Classical Music Agenda

Violinist Viviane Hagner

As you might expect, there is not all that much to hear this week, with the Thanksgiving holiday and all. But you can give thanks for the chance to hear a few good concerts.

MONDAY:
>> Catch the final performance of Mozart's La Finta Giardiniera, a rarely performed opera about a Marchioness who disguises herself as a gardener girl to find the man she loves, performed (with piano only) by Maryland Opera Studio (November 23, 7:30 p.m.).

TUESDAY:
>> The Snark Ensemble will give one of its eclectic performances of new live music to accompany a silent film screening, in a free concert (November 24, 6 p.m.) at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage. The films to be screened are Laurel and Hardy's Liberty and Charley Chase's Publicity Pays and Hello Baby.

>> Take in that free performance as an appetizer before the main course: a recital by violinist Viviane Hagner and pianist Shai Wosner (November 24, 7:30 p.m.) at the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. The program combines some old favorites (Schubert and Schumann) with some less expected works by Bartók and Turnage.

WEDNESDAY:
>> Right before you leave town, you could take your lunch at a free concert at the National Gallery of Art (November 25, 12:10 p.m.), in the East Building Auditorium. The very talented Ensō String Quartet will play music by Corigliano, Jalbert, Reich, and Moravec as part of the museum's 64th American Music Festival.

SATURDAY:
>> Ugh, is it time already for Christmas concerts? If you go in for that sort of thing, you can count on the celebrated vocal ensemble Chanticleer to push all the right holiday buttons with its Christmas program, presented at George Mason University Center for the Arts (November 28, 8 p.m.). Historical music is mixed with the inevitable seasonal chestnuts.

SUNDAY:
>> With the price of admission to the Phillips Collection on Sunday (November 29, 4 p.m.) is a recital by pianist Elena Ulyanova.

>> The American Music Festival at the National Gallery of Art continues with a free concert of music by Aikman, Bermel, Corigliano, and Lerdahl, presented by the National Gallery Orchestra (November 29, 6:30 p.m.). Enter the West Building through the Constitution Ave. entrance at 6th St. NW.

>> Speaking of Christmas concerts, another one that will have some interesting music is The Cherry Tree, a program presented by the vocal quartet Anonymous 4 on the Friends of Music at Dumbarton Oaks (November 29, 7 p.m., and repeated on November 30, 8 p.m.). This series is normally open to subscribers only, but some unsold tickets may be available for non-subscribers in the days leading up to the concerts.