Charles Downey

James Morris (Pasquale) and Ekaterina Siurina (Norina) in Don Pasquale, Washington National Opera, 2011. Photo by Scott Suchman. Plácido Domingo is taking leave of Washington National Opera in a grand way this month, both on the stage as Oreste in a riveting production of Gluck's Iphigénie en Tauride and... continue reading on DCist

Gustav Mahler, who died on May 18, 1911 (#mahlerday) In 2004, Catherine Andrews and Mike Grass agreed to let me write about classical music for DCist, their recently launched blog on all things Washington, D.C. That was back when you still had to explain what a blog was after... continue reading on DCist

Patricia Racette (Iphigénie, center) and Chorus of Priestesses in Iphigénie en Tauride, Washington National Opera, 2011 (photo by Scott Suchman) Washington National Opera has made another significant advance in catching up to the latest trends in opera houses around the world, by staging its first-ever opera by Christoph Willibald... continue reading on DCist

Patricia Racette (Iphigénie) and Plácido Domingo (Oreste) in Iphigénie en Tauride, Washington National Opera, 2011 (photo by Scott Suchman) MUST SEE: >> Plácido Domingo is about to step down as artistic director of the Washington National Opera at the end of this season, though it may not mean that... continue reading on DCist

Yet again, this is one of those weeks where it's very good to live in the district, if you want to hear some classical music for free, that is. Pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard MAKE IT FREE: >> Have some Bach at lunchtime with the Noontime Cantata series from the Washington Bach... continue reading on DCist