J. S. BachOne could easily hear more than enough classical music this week for free or almost nothing: so you have no excuse not to do some listening. We’ll start with some Bach and Handel — not free — but worth the money.
EARLY MUSIC:
>> The Academy of Ancient Music, the historically informed performance ensemble that has just released a fine recording of the Brandenburg concertos, will play all six of these masterpieces by J. S. Bach this Sunday (March 22, 4 p.m.) at the George Mason University Center for the Arts, out in Fairfax. Tickets: $24 to $48.
>> Unfortunately for the local competition, the Washington Bach Consort‘s concert is the same afternoon (March 22, 3 p.m.), at National Presbyterian Church (4101 Nebraska Ave. NW). It’s too bad, because they will be performing a rarely heard work, Bach’s Great Organ Mass.
>> To hear a rarely performed work by Handel, the Brockes Passion, go to the concert by the Cantate Chamber Singers on Friday (March 20, 8 p.m.) at St. John’s Norwood Parish in Chevy Chase, Md.
FREE OR ALMOST FREE:
>> This weekend is the return of the Schubert, Schubert, and Schubert festival, which is somehow managing to keep scraping by, financial crisis regardless. The non-profit organization sponsors an annual three-concert series (March 20, 21, and 22, 8 p.m.), bringing back the top-notch Auryn Quartet to Gaston Hall on the Georgetown campus. It’s not all Schubert this year, and the Auryn will be joined, on the Friday and Saturday concerts, by pianist Menahem Pressler and double-bassist Anthony Manzo. Each concert costs $5, or you can buy a $10 pass to attend all three.
>> The Egidius Kwartet, a vocal quartet from the Netherlands, will give a free recital of Byrd, Dowland, Gastoldi, and other composers at the National Gallery of Art on Sunday (March 22, 6:30 p.m.). No ticket or reservation required.
