Classical Music Agenda
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported this week that the music director of Pittsburgh Opera, Antony Walker (pictured), conducted a performance of Aida. Not only that, but he simultaneously sang the role of Radames from the podium in the last act, replacing an indisposed tenor. The lead recommendation this week gives you a chance to see Walker in action (hopefully only conducting), as he is also the music director of our own Washington Concert Opera.
HEADLINES:
>> The Washington Concert Opera closes its season on Sunday (April 13, 6 p.m.) with a concert performance of Rossini's Bianca e Falliero at Lisner Auditorium. Walker always hires voices you want to hear, and this cast includes Vivica Genaux and Anna Christy, although Teddy Tahu Rhodes has had to withdraw. Tickets: $65 to $90.
>> Later this year, American composer Elliott Carter will turn 100, and his music is turning up everywhere. The Pacifica Quartet will include the composer's fifth string quartet on their concert at the Kreeger Museum (2401 Foxhall Rd. NW) this Saturday (April 12, 8 p.m.). The group has worked with Carter recently, while making their new recording of his quartets. Tickets: $35 (reception included). The Pacifica Quartet will also give a master class earlier in the day (April 12, 1 p.m.) with local young musicians, that is free and open to the public (make a reservation at 202-338-3552).
>> Speaking of young string quartets, the Calder Quartet will give a concert on Friday (April 11, 8 p.m.) in the Barns at Wolf Trap. Bartók, Mendelssohn, and a world premiere by Anton Batagov are on the program. Tickets: $30.
FREE, FREE, FREE:
>> Each year the Vocal Arts Society presents two young singers in its Art Song Discovery Series. This year's honorees, soprano Brooke Evers and tenor Michael Gallant, will give free recitals around town, including this Tuesday (April 8, 6 p.m.) at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage. If that does not work out for you, catch them instead on Sunday (April 13, 4 p.m.) at St. Patrick's Episcopal Church in Falls Church.
>> Pianist Rita Dokshitsky will give a free recital on Wednesday (April 9, 7:30 p.m.) at the National Museum of Women in the Arts (1250 New York Ave. NW). You must make a reservation in advance (202-783-7370 or reservations@nmwa.org).
>> Baritone Benno Schollum and pianist Russell Ryan will give a free recital on Friday (April 11, 7:30 p.m.) at the Embassy of Austria. Again, all you have to do is make a reservation (202-895-6776 or rsvp@austria.org).
>> Also on Friday (April 11, 8 p.m.), the Škampa Quartet will give a free concert with violinist and singer Iva Bittová at the Library of Congress. The program combines Moravian folk songs, Bittová's own compositions, and the folk-influenced Kreutzer Sonata string quartet by Janáček.
>> Pianist Eric Himy will give a free recital on Sunday (April 13, 4 p.m.) at the Phillips Collection. Admission to the museum is not free.
>> Also on Sunday (April 13, 6:30 p.m.), soprano Kate Hearden and cellist Marcio Botelho will give a free recital with pianist Patricia Parker at the National Gallery of Art. The program includes music by Chausson, Debussy, Franck, and Massenet, all French in honor of the new exhibit In the Forest of Fontainebleau.
WORTH MENTION:
>> Rising German pianist Benjamin Moser will give a recital on Tuesday (April 8, 7:30 p.m.), sponsored by Young Concert Artists at the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. The program includes technically demanding music (Rachmaninoff, Prokofiev, and Ravel's Gaspard de la Nuit) that will be thrilling if played well. Tickets: $30.
>> In the battle of the young pianists, Sergio Tiempo will play a recital on Saturday (April 12, 2 p.m.), sponsored by Washington Performing Arts Society at the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. Tickets: $38.
>> The innovative Great Noise Ensemble will present its latest program of contemporary music, Sublime and Ridiculous Songs, on Saturday (April 12, 8 p.m.) at Silver Spring's Unitarian Universalist Church.
>> For more contemporary music, Inscape Chamber Music Project will give a concert on Sunday (April 13, 5 p.m.) at Bethesda's Episcopal Church of the Redeemer. The program combines Stravinsky's Histoire du Soldat and a new work by Joseph Hallman.
>> For more concert information, go to Ionarts.