After three programs to open the season, the Christoph Eschenbach era at the National Symphony Orchestra is off to an excellent start. Like last week’s concert and, to a lesser degree the first week before that, in this weekend’s concert, heard last night, the NSO players sounded unified, energized, well rehearsed and brimming with confidence.

Ildar Abrdrazakov, Verónica Cangemi, and cast in Le Nozze di Figaro, Washington National Opera (photo by Karin Cooper) When the recession forced Washington National Opera to reconfigure its season, the company turned to some tried and true operas. This was somewhat disappointing, as in the revival of Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess so quickly after its last appearance, but also made more conventionally minded opera fans happy with the return of some old favorites like…

Mozart Dances, Mark Morris Dance Group, photo by Gene Schiavone Over the weekend Mark Morris Dance Group returned to the Kennedy Center for the first time since 1999, although we last saw the company at George Mason a year ago for their production of Dido and Aeneas. This was also my first chance to see the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater since its much needed renovation, which was concluded this past fall. That dingy old…