Well, Washington, we may not have a Shostakovich festival (*sniff*), but there are some concerts of contemporary music to lead off this week’s agenda. Nothing is scheduled for Halloween itself, so before that alcoholic “ghastly goblin” feeling sets in or after it has finally worn off, you should get out there and hear some new music.
CONTEMPORARY:
>> Monday night is a big one, with a recital of new music (October 30, 7:30 p.m.) by pioneering pianist Marilyn Nonken at La Maison Française. She will premiere the new set of preludes (2006) by Pascal Dusapin, combined with recent pieces by Tristan Murail and Joël-François Durand. The latter composer will be present at the recital, too. Tickets: $15.
>> If you want to hear some new music Monday night and hear it without the involvement of your wallet, then you should go instead to the free Founder’s Day Concert (October 30, 8 p.m.) at the Library of Congress. One of the best choral ensembles in the United States, the legendary all-male choir Chanticleer, will present recent music by Ezequiel Viñao, Paul Schoenfield, Carlos Sánchez Gutiérrez, Arthur Jarvinen, and Steven Stucky. If you want to see what a living classical composer looks like, go early for the pre-concert presentation with composers Ezequiel Viñao and Libby Larsen, at 6:15 p.m.
>> On Wednesday (November 1, 7 p.m.), a group called ONIX Ensamble will present a concert at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center in College Park. They will perform a piece by University of Maryland faculty member Lawrence Moss and several Mexican composers, including El Aguila Bicéfala by Gabriela Ortíz. Tickets: $30 (students, $7).
