Classical Music Agenda
Be a good son or daughter and call your mother today. Then you can start thinking about what concerts to hear this week. Maybe you can ask your mom to come with you.
THE BIG GUNS:
>> Joining the National Symphony Orchestra this week is Chinese pianist Lang Lang. He and composer Jennifer Higdon have parted ways about her new piano concerto, which he was supposed to premiere this week. Instead, Lang Lang will play Tchaikovsky's first piano concerto, and the NSO will play another Higdon work, City Scape. In the Kennedy Center Concert Hall, May 17 to 19, various times.
>> The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra will host pianist Leon Fleischer in their concerts this week. Fleischer and pianist Katherine Jacobson will perform a two-piano version of Mozart's seventh piano concerto, followed by guest conductor Günther Herbig leading a welcome performance of Bruckner's seventh symphony. Unless you want to go to Baltimore, you must hear this concert on Saturday night, when the BSO will play at the Music Center at Strathmore. May 19, 8 p.m.
>> The Borromeo String Quartet and pianist Wu Han will give a free concert at the Library of Congress on Friday evening. The program combines some of the best music by three giants of the 20th century, Stravinsky's Concertino for String Quartet, Bartók's fifth string quartet, and Shostakovich. May 18, 8 p.m.
>> The free goodness continues with a tribute concert for Mstislav Rostropovich offered by members of the National Symphony Orchestra in memory of their former music director. This is technically a Millennium Stage concert, but it will take place in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. May 19, 6 p.m.
>> The Cantate Chamber Singers, an adventurous local choral group, will perform Haydn's oratorio about the creation of the world, Die Schöpfung. This Saturday night concert will be given at Bethesda's Westmoreland Congregational Church. May 19, 7 p.m.
>> The same evening, the Brentano String Quartet will play a program of Mozart, Beethoven, and Davidovsky at the lovely Philip Johnson-designed Kreeger Museum (2401 Foxhall Rd. NW). May 19, 8 p.m. Earlier in the day (1 p.m.), you can listen in while the members of the Brentano quartet coach young string quartets from the area (call 202-338-3552 to make a reservation).
Photo of Lang Lang by Felix Broede / Deutsche Grammophon
FREE AND WORTH MENTION:
>> On Wednesday, pianist Marta Felcman will give a free lunchtime concert of music by Chopin, Guastavino, Ravel, and Scarlatti at the National Gallery of Art, East Building Auditorium. May 16, 12:10 p.m.
>> On Sunday, the Eclipse Chamber Orchestra will play a concert of music by Adamo, Vivaldi, and Respighi at the George Washington National Masonic Memorial in Alexandria (101 Callahan Dr.). The group will be joined by soprano Emily Pulley and political blogger Andrew Sullivan as narrator. May 20, 3 p.m.
>> The Cathedral Choral Society presents a Shakespeare Festival Concert at National Cathedral on Sunday afternoon, with music by Berlioz, Walton, Vaughan Williams. May 20, 4 p.m. A "Renaissance Faire" precedes the concert on the cathedral grounds, beginning at 1 p.m.
>> Pianist Michael McHale will play a free recital on Sunday at the Phillips Collection (1600 21st St. NW). You still have to pay the price of admission to enter the museum. May 20, 4 p.m.
>> Also on Sunday, the Inscape Chamber Music Project plays a concert of music for violin, cello, clarinet, and piano by Beethoven, Hindemith, and Khachaturian at the National Gallery of Art. May 20, 6:30 p.m.
>> For more concert information, go to Ionarts.