Washington woke up this morning to the sad news that Mstislav Rostropovich died in Moscow today, after undergoing treatment for cancer since February. The world has lost a giant of music, an enthusiastic, larger than life figure for many of his 80 years among us. Many Washingtonians felt the loss more keenly because of the Russian cellist and conductor’s long relationship with the city, as Music Director of the National Symphony Orchestra from 1977 to…
Last year’s celebration of the 100th birthday of Dmitri Shostakovich, on September 25, fizzled out somewhat here in Washington. This week, dedicated listeners had the chance to take their fill of the Russian composer’s music. After a thundering concert performance of Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk by the Kirov Opera on Sunday, it was the Emerson Quartet who brought the early half of their complete cycle of Shostakovich’s fifteen string quartets, played to great acclaim in…
As reportedly happened during the Kirov Opera’s visit to Washington last year, the best performance of the group’s residency this week at the Kennedy Center was saved for last. On Sunday afternoon, conductor Valery Gergiev led a concert performance of Dmitri Shostakovich’s modern opera Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk that was an incendiary triumph. Combined with the three evenings of Shostakovich’s chamber music from the Emerson Quartet on my schedule this week, the Russian composer’s…
FRIDAY: >> Bliss, the Black Cat’s indie rock dance party, presents a combination DJ/Live show. Kicking things off will be The Juan Maclean, followed by the always memorable (and not nearly as dead as you might have thought) Edie Sedgwick. 9 p.m., $12. >> We’re all by now familiar with the greatest hits of the Kubrick canon: The Shining, Dr. Strangelove, 2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange, etc. But if you’ve never had the…
The magic word this week is opera, and just taking in all of the opera performances on the schedule is going to keep you busy. You will find options other than opera after the jump. PLEASURES OPERATIC: >> After Rossini’s Il Viaggio a Reims this weekend, the Kirov Opera will perform Verdi’s Falstaff on Wednesday (January 31, 7:30 p.m.), Friday (February 2, 7:30 p.m.), and Saturday (February 3, 7:30 p.m.) in the Kennedy Center Concert…
This is a good week for hearing 20th-century symphonic repertoire, even though the National Symphony Orchestra is on another break. As we approach the first major event of the NSO’s season, the two-week Shostakovich festival in November, we will have the chance Since the NSO Shostakovich festival in November has been cancelled (due to Mstislav Rostropovich’s health problems), this week is our only chance to celebrate the Dmitri Shostakovich centenary some more. MODERN: >> On…
The Library of Congress hosts the best free concert series in Washington. The 81st season got officially under way last night when the Beaux Arts Trio came to town. Since the group combined founding pianist Menahem Pressler (age 82) with cellist Antonio Meneses and violinist Daniel Hope in 2002, I have heard them twice, at the Library of Congress in 2004 and at the National Gallery in 2005. The group continues to uphold the name…
On Monday, one of the great modernist composers, Dmitri Shostakovich, would have been 100 years old. All around the world, classical musicians and audiences will be celebrating with performances of his music. The major Washington concerts in honor of the Shostakovich centennial, with the National Symphony Orchestra, are scheduled for November. However, there are a few concerts, Shostakovich and otherwise, to tell you about this week. DSCH: >> If you really love Shostakovich, you might…
