Composer John Adams

>> American composer John Adams is in town this month for a “Perspectives” series of concerts devoted to his music at the Kennedy Center. After conducting the National Symphony this past week, Adams will lead a special performance of his Chamber Symphony and Shaker Loops on Monday (May 17, 6 p.m.), with members of the NSO and selected conservatory students. This concert is free and in the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater.

>> Adams will also conduct the National Symphony Orchestra this coming week (May 20 to 22), leading violinist Leila Josefowicz in a performance of his piece The Dharma at Big Sur. Adams will also conduct his Doctor Atomic Symphony and pieces by Britten and Stravinsky.

>> Tickets have been sold out for a while now, but we have to mention that Gustavo Dudamel, hotshot conducting sensation, comes to town tomorrow with his new band, the Los Angeles Philharmonic (May 17, 8 p.m.). The program, sponsored by Washington Performing Arts Society at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall, pairs symphonies by Bernstein and Tchaikovsky. Hair will be convincingly shaken.

>> Washington National Opera closes out the season with what may be its best production, Ambroise Thomas’s Hamlet. It’s not Shakespeare exactly, but the WNO will use the revised ending of the opera, in which Hamlet actually dies. Opening night, at the Kennedy Center Opera House, is on Wednesday (May 19, 7 p.m.).

MORE FOR FREE:
>> The Vocal Arts Society brings its Art Song Discovery series to Capitol Hill Arts Workshop on Monday (May 17, 7 p.m.), with a recital by sopranos Jennifer Edwards and Aundi Marie Moore and pianist R. Timothy McReynolds.

>> Composer Chinary Ung will also come to Washington for a free concert this Thursday (May 20, 7:30 p.m.), with the Da Capo Chamber Players presenting a program of his music at the Freer Gallery of Art.