Classical Music Agenda
This week, the free concerts are at the top of my classical music picks, because everyone loves to hear music for free, especially when it promises to be of such high quality as most of these concerts.
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS:
>> It is finally time to go hear excellent chamber music at the Library of Congress again. This Wednesday (October 11, 8 p.m.), one of the finest chamber groups around, the Beaux Arts Trio, will give a recital in Coolidge Auditorium. If you want a guaranteed place to sit, reserve through Ticketmaster (with the usual fees). If you can handle possibly not getting in, wait on line for an unused ticket. The program includes two pieces by Schubert (a notturno and the first piano trio), a recent work by London-based composer Mark-Anthony Turnage (A Slow Pavane), and the Shostakovich second piano trio. Although they played the latter work in their last concert at the LOC two years ago (when I heard them), they play it again this time to celebrate the Shostakovich centenary. (First St. and Independence Ave. SE)
>> I will likely be right back at the Library of Congress on Friday (October 13, 8 p.m.), for a free concert by the Mandelring String Quartet, a group from Germany that I have not yet heard live. Their program includes a Haydn quartet (op. 20, no. 3), a Brahms quartet (C minor, op. 51, no. 1), and for the first time at the Library, Ligeti's second quartet. When Hungarian composer György Ligeti died this summer, most critics (myself included) lionized him as the greatest composer of the late 20th century. Although his more outrageous pieces, like the infamous Music for 100 Metronomes, may be more stunts than compositions, his second quartet is a profound experience of Ligeti's melodic and harmonic invention.
MUSEUMS:
>> The Freer Gallery of Art has a nice auditorium and a free concert series, too. This Saturday (October 14, 7:30 p.m.), the museum will celebrate the 100th anniversary of Charles Lang Freer's donation to the Smithsonian, the birth of the museum that now bears his name. The Woodley Ensemble will give an unusual complete performance of Gustav Holst's Choral Hymns from the Rig Veda, a piece definitely worth hearing. You can reserve tickets through Ticketmaster for the usual fees, or arrive early and hope to receive a seat at no charge. (12th St. and Jefferson Dr. SW)
>> Next Sunday (October 15, 4 p.m.), the Phillips Collection hosts the latest free concert in its weekly series, a recital by the unusual combination of Joseph Petric (accordion) and Norman Forget (oboe). No tickets required, but you do have to pay to get into the museum, so go early and see some art, too. (1600 21st St. NW)
>> Also on Sunday (October 15, 6:30 p.m.), the National Gallery of Art continues to host the least complicated free concert series in Washington, with a recital of 19th-century French music by soprano Alessandra Marc with pianist David Chapman. I was very impressed by the program the same pair performed at the NGA two years ago. This concert is presented in connection with the museum's new exhibit dedicated to the work of Alexandre-Louis-Marie Charpentier. (Sixth St. and Constitution Ave. NW)
LOVE THE OPERA:
>> How do you know if you love opera if you have never tried it? Newbies and veterans alike should think about a special performance next Saturday (October 14, 4 p.m.) from Washington National Opera called Welcome to Opera. Opera superstar Plácido Domingo will conduct selections by Mozart and Puccini, all of which are chosen to please, at the Kennedy Center Opera House. Tickets are either $50 or $25.
>> Or just go straight to the real thing, with an opera that almost always pleases first-time opera neophytes, Bizet's Carmen. Virginia Opera will give two performances of this sultry story of lust and murder in Seville on Friday (October 13, 8 p.m.) and Sunday (October 15, 2 p.m.) at the George Mason University Center for the Arts in Fairfax. Soprano Cristina Nassif, a local musician headed for the big time, will sing the title role. Tickets: $44 to $90.
>> If you are willing to try an opera that is a little more challenging, the last performance of Nicholas Maw's Sophie's Choice, from 2002, is scheduled for Monday (October 9, 7 p.m.) with Washington National Opera at the Kennedy Center Opera House. You can read my review if you want to know more.
>> The chance to hear a rarely performed Rossini opera makes the trip to Baltimore worth my while. Elizabeth Futral and Vivica Genaux are two fine singers featured in Rossini's L’Assedio di Corinto (The Siege of Corinth) at Baltimore Opera. Performances begin on Saturday (October 14, 8:15 p.m.) in the historic Lyric Opera House.
>> Legendary bass-baritone François Loup and some of his students at the University of Maryland will take part in a tribute concert to Loup next Sunday (October 15, 7:30 p.m.) with Opera Lafayette at La Maison Française. The steep ticket price ($85) includes a champagne reception and the new CD release of Opera Lafayette's performance of Sacchini's Œdipe à Colone. (4101 Reservoir Rd. NW)
>> Washington native mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves will give a recital of art song and opera selections on Tuesday (October 10, 8 p.m.) in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall, with pianist Warren Jones. Of particular interest on the program are selections from Richard Danielpour's recent, successful opera Margaret Garner, the title role of which Graves created in 2005.
IN BRIEF:
>> The National Symphony has no concerts this week, but there are chances to hear instrumental music, too. Emanuel Ax will play with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra this Sunday (October 15, 4 p.m.) in the Music Center at Strathmore. The same afternoon, two of Washington's smaller orchestras (with lower ticket prices) will give their first concerts of the season. The Capitol City Symphony will play Beethoven, Haydn, Walker, and Liszt (October 15, 5 p.m.) in the Atlas Performing Arts Center, and the Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic will play Dawson, Shostakovich, Kowalski, and Starer (October 15, 5 p.m.) at Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria.
>> For many more concerts and coverage of classical music, go to Ionarts.
Image from the Library of Congress
