January 2009 calendar

Classical performances in and around Richmond, with selected events elsewhere in Virginia and the Washington area. Program information, provided by presenters, is updated as details become available. Adult single-ticket prices are listed; senior, student, group and other discounts may be offered.

SCOUTING REPORT

* In/around Richmond: James Wilson, artistic director of the Richmond Festival of Music, plays three of Bach’s suites for solo cello, Jan. 13 at First Unitarian Church. . . . Marc Taddei, fourth of the Richmond Symphony’s music-director candidates, leads “Sinfonia del Fuego,” a pops concert focused on the Argentine tango, Jan. 10 at the Landmark Theater, and conducts Richard Strauss and Rachmaninoff, Jan. 16, 17 and 19 at three area churches. . . . Erin Freeman conducts the symphony in a Kicked Back Classics celebration of Edgar Allan Poe’s 200th birthday, Jan. 22 and 25 at The National, and leads the orchestra, the University of Richmond’s Schola Cantorum and the James River Singers in “Music in Times of Civil Unrest,” Jan. 30 at UR’s Modlin Arts Center. . . . Violinist Rachel Barton Pine plays at Virginia Commonwealth University on Jan. 31.

* New and/or different: Ilan Volkov conducts the National Symphony in George Crumb’s “A Haunted Landscape,” Jan. 15-17 at Washington’s Kennedy Center. . . . Billy Joel’s Elegy receives its Virginia premiere from the Roanoke Symphony, alongside works by Debussy, Britten, Smetana and Rachmaninoff Jan. 19 at the Roanoke Performing Arts Theatre. . . . Emmanuel Krivine conducts the National Symphony in “Apex” by Pascal Dusapin, as well as works of Ravel and Berlioz, Jan. 22-24 at the Kennedy Center. . . . The new-music ensemble Rêlache performs on Jan. 27 at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. . . . Ryan Brown conducts Opera Lafayette in a rare revival of Pierre Alexandre Monsigny’s “Le Déserteur” (1769), Jan. 29 at the Kennedy Center.

* Star turns: Norwegian virtuoso Leif Ove Andsnes takes on Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 with the National Symphony, Jan. 15-17 at the Kennedy Center. . . . Radu Lupu, the celebrated Romanian pianist, plays Beethoven and Schubert, Jan. 20 at the UVa. . . . Conductor-composer André Previn anticipates his 80th birthday (coming in April) with his ex-wife, violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter, and the National Symphony, Jan. 31 at the Kennedy Center.

* Bargain of the month: The Richmond Symphony, University of Richmond Schola Cantorum and James River Singers in "Music in Times of Civil Unrest," Jan. 30 at the Modlin Center. (Free; tickets required)

* My picks: JoAnn Falletta conducting the Virginia Symphony in “The Ring Without Words,” Lorin Maazel’s arrangement of highlights from Wagner’s “Ring” cycle, Jan. 9-11 at various Tidewater venues. . . . The Richmond Symphony’s “Sinfonia del Fuego,” featuring bandoneon player Raul Jaurena, violinist Karen Johnson and the Latin Ballet of Virginia, Jan. 10 at the Landmark Theater. . . . James Wilson’s all-Bach recital, Jan. 13 at First Unitarian Church. . . . Radu Lupu’s Beethoven-Schubert recital, Jan. 20 at UVa.


Jan. 3 (8 p.m.)
Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Washington
Strauss Symphony Orchestra of America
Sascha Göetzel conducting
Ingeborg Schöpf, soprano
Michael Baba, tenor
Company members from Budapest Ballet & International Champion Ballroom Dancers
“Salute to Vienna: America’s New Year’s Concert,” works by Strauss family
$39-$100
(800) 444-1324
http://www.kennedy-center.org/

Jan. 8 (7 p.m.)
Jan. 9 (8 p.m.)
Jan. 10 (8 p.m.)
Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Washington
National Symphony Orchestra
Philippe Jordan conducting
Prokofiev: Symphony No. 1 (“Classical”)
Schumann: Cello Concerto
Lynn Harrell, cello
Beethoven: Symphony No. 4
$20-$80
(800) 444-1324
http://www.kennedy-center.org/

Jan. 9 (8 p.m.)
Ferguson Arts Center, Christopher Newport University, Newport News
Jan. 10 (8 p.m.)
Chrysler Hall, 201 E. Bremelton Ave., Norfolk
Jan. 11 (2:30 p.m.)
Sandler Arts Center, 201 S. Market St., Virginia Beach
Virginia Symphony
JoAnn Falletta conducting
Wagner-Maazel: “The Ring Without Words”
$23-$83
(757) 892-6366
http://www.virginiasymphony.org/

Jan. 10 (8 p.m.)
Landmark Theater, Main and Laurel streets, Richmond
Richmond Symphony Pops
Marc Taddei conducting
Raul Jaurena, bandoneon
Karen Johnson, violin
Latin Ballet of Virginia
Ana Ines King directing
“Sinfonia del Fuego,” jazz, tango and classical program
$35-$60
(804) 788-1212
http://www.richmondsymphony.com/

Jan. 11 (4 p.m.)
Bon Air Presbyterian Church, 9201 W. Huguenot Road, Richmond
Second Sunday South of the James:
Ben Houghton, piano
Works by Haydn, Debussy, Gershwin, Prokofiev, others
Donation requested
(804) 272-9541

Jan. 13 (7:30 p.m.)
First Unitarian Church, 1000 Blanton Ave. at the Carillon, Richmond
Chamber Music Society of Central Virginia:
James Wilson, cello
Bach: Suite No. 3 in C major, BWV 1009
Bach: Suite No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008
Bach: Suite No. 6 in D major, BWV 1012
$25
(804) 519-2098
http://www.cmscva.org/

Jan. 15 (7 p.m.)
Jan. 16 (8 p.m.)
Jan. 17 (8 p.m.)
Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Washington
National Symphony Orchestra
Ilan Volkov conducting
Stravinsky: “Jeu de cartes”
George Crumb: “A Haunted Landscape”
Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 3
Leif Ove Andsnes, piano
$20-$80
(800) 444-1324
http://www.kennedy-center.org/

Jan. 16 (8 p.m.)
Second Baptist Church, River and Gaskins roads, Richmond
Jan. 17 (8 p.m.)
First Baptist Church, Boulevard at Monument Avenue, Richmond
Jan. 19 (8 p.m.)
St. Michael Catholic Church, 4491 Springfield Road, Glen Allen
Richmond Symphony
Marc Taddei conducting
Richard Strauss: “Four Last Songs”
Melissa Citro, soprano
Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 2
$20-$50
(804) 788-1212
http://www.richmondsymphony.com/

Jan. 16 (8 p.m.)
The Barns at Wolf Trap, The Barns at Wolf Trap, 1645 Trap Road, Vienna
Keith Phares, baritone
Patricia Risley, mezzo-soprano
Kim Pensinger Witman, piano
Program TBA
$35
(877) 965-3872
http://www.wolftrap.org/

Jan. 17 (8 p.m.)
Center for the Arts, George Mason University, Fairfax
Fairfax Symphony
Daniel Meyer conducting
Bernstein: “Three Dance Episodes” from “On the Town”
Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor
Jennifer Frautschi, violin
Brahms: Symphony No. 1
$25-$55
(888) 945-2468 (Tickets.com)
http://www.fairfaxsymphony.org/

Jan. 18 (2 p.m.)
Terrace Theater, Kennedy Center, Washington
Kennedy Center Chamber Players
Dvořák: Terzetto in C major
Britten: “Phantasy” Quartet for oboe, violin, viola and cello
Brahms: String Sextet No. 2, Op. 36
$35
(800) 444-1324
http://www.kennedy-center.org/

Jan. 19 (7:30 p.m.)
Grace and Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 8 N. Laurel St., Richmond
Greater Richmond Children's Choir
Grace and Holy Trinity Adult Choir
Riverview Baptist Sanctuary Choir
"A Celebration of Unity Concert," sacred and secular songs honoring Martin Luther King Jr.
Donation requested
(804) 359-5628
http://www.grcchoir.org/

Jan. 19 (8 p.m.)
Roanoke Performing Arts Theatre, Orange Avenue at Williamson Road
Roanoke Symphony
David Stewart Wiley conducting
Billy Joel: Elegy
Britten: “Four Sea Interludes” from “Peter Grimes”
Handel: Hornpipe from “Water Music”
Rachmaninoff: Vocalise
Smetana: “The Moldau” from “Ma Vlast”
Debussy: “La Mer”
$19-$39
(540) 343-9127
http://www.rso.com/

Jan. 20 (8 p.m.)
Old Cabell Hall, University of Virginia, Charlottesville
Tuesday Evening Concerts:
Radu Lupu, piano
Beethoven: Sonata No. 9 in E Major , Op. 14, No. 1
Beethoven: Sonata No. 10 in G Major, Op. 14, No. 2
Beethoven: Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13 (“Pathétique”)
Schubert: Sonata in B flat major, D.960
$12-$28 (waiting list)
(434) 924-3984
http://tecs.org/

Jan. 22 (6:30 p.m.)
Jan. 25 (4 p.m.)
The National, Seventh and Broad streets, Richmond
Richmond Symphony
Richmond Symphony Chorus
Erin Freeman conducting
Richmond Shakespeare actors
“Music for Poe,” program marking bicentennial of Edgar Allan Poe’s birth
Trad.: Dies irae (Gregorian chant)
David Baker: "Fantasy on Themes from 'The Masque of the Red Death' "
Verdi: Introduction and "Witches' Chorus" from "Macbeth"
Gesualdo: "Morro Lasso"
Mozart: Dies irae from Requiem
Fauré: Pavane
Robert Wendel: "The Pit and the Pendulum"
Grieg: "In the Hall of the Mountain King" from "Peer Gynt"
Gounod: "Funeral March of a Marionette"
Saint-Saëns: "Danse macabre"
$10-$17
(804) 788-1212
http://www.richmondsymphony.com/

Jan. 22 (7 p.m.)
Jan. 23 (8 p.m.)
Jan. 24 (8 p.m.)
Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Washington
National Symphony Orchestra
Emmanuel Krivine conducting
Pascal Dusapin: “Apex”
Ravel: Piano Concerto in G major
Yundi Li, piano
Berlioz: “Symphonie fantastique”
$20-$80
(800) 444-1324
http://www.kennedy-center.org/

Jan. 24 (2 p.m.)
Terrace Theater, Kennedy Center, Washington
Yevgeny Sudbin, piano
Haydn: Sonata in B minor Hob XVI:32
Haydn: Sonata in C Major, Hob.XVl/50
Medtner: “Two Fairy Tales,” Op. 20, No. 1; Op. 51, No. 3
Chopin: Mazurka No. 2 in D Major, Op. 33
Chopin: Mazurka No. 4 in B minor, Op. 33
Ravel: “Gaspard de la Nuit”
$38
(202) 785-9727 (Washington Performing Arts Society)
http://www.wpas.org/

Jan. 25 (4 p.m.)
Vlahcevic Concert Hall, Singleton Arts Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Park Avenue at Harrison Street, Richmond
VCU Guitar Series:
Sam Dorsey, classical guitar
Program TBA
$10
(804) 828-6776
www.vcu.edu/arts/music/dept/events/index.html

Jan. 25 (3:30 p.m.)
Old Cabell Hall, University of Virginia, Charlottesville
Chamber Orchestra of Charlottesville
Kate Tamarkin conducting
Wagner: “Siegfried Idyll”
Vivaldi: Concerto for Oboe, RV 447
Aaron Hill, oboe
George Walker: “Lyric for Strings”
Mozart: Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K.550
$10-$35
(434) 924-3984
http://www.cvillesymphony.org/

Jan. 25 (7:30 p.m.)
Terrace Theater, Kennedy Center, Washington
Augustin Hadelich, violin
Rohan De Silva, piano
Beethoven: Sonata No. 8 in G major, Op. 30, No. 3
Bartók: Sonata for Solo Violin, Sz 117, BB 124
Prokofiev: Sonata No. 2 in D major, Op. 94a
Sarasate: “Carmen Fantasy”
$38
(800) 444-1324
http://www.kennedy-center.org/

Jan. 27 (8 p.m.)
Old Cabell Hall, University of Virginia, Charlottesville
Rêlache
Program TBA
Free
(434) 924-3984
http://artsandsciences.virginia.edu/music/performance/events/index.html

Jan. 28 (7:30 p.m.)
American Theatre, 125 E. Mellen St., Hampton
Spanish Brass
Program TBA
$25-$30
(757) 722-2787
http://hamptonarts.net/american_theatre/onsalenow.php

Jan. 29 (7:30 p.m.)
Terrace Theater, Kennedy Center, Washington
Opera Lafayette
Ryan Brown conducting
Pierre Alexandre Monsigny: “Le Déserteur”
Dominique Labelle (Louise)
William Sharp (Alexis)
John Lescault, actor
Catherine Turocy, stage director
in French and English
$60
(800) 444-1324
http://www.kennedy-center.org/

Jan. 30 (7:30 p.m.)
Camp Concert Hall, Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond
Richmond Symphony
Erin Freeman conducting
UR Schola Cantorum
Jeffrey Riehl directing
James River Singers
Christopher Lindbloom directing
“Music in Times of Civil Unrest”
Verdi: “Un ballo in maschera” (Prelude, Act 2)
Curulli (arr.): “Ashokan Farewell”
Shostakovich: Chamber Symphony, Op. 110a (second and third movements)
Barber: Adagio
Virgil Thomson: Fugue and Chorale on “Yankee Doodle” (1944)
Schoenberg: “Friede Auf Erden”
Haydn: “Mass in Time of War” (Agnus Dei and Dona Nobis Pacem)
Free; tickets required
(804) 289-8980
http://www.modlin.richmond.edu/

Jan. 30 (8 p.m.)
Harrison Opera House, 160 W. Virginia Beach Boulevard, Norfolk
Virginia Opera
Peter Mark conducting
Puccini: “Tosca”
Mary Elizabeth Williams (Tosca)
Michael Hayes (Cavaradossi)
Stephen Kechulius (Scarpia)
Marc Astafan, stage direction
in Italian, English captions
(866) 673-7282
http://www.vaopera.org/

Jan. 31 (8 p.m.)
Vlahcevic Concert Hall, Singleton Arts Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Park Avenue at Harrison Street, Richmond
Rennolds Chamber Concerts:
Rachel Barton Pine, violin
Matthew Hagle, piano
Program TBA
$32
Pine conducts free string master class, 4 p.m. Jan. 30 at Singleton Center
(804) 828-6776
www.vcu.edu/arts/music/dept/events/index.html

Jan. 31 (7:30 p.m.)
Camp Concert Hall, Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond
Roby Lakatos Ensemble
Classical, jazz, gypsy music
$32
(804) 289-8980
http://www.modlin.richmond.edu/

Jan. 31 (7:30 p.m.)
Terrace Theater, Kennedy Center, Washington
Vocal Arts Society:
Sarah Coburn, soprano
Lawrence Brownlee, tenor
Martin Katz, piano
Program TBA
$55
(800) 444-1324
http://www.kennedy-center.org/

Jan. 31 (8 p.m.)
Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Washington
National Symphony Orchestra
André Previn conducting
Haydn: Symphony No. 104 (“London”)
Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 3
Anne-Sophie Mutter, violin
Previn: Double Concerto for violin, contrabass and orchestra
Anne-Sophie Mutter, violin
Roman Patkolo, double-bass
Richard Strauss: “Der Rosenkavalier” Suite
$20-$85
(800) 444-1324
http://www.kennedy-center.org/