PACIFIC

NEW ZEALAND. What better way to mount an exhibition exploring global contemporary art than to show it simultaneously in two spots half a world apart? "The World Over/De Wereld Bollen: Art in the Age of Globalisation" has half its works on display in the City Gallery of Wellington, New Zealand, and half in Amsterdam's Stedelijk Museum of Modern Art. The two halves are linked by an interactive digital program, and 16 of the works--including one by American musician and artist Laurie Anderson--can be found on the Internet. Among the featured works--from 40 artists in all--are TV Garden by Korean-American video artist Nam June Paik in Wellington, and 15 paintings from New Zealand's celebrated modernist Colin McCahon in Amsterdam. Through Aug. 11 in Wellington and Aug. 18 in Amsterdam.

EUROPE

LONDON. Tourists visiting the City of London, the glorious square-mile center of the British capital, often complain that the most interesting parts are not easy to explore. Yes, of course, one can see St. Paul's Cathedral and the Tower of London, but other gems--Mansion House, the Great Hall of the Guildhall, the Merchant Taylors' Hall and the Guildhall Library--are normally closed to tourists. But last year the City anted up $1.5 million to stage concerts in those gilt-edged surroundings. Among the treasures this summer are vocalists Felicity Lott and Ann Murray (June 26), who will sing in the Egyptian Hall of Mansion House, the Lord Mayor's residence. Concerts will also take place at Temple Church and the 12th century church of St. Bartholomew's. Concertgoers will be allowed to roam the City's streets after the day's traffic has stopped.

SCOTLAND. Countrywide celebrations this year mark the 200th anniversary of the death of Scotland's national poet, Robert Burns. The Edinburgh exhibit "Pride and Passion" showcases the original manuscript of his masterpiece Tam O'Shanter and a collection of paintings and songs commemorating the bard's life. Other events to honor the lyricist of Auld Lang Syne include a street fair with traditional Scottish dancing and music at his birthplace in Dumfries during the week of July 16.

MIDDLE EAST

JERUSALEM. Albert Einstein once said, "Put your head on a hot stove for a minute, and it seems like an hour. Sit with a pretty girl for an hour, and it seems like a minute. That's relativity." Relativity is also explained in a handwritten 1912 version of the scientist's world-famous equation, E=mc2, now on display at the Israel Museum. It is contained in a manuscript--penned in German and accompanied by an English translation--that is the earliest and most comprehensive of his works on relativity. Sketches of Einstein's life round out the display, and once an hour a tape of his voice elucidates his theory. The 72-page manuscript--a rare find because Einstein usually threw his drafts away after publication--is on display until early September.