This year Opera Lafayette has devoted most of its season to the Armide Project, a plan to perform two famous operatic realizations of the same libretto, Armide by Philippe Quinault. First on the schedule was the original version, premiered by Jean-Baptiste Lully in 1686, in a concert performance at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center on Saturday afternoon. The version made by Gluck in the 18th century will follow, in a staged production with Maryland…

It was all the way back in November that we brought news — via The Upstate Life — that Sufjan Stevens would be playing a free show at the Kennedy Center. Unfortunately, that teaser was all we had to offer; ticket details weren’t available, and the concert wasn’t until February 5. Well, it’s finally time. If you’re keen to see Sufjan — or the NSO, or the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater — get…

Usually I recommend concert experiences I have actually heard or at least of which I have a fairly good idea what to expect. However, sometimes I recommend things that sound interesting but may be even stranger than I could have foreseen. This week I am leading with one of those. COLLEGE PARK: THE OPERA >> The interdisciplinary art collective called Squonk Opera got its start in Pittsburgh. Their latest project is Put Your Hometown’s Name…