Beaton, Robert Doisneau, Jacques-Henri Lartigue, and Irving Penn. 25 Sumner St., 011-44-20-7887-8888, tate.org.uk/modern.

THROUGH SEPT. 7

MADRID

"The Renaissance Portrait: From Pisanello to Rubens": This exhibition at the Prado offers 126 examples of Renaissance portraiture, primarily in painting, but also sculpture, drawing, and prints. Artists include an impressive roster of 15th-, 16th-, and 17th-century masters: Botticelli, Jan van Eyck, Durer, Piero della Francesca, El Greco, Holbein, Raphael, and Titian. Paseo del Prado, 011-34-91-330-28-00, museodelprado.es.

THROUGH SEPT. 28

CLEVELAND

"Take Me Out: Baseball Rocks!": Hits are no less important in popular music than in the national pastime, as this Rock and Roll Hall of Fame exhibition makes plain. From the Joe DiMaggio reference in Simon & Garfunkel's "Mrs. Robinson" to the New York Mets adopting "Who Let the Dogs Out?" as their 2000 anthem, baseball has long figured prominently in popular music - and vice versa. 751 Erieside Ave., 216-781-7625, rockhall.com.

THROUGH OCT. 5

MUNICH

"Drawn in Sand: Unrealized Visions by Alvar Aalto": What gets built is only part of an architect's design legacy. The Pinakothek der Moderne has gathered 250 items - drawings, plans, sketches, notes - pertaining to some of the 500 projects by the great Finnish architect (1898-1976) left unfinished at his death. 40 Barer Strasse, 011-49-89-23-805-360, pinakothek.de.

PLAN AHEAD

Sept. 13-Jan. 18

KANSAS CITY, MO.

"Art in the Age of Steam: Europe, America and the Railway, 1830-1960": Kansas City's Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art has gathered more than 100 paintings, prints, drawings, and photographs to celebrate the first great mode of transportation of the modern age (which, as it happens, arose concurrently with modern art). Among artists with works in the show are Manet, Monet, van Gogh, Hopper, Sheeler, Stieglitz, and Kertesz. 4525 Oak St., 816-751-1278, nelson-atkins.org.

MARK FEENEY

Events are sometimes canceled, rescheduled, or sold out; call or check online to confirm. Mark Feeney can be reached at mfeeney@globe.com