The Freer Gallery of Art hosts an eclectic and sporadic series of free concerts, often in tandem with relevant exhibits. To cap off the fine exhibit of early Bible manuscripts at the Sackler Gallery (reviewed here last month), the museum hosted one of the best vocal groups in the world, the Hilliard Ensemble, last night. The all-male British quartet brought a program called Arkhangelos, modern and older pieces in the Catholic and Orthodox traditions, to…

Renée Fleming has been called America’s diva, which means primarily that her profile as a celebrity is greater than that of most opera singers. In other words, she gets called to do things like sing the national anthem at the first Nationals game, sing at the memorial service at Ground Zero in Manhattan, lead holiday carols at the White House, get interviewed on Letterman, and sing on The Lord of the Rings soundtrack. Lots of…