This past weekend's concerts from the National Symphony Orchestra provided the second opportunity in the last month or so to hear Yundi Li play Liszt's first piano concerto. The first time was with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra at George Mason (reviewed last month), and the coincidence demands a comparison. On both occasions, Li has played the work with impressive accuracy and grace, with renditions remarkably similar to his recent recording. There were a few negligible... more ›

This week's concerts by the National Symphony Orchestra brought together the ideal guest artists for the violin concerto by Jean Sibelius. Finnish conductor Osmo Vänskä and Greek violinist Leonidas Kavakos came to international attention with their ground-breaking recording of this smoldering Romantic concerto, with the Lahti Symphony (including the only recording of the concerto's original version, withdrawn by Sibelius immediately after the premiere). From the memorable opening of the first movement, Kavakos drew a rich, throaty sound from his 1692 "Falmouth" Stradivarius. Along with that robust, earthy tone, the tall, black-clad violinist played with a daring, fiery technique, as in the extended cadenza-like section of the first movement, where the musical themes were woven through a buzzing trill. more ›

Washington parents owe a word of thanks to the members of the National Symphony Orchestra, who took the stage of the Kennedy Center Concert Hall on Sunday afternoon to play a short program of spooky music for Halloween and to do so (mostly) in costumes. An impressive crowd of Harry Potters, princesses, devils, lions, ninjas, ghosts, and goblins, with their parents, filled the house. more ›

Leonard Slatkin returned to the podium of the National Symphony Orchestra, which is now celebrating its 75th anniversary season, last night in the Kennedy Center's Concert Hall. DCist was there, along with a full audience that actually did not consist only of people over 50. Most of us were there, not only to welcome back Maestro Slatkin, but to hear the first of the superstar soloists appearing with the NSO during its big season, violinist... more ›

This year is the 75th anniversary season of the National Symphony Orchestra, as well as the 10th year of the Leonard Slatkin era. So, as we recommended to you people in last week's Classical Music Agenda, this DCist was in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall last night for the second of two performances by the NSO, kicking off the big season as part of the Kennedy Center Prelude Festival. (The Post and Ionarts were there... more ›