Classical Music Agenda
The holiday tomorrow means that not much is happening until the latter part of the week, but when it gets going, the schedule has some excellent listening to offer.
HEADLINES:
>> One of the world's best string quartets, the Takács Quartet (pictured), will give a concert on Friday (February 22, 8 p.m.) at the Corcoran Gallery of Art. The program combines some of the group's specialties, with quartets by Haydn (op. 74, no. 2), Bartók (no. 5), and Brahms (op. 51, no. 2), in what is arguably the best concert acoustic in the city, the Corcoran's Frances and Armand Hammer Auditorium. The tickets are expensive at $90, but that includes a nice reception.
>> If you would rather your string quartet concert be free, you can also hear the Alban Berg Quartet on Friday night (February 22, 8 p.m.) at the Library of Congress, in a worthy program of Haydn (op. 77, no. 1), Berg (op. 3), and Beethoven (op. 132). The venerable quartet, whose recordings continue to set the standard in many works, will retire from performing at the end of this season. If you cannot reserve a ticket through Ticketmaster, show up early and wait for an unused seat.
>> If you, like me, want to hear both the Takács and the Berg, the Alban Berg Quartet will also play on Sunday (February 24, 5:30 p.m.) at Shriver Hall in Baltimore. The program is different, perhaps even better — Haydn (Introduction ed Adagio from op. 51), Berg (the Lyric Suite), and Schubert (D. 887), and the tickets are only $33 (students, $17).
>> The subscription series offered by the Friends of Music series at Dumbarton Oaks (1703 32nd St. NW) offers often exquisite concerts. This season, the concerts are being held once again in the beautiful Music Room designed for that purpose by the former owners, Mildred and Robert Bliss. This month's concert, on Sunday and Monday (February 24 and 25, 8 p.m.), features a noteworthy fortepianist, Kristian Bezuidenhout. He will play 18th-century music by Benda, Hertel, Haydn, and Mozart, all designed for this historical instrument.
WORTH MENTION:
>> If it is new music you want, two of the city's contemporary music ensembles have concerts, beginning with the ground-breaking Great Noise Ensemble. They offer a program called Aires Nuevos Y Tropicales, a selection of recent music by Latin American composers, on Friday (February 22, 8 p.m.) at the Patricia M. Sitar Center (1700 Kalorama Rd. NW, Suite 101). Tickets: $20 (students, $10).
>> On Saturday (February 23, 5 p.m.), the 21st Century Consort will give a concert called Swan and Stone at the Smithsonian American Art Museum (Eighth and G Sts. NW). Soprano Carmen Pelton joins for recent music on the theme of magical transformations. Tickets: $22.
>> Soprano Jennifer Wilson will sing the role of Senta in Washington National Opera's production of Wagner's The Flying Dutchman next month. On Sunday afternoon (February 24, 2 p.m.), she and veteran soprano Evelyn Lear will hold a public lecture-conversation about preparing the role at the National Museum of Women in the Arts (1250 New York Ave. NW). Tickets: $15.
FREE, FREE, FREE:
>> The Verdehr Trio (violin, clarinet, and piano) will give a free concert on Wednesday (February 20, 7:30 p.m.) at the Embassy of Austria (3524 International Ct. NW). All you need to do is RSVP (202-895-6776 or rsvp@austria.org).
>> On Friday (February 22, 1:15 p.m.) organist Russell J. Weismann will give a free recital on the Georgetown University concert series, in Dahlgren Sacred Heart Chapel.
>> On Sunday (February 24, 4 p.m.), the piano duo Silver-Garburg will give a free recital at the Phillips Collection (1600 21st St. NW). As always, admission to the museum is not free, just the concert.
>> Later on Sunday (February 24, 6:30 p.m.), the National Gallery Chamber Players Piano Trio will play on the free concert series at the National Gallery of Art. Doors open at 6 p.m. at the Constitution Ave. entrance, at Sixth St. NW.
>> For more concert information, go to Ionarts.