Your classical music schedule will be busy for the next two or three weeks, through Thanksgiving, and you have the chance to hear almost as much for free as you do buying tickets. BIG GUNS: >> Emmanuel Pahud is one of the leading flutists of the younger generation. He will be in Washington this week, beginning with a recital with his regular pianist collaborator, Eric Le Sage, at the Phillips Collection on Wednesday (November 7,... more ›

As they did in 2006, the Cleveland Orchestra came to the Kennedy Center Concert Hall on Monday night for a concert sponsored by the Washington Performing Arts Society. After Washington, they will play a three-concert series at Carnegie Hall and then leave for an extended European tour. The Clevelanders were once arguably America's best orchestra and were always classed among the Big Five symphonic ensembles in the country, a placement that more and more people... more ›

In 1819, Ludwig van Beethoven was middle-aged, almost broke, nearly deaf, and suffering a mid-career cold streak. When music publisher Anton Diabelli asked him to remix a middling beer-hall waltz Diabelli had composed as the basis for an all-star compilation volume, Beethoven first refused, then changed his mind. Over the next three-odd years, the Maestro was intermittently obsessed with Diabelli’s tossed-off little ditty, creating not one, not two, but yes, three-and-thirty variations on a piece he had initially — apparently — thought unworthy of his attention. more ›

Is there too much information in the Classical Music Agenda? This DCist tends to err on the side of being too complete, but we will endeavor to restrict ourselves to recommending nothing but the best, in the hope of not overwhelming you. If you think we're being stingy, go to our Classical Week in Washington feature at Ionarts for the whole scoop. more ›