On Wednesday night, Washington Performing Arts Society opened its fall classical music season with a spectacular concert by the La Scala Philharmonic. Notably it did so not at the Kennedy Center, which has long been the organization’s main venue, but at the newer and growing Music Center at Strathmore. In spite of the suburban location, which doubled this disgruntled city dweller’s car trip, a VIP box at house left held such distinguished guests as First…

This past weekend’s concerts from the National Symphony Orchestra provided the second opportunity in the last month or so to hear Yundi Li play Liszt’s first piano concerto. The first time was with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra at George Mason (reviewed last month), and the coincidence demands a comparison. On both occasions, Li has played the work with impressive accuracy and grace, with renditions remarkably similar to his recent recording. There were a few negligible…

When we get to the busiest part of the classical music season, there is at least one worthy event, sometimes more than one, for every night of the week. No one is complaining, since we like to have concerts to hear, but it does require careful scheduling. WEDNESDAY: >> There is no question that, this Wednesday evening (February 21, 8 p.m.), the hottest classical ticket will be a free one. The Venice Baroque Orchestra, directed…