Classical Music Agenda
Because of the generally conservative audiences in Washington, local ensembles tend not to program too much contemporary music, preferring to stick with familiar favorites. The Kennedy Center's CrossCurrents contemporary music festival, which opened auspiciously on Friday night with a superb concert by the Russian composer Lera Auerbach, is attempting to buck that trend. If you are the sort who complains about hearing the same old music, you are obliged to get out there and listen to something new.
Violinist Leila Josefowicz (photo by Deborah O’Grady)
>> On Monday (May 4, 7:30 p.m.), senior American composer Joan Tower will get the CrossCurrents treatment in a Composer Spotlight concert with the Muir Quartet and Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio in the Kennedy Center Family Theater.
>> On Tuesday (May 5, 7:30 p.m.) the Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio and Miami String Quartet will perform a new piano septet by Ellen Taaffe Zwilich in the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater.
>> The Nash Ensemble of London will take the stage on Wednesday (May 6, 7:30 p.m.) with music by Oliver Knussen, Carter, Birtwhistle, Maw, and others in the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater.
>> Speaking of Oliver Knussen, he will conduct the National Symphony Orchestra this week (May 7 to 9), including a performance of his new violin concerto with Leila Josefowicz playing the solo part.
>> One of the best contemporary music concerts of the week is not even at the Kennedy Center. It will feature the adventurous pianist Jenny Lin playing music by Ligeti, Messiaen, and Unsuk Chin in the Mansion at Strathmore on Thursday (May 7, 7:30 p.m.).
>> Finally, Oliver Knussen will also lead a chamber ensemble drawn from the National Symphony Orchestra in a program including his own Requiem: Songs for Sue, as well as works by Turnage and others on Sunday evening (May 10, 7:30 p.m.) in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. Take your mother at your own risk, unless she happens to love contemporary music.
MAKE IT FREE:
>> The Washington Bach Consort will close out its noontime cantata series for the season with Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis (BWV 21) at Church of the Epiphany on Tuesday (May 5, 12 noon).
>> The third free concert by musicians from the Marlboro festival is scheduled for Wednesday (May 6, 7:30 p.m.) at the Freer Gallery of Art.
>> Peter Sheppard-Skaerved will give a free lecture-demonstration on Saturday afternoon (May 9, 2 p.m.) called The Revolutionary Violin, at the Library of Congress, using instruments from the library's collection.
>> For a great Mother's Day concert, there is the Mendelssohn Trio at the Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture on Sunday (May 10, 3 p.m.), with music by Brahms, Haydn, and Bloch. Free tickets are handed out in the G Street lobby one hour before each performance.
>> Take your mom to the Phillips Collection on Sunday and find a seat for the concert by pianist Maurizio Moretti (May 10, 4 p.m.). The concert is free with the price of admission.
>> Also on Sunday (May 10, 6:30 p.m.) soprano Nancy Marriott and friends will perform music by Fauré, Handel, Mozart, and Scarlatti in a free concert at the National Gallery of Art.
FURTHERMORE:
>> Washington Performing Arts Society brings the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra to town on Monday night (May 4, 8 p.m.), for a concert in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall.
>> The Vocal Arts Society hosts the lovely mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožená at the Austrian Embassy on Wednesday (May 6, 7:30 p.m.).
>> The Bach Sinfonia performs Purcell's masque King Arthur in the Music Center at Strathmore on Saturday (May 9, 8 p.m.).