Patricia Racette (Iphigénie) and Plácido Domingo (Oreste) in Iphigénie en Tauride, Washington National Opera, 2011 (photo by Scott Suchman)
MUST SEE:
>> Plácido Domingo is about to step down as artistic director of the Washington National Opera at the end of this season, though it may not mean that Domingo’s performance in the role of Oreste in this month’s production of Gluck’s Iphigénie en Tauride will be your last chance to see him on stage in Washington. It is also the company’s first production of an opera by Gluck. After seeing opening night on Friday, I can say that this ticket will be well worth it — if not for Domingo, but also for the electrifying soprano Patricia Racette in the title role. Remaining performances are on May 9, 12, 15, 17, 20, 25 and 28. Anyone between the ages of 18 and 35 is encouraged to join the company’s Generation O program, to qualify for reduced-price tickets.
>> It is less imperative to see Domingo conduct before he steps down, but the season’s final production, Don Pasquale, will likely be his last time on the podium here. Donizetti’s fizzy comic opera is a fine introduction to opera for a first-timer, and with veteran bass James Morris scheduled to make his company debut in the title role, it should be an entertaining evening. Performances are scheduled from May 9 to 27.
>> As long as we are on opera, a trip to Baltimore might be worth the chance to hear Puccini’s rarely performed opera Le Villi, the first work he composed for the stage. Charm City’s Opera Vivente will stage it in English. Four performances between May 13 and 21, starting this Friday.
MAKE IT FREE:
>> Organist Mickey Thomas Terry will give a free recital on Monday night (May 9, 6 p.m.) on the big organ in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall.
>> Jauvon Gilliam, principal timpanist of the National Symphony Orchestra, joins the University of Maryland Percussion Ensemble for a free concert on Monday (May 9, 8 p.m.) at the Clarice Smith Center in College Park.
>> On Friday evening (May 13, 8 p.m.), pianist Tigran Alikanov and friends play a concert of chamber music by Tchaikovsky and Taneyev on the free concert series in the Library of Congress.
>> The Silent Orchestra presents a free Cineconcert on Saturday afternoon (May 14, 3 p.m.), providing live music to accompany Fritz Lang’s classic film Metropolis, in the auditorium of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Tickets to this event are distributed in the G Street lobby, beginning one hour prior to the concert.
>> On Saturday night (May 14, 8 p.m.) two contemporary music ensembles, NOW Ensemble and Victoire, will perform a free program of 21st-century music at Atlas Performing Arts Center.
>> The award winners from the Feder Memorial String Competition, sponsored by Washington Performing Arts Society, will play on the free concert series at the National Gallery of Art on Sunday night (May 15, 6:30 p.m.).
PLUS:
>> It’s a Schumann kind of week. Beginning on Thursday night (May 12, 7:30 p.m.) Sharona Joshua performs music by Clara Schmann on the historica Broadwood piano at the Strathmore Mansion.
>> Marin Alsop, Schumann scholar Richard Kogan and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra take you on a tour through “Schumann’s Beautiful Mind” on Friday night (May 13, 8:15 p.m.) in the Music Center at Strathmore.
>> Violinist Erin Keefe and pianist Lucille Chung perform at the Phillips Collection on Sunday (May 15, 4 p.m.).
>> The JCCGW in Rockville presents pianist Menahem Pressler in recital on Sunday night (May 15, 7:30 p.m.).
>> For a complete concert schedule go to Ionarts.
