BEST BETS Thursday 2/15

COSTA MESA

8pm

Music

A child prodigy who began winning international competitions by the age of 15, cellist Nina Kotova and her family left the Soviet Union because of cultural and political persecution. Unable to survive financially through her music, she turned to modeling in 1993 and soon was beginning to make it big in the New York fashion scene. In three years, she had enough money to purchase a cello and return to music. She will make her Orange County Performing Arts Center debut playing works by Tchaikovsky, Schumann, Rachmaninoff and other composers, including her own works and arrangements.

* Nina Kotova, Founders Hall, Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. 8 p.m. $36. (714) 556-2787.

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO

8pm

Pop Music

World music fans can depend on a world’s worth of music whenever multi-instrumentalist David Lindley comes to town. The former Jackson Browne sideman, who’s equally at home with music of the Caribbean, Norway, Turkey, Madagascar and most points in between, continues touring with percussionist Wally Ingram on what they’re billing variously as “Mr. Dave Meets the Wally Llama” and “The Beavis & Butthead of World Music.”

* David Lindley & Wally Ingram, Coach House, 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. With William Tell. 8 p.m. $16.50 to $18.50. (949) 496-8930.