In last week’s Classical Music Agenda, we suggested that you attend a rare performance of Czech composer Hans Krása’s children’s opera Brundibár, performed by the talented children taking part in this summer’s Opera Camp for Kids with Washington National Opera. Well, this DCist heard the first performance of the work yesterday morning (see our review at Ionarts), and we must urge you once again to go and hear this opera if you can. There is one more free performance remaining, this Tuesday (August 16 at 6 p.m.) at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage. What we did not tell you last week is that Ela Weissberger, who created the role of the Cat in Brundibár when she was a child interned in the Nazi concentration camp at Terezín, where it was performed 55 times, will speak before the performance. All you need to attend this remarkable performance is a reservation, by phone (202-448-3465) or e-mail (education@dc-opera.org).
CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL:
>> This week the National Philharmonic Orchestra hosts its Summer Chamber Music Festival, in its former home at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre (Rockville Civic Center Park, Baltimore Rd. and Edmonston Dr.), in Rockville. This Thursday (August 18 at 8 p.m.) the National Philharmonic String Quartet will play a program of Haydn, Smetana, and Patiño. On Friday (August 19 at 8 p.m.), violinist Elisabeth Adkins and pianist Edward Newman will perform works by Stravinsky, de Falla, Rozsa, and Franck. Finally, Saturday’s concert (August 20 at 8 p.m.) will feature the National Philharmonic Piano Trio (violinist Jody Gatwood, cellist Lori Barnet, and pianist Philip Hosford), playing music by Schoenberg and Tchaikovsky. Tickets for each concert: $11 to $23 (children are admitted free).
What about some chamber music for free?
