Classical Music Agenda
Most of the concerts around town at this point of the year are holiday craptaculars and performances of Messiah. Here is the rest of what's left all the way through the first weekend of January, which is when the post-holiday edition of the Classical Music Agenda will resume. Enjoy the rest of your year!
>> One of the most anticipated concerts in the classical series from Washington Performing Arts Society is scheduled for tomorrow (December 15, 8 p.m.), with pianist Angela Hewitt and cellist Daniel Müller-Schott (pictured) at Sydney Harman Hall downtown. The program includes works for cello and piano by Bach and Beethoven, the latter from the duo's ongoing recording project of the complete works of Beethoven. Tickets: $35.
>> Something bracing and modern to jar you out of the sugar plum daze of Christmas music? A trip to Baltimore for the latest concert in the Mobtown Modern series, Hard As F#@! (December 15, 8 p.m.), at the Contemporary Museum, is in order. Tickets: $10.
>> For its annual Stradivari Anniversary Concert, the Library of Congress has invited the Harlem Quartet and cellist Carter Brey to play on instruments from its Stradivari collection for a free concert on Thursday (December 18, 8 p.m.). The program includes music by Turina, Piston, Strayhorn, and Schubert. Reserve a seat through Ticketmaster or show up early to claim an unused ticket.
>> After Alessandra Marc's 2004 recital at the National Gallery of Art, I described her voice as "an extremely potent dramatic soprano, the hydrogen bomb of the female register." She returns to the National Gallery on Sunday (December 21, 6:30 p.m.) for a free concert with the National Gallery Strings in music of Ernest Bloch and other composers. No ticket or reservation is required, but show up early for a good seat.
>> Pianist Sophia Vastek will give a free lunchtime recital next week (December 23, 12:10 p.m.) at the Church of the Epiphany (1317 G St. NW).
>> Looking for New Year's concerts? The National Gallery Orchestra will give its New Year Concert early (December 28, 6:30 p.m.), conducted by Manfred Knoop, on the free series at the National Gallery of Art.
>> On New Year's Eve itself (December 31, 8:30 p.m.) there is the annual NSO New Year's Concert in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall.
>> In the New Year there is the Salute to Vienna New Year's Concert in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall (January 3, 8 p.m.).
>> The weekly free concert series are both back in full swing on the first Sunday of January, with a recital by pianist Christine Johnson (January 4, 4 p.m.) at the Phillips Collection.
>> Later the same day (January 4, 6:30 p.m.) the National Gallery of Art String Quartet will join forces with pianist Menahem Pressler for the free Sunday concert at the National Gallery of Art.