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The swell of holiday concerts and Messiah and Nutcracker performances has reached a deafening level this week. Still, there are some excellent concerts to hear, if you just need to get away from the tinselly, Santa-hatted madness.
HEADLINES:
>> Venezuelan pianist Gabriela Montero will give a nearly sold-out Washington Performing Arts Society recital on Saturday (December 15, 2 p.m.), Sidney Harman Hall. This new downtown venue, if an article in The Economist is to be believed, will help foster "an intellectual and artistic renaissance" in Washington. Watch that happen as Montero plays Bach, Chopin, and Schumann, as well as some of her signature improvisations, on themes suggested by the audience. If you raise a hand and suggest a Christmas carol, thumbs will get broken.
>> Polish baritone Mariusz KwiecieĊ and pianist Howard Watkins give a highly anticipated recital on Thursday (December 13, 7:30 p.m.) sponsored by the Vocal Arts Society at the Embassy of Austria (3524 International Ct. NW). The repertoire includes Schumann's Dichterliebe, and songs by Tchaikovsky, Karlowicz, and Ravel. Tickets: $40.
>> The Kennedy Center Chamber Players, a rotating ensemble made up of members of the National Symphony Orchestra, will play its latest program on Sunday (December 16, 2 p.m.), at the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. How often do you get to hear Schoenberg's first chamber symphony in Webern's arrangement for sextet? Tickets: $35.
Photo of pianist Gabriela Montero courtesy of EMI Classics
THE FREE KIND:
>> The weekend offers two spectacular free string quartet concerts, the first by the Formosa Quartet on Friday (December 14, 8 p.m.) at the Library of Congress. The group has been invited to celebrate the Stradivari Anniversary, an annual ritual in which a young string quartet plays a concert on the Library's collection of priceless Stradivarius instruments. If you are not able to reserve a ticket through Ticketmaster, with the usual fees, come early and wait on line for an unused seat.
>> To celebrate the birthday of Ludwig van Beethoven, the Leipzig String Quartet will play a recital of music by Beethoven and Mendelssohn on Sunday (December 16, 6:30 p.m.), at the National Gallery of Art. Early arrival (at the Constitution Ave. entrance to the West Building) is highly recommended to find a suitable seat.
>> Pianist Jacob Clark gives a recital on the free Tuesday series (December 11, 12:10 p.m.) at Church of the Epiphany (1317 G St. NW).
>> The Piano Society of Greater Washington hosts its latest free recital on Sunday (December 16, 3 p.m.), at Silver Spring's Calvary Lutheran Church. A reception will follow, and a good-will donation is appreciated.
>> Pianist Haskell Small plays on the free concert series at the Phillips Collection on Sunday (December 16, 4 p.m.). His program includes music by Federico Mompou, Musica Callada. Admission to the museum is not free, just the concert.
>> For more concert information go to Ionarts.
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