This week, local classical music events are overshadowed by the visit of the Kirov Opera, who are performing at the Kennedy Center. It’s not the only thing to hear this week, obviously, but their performances are the ones that are getting our attention. Worry not: we have lots of other concerts to tell you about, too. If you want more options, check out our Classical Week in Washington feature at Ionarts.
NEW MUSIC:
>> One of the most exciting composers alive today, Meredith Monk, will bring her Vocal Ensemble to our area this Saturday (February 25, 8 p.m.) for a performance of The Impermanence Project at the George Mason University Center for the Arts in Fairfax. Monk works with music, movement, light, and sound, and she created this work while leading a workshop at a hospice in London. A series of scenes are accompanied by voice, piano, clarinet, breath, bicycle tire, and other inventive instrumentation. Tickets: $20 to $40.
FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE:
>> We will be bringing you a review of the Kirov Opera’s production of Puccini’s Chinese opera, Turandot, which premieres this afternoon. Other performances are scheduled for Thursday (February 23, 7:30 p.m.) and Saturday (February 25, 7:30 p.m.), and none of them are sold out yet. Even more interesting to us, although less of an obvious crowd-pleaser as far as operas go, the Kirov will give two performances of Wagner’s final music drama, the religious festival piece he called Parsifal, on Tuesday (February 21, 6 p.m.) and next Sunday (February 26, 3 p.m.). Valery Gergiev, who is as renowned as Mariss Jansons for his conducting if not, in our opinion, as deservedly so, will lead his corps of singers from Moscow. Tickets for all the operas, still available: $45 to (gasp) $200. Also, it’s not technically an opera, but who are we kidding? The Kirov Orchestra, Chorus, and soloists will also give a single performance of Verdi’s dramatic, thrilling, and emotionally devastating Requiem Mass, on Friday (February 24, 8:30 p.m.) in the Kennedy Center Opera House. Tickets: $45 to $150.
>> If you can justify one of these performances as a special night out for yourself, they will be excellent. After the jump, some more affordable options and even some free concerts.
