2009-10 season overview

Time for an overview of Richmond’s 2009-10 classical season, as scheduled to date. (Several choruses and other community groups have yet to announce their schedules.)

The big change, of course, is the reopening of the Carpenter Theatre (formerly Carpenter Center), the main venue of the new Richmond CenterStage downtown arts complex. With its move back into the hall, the Richmond Symphony will reduce its migration around suburban venues to four pairs of concerts in a series dubbed Metro Collection. The symphony’s mainstage Masterworks series will pair concerts on Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons. The Virginia Opera will return to the Carpenter Theatre after five seasons in the Landmark Theater.

With symphony and opera events concentrated in the same hall, you might think there would be fewer multiple events on the same dates than in recent seasons. Not so, unfortunately. This season’s calendar is full of conflicting events and matinees followed closely by evening concerts. Some, such as Symphony Pops dates vs. Rennolds Chamber Concerts, conflict less obviously than others. In any case, series subscribers should be prepared to exchange tickets.

Here’s the lineup of major events, followed by links to previous Letter V posts and/or presenters’ Web pages with more details:

SEPTEMBER
12…Carpenter Theatre opening gala: Richmond Symphony, Virginia Opera, Richmond Ballet, et al.
16…eighth blackbird: “SPAM” (Camp Concert Hall, Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond)
19...Richmond Symphony/Erin Freeman (Pocahontas State Park)
20…Paul Hanson & Joanne Kong, pianos (Camp Concert Hall, Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond)
25-27...Alexander Paley Music Festival (First English Lutheran Church)
26-27…Richmond Symphony & Chorus/Alastair Willis (Carpenter Theatre)

OCTOBER
2/4…Richmond Symphony/Alastair Willis/Karen Johnson, violin (Collegiate School/Randolph-Macon College)
3...Marta Puig, piano (Vlahcevic Concert Hall, Singleton Arts Center, Virginia Commonwealth University)
4...Susanna Klein, violin & Dmitri Shteinberg, piano (Vlahcevic Concert Hall, Singleton Arts Center, Virginia Commonwealth University)
5…Matt Albert & Andrew McCain, violins (Camp Concert Hall, Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond)
10…Richmond Symphony Pops/Christian Knapp (Carpenter Theatre)
10...Maia Quartet (Vlahcevic Concert Hall, Singleton Arts Center, Virginia Commonwealth University)
10…Chestnut Brass Company (Vlahcevic Concert Hall, Singleton Arts Center, Virginia Commonwealth University)
11...Sonia Vlahcevic, piano (Vlahcevic Concert Hall, Singleton Arts Center, Virginia Commonwealth University)
17-18…Richmond Symphony/Christian Knapp/Jeremy Denk, piano (Carpenter Theatre)
18…Christopher Marks, organ (Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church)
19…Shanghai Quartet/Lynn Harrell, cello (Camp Concert Hall, Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond)
19...Russell Wilson, piano (Vlahcevic Concert Hall, Singleton Arts Center, Virginia Commonwealth University)
20...Charles West, clarinet (Vlahcevic Concert Hall, Singleton Arts Center, Virginia Commonwealth University)
21…Thomas Hampson, baritone: “Song of American Project” (Camp Concert Hall, Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond)
23, 25…Virginia Opera: “La Bohème” (Carpenter Theatre)
25…Judith Cline, soprano, & Cara Ellen Modisett, piano (Camp Concert Hall, Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond)
27...Oberon Quartet (Upper School Chapel, St. Christopher's School)
31…Richmond Symphony Lollipops/Erin Freeman (Carpenter Theatre)

NOVEMBER
1/2…Richmond Philharmonic/Robert Mirakian (Vlahcevic Concert Hall, Singleton Arts Center, Virginia Commonwealth University/location TBA)
6…Balint Karosi, organ (Bethlehem Lutheran Church)
6-7…Third Practice Electroacoustic Festival (Camp Concert Hall, Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond)
6/8…Richmond Symphony/Arthur Fagen/Ralph Skiano, clarinet (Bon Air Baptist Church/Randolph-Macon College)
7…Pacifica Quartet (Vlahcevic Concert Hall, Singleton Arts Center, Virginia Commonwealth University)
9…LA Guitar Quartet/Jim Dale, narrator: “Ingenious Gentleman,” music of Cervantes’ time (Camp Concert Hall, Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond)
10...Dmitri Shteinberg, piano (Vlahcevic Concert Hall, Singleton Arts Center, Virginia Commonwealth University)
14-15…Richmond Symphony/Arthur Fagen/Yang Wei, pipa (Carpenter Theatre)
16…Bruce Stevens, organ (Camp Concert Hall, Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond)
16...Mary Bowden, trumpet (Vlahcevic Concert Hall, Singleton Arts Center, Virginia Commonwealth University)
21-22...Opera Theatre VCU (Vlahcevic Concert Hall, Singleton Arts Center, Virginia Commonwealth University)
27, 29…Virginia Opera: “Daughter of the Regiment” (Carpenter Theatre)

DECEMBER
4…Richmond Symphony & Chorus/Erin Freeman: “Messiah” (Carpenter Theatre)
4...VCU Holiday Gala (Vlahcevic Concert Hall, Singleton Arts Center, Virginia Commonwealth University)
5-6…Richmond Symphony Pops & choruses/Erin Freeman: “Let It Snow” (Carpenter Theatre)
6...Richmond Choral Society holiday program (St. Mark's Episcopal Church)
6…University of Richmond Christmas Candlelight Service (Camp Concert Hall, Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond)
7…Richmond Philharmonic/Robert Mirakian: “Home for the Holidays” (Atrium, James Center)

JANUARY
12/14…Richmond Symphony/Karen Johnson, violin (Kingsway Community Church/Randolph-Macon College)
16-17…Richmond Symphony & Chorus/conductor TBA (Carpenter Theatre)
24…Jeremy McEntire, flute, & Charles Hulin, piano (Camp Concert Hall, Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond)
29…Orpheus Chamber Orchestra/Angela Hewitt, piano (Camp Concert Hall, Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond)
30…Richmond Symphony Pops/conductor TBA (Carpenter Theatre)
30…Capuçon-Angelich Trio (Vlahcevic Concert Hall, Singleton Arts Center, Virginia Commonwealth University)
31...Ira Gold, double-bass (Vlahcevic Concert Hall, Singleton Arts Center, Virginia Commonwealth University)

FEBRUARY
5…Oliver Sachs lecture (Camp Concert Hall, Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond)
6-7…Richmond Symphony/conductor TBA/Karen Johnson, violin (Carpenter Theatre)
7…Richard Becker, piano (Camp Concert Hall, Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond)
14…Shanghai Quartet/Yuja Wang, piano (Camp Concert Hall, Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond)
20…Wu Han, piano; David Finckel, cello, & Philip Seltzer, violin (Camp Concert Hall, Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond)
20…Richmond Symphony Lollipops/Erin Freeman (Carpenter Theatre)
20…Arnaldo Cohen, piano (Vlahcevic Concert Hall, Singleton Arts Center, Virginia Commonwealth University)
23...Oberon Quartet (Bannard Chapel, St. Catherine's School)
27-28…Richmond Symphony/conductor TBA/Jon Nakamatsu, piano (Carpenter Theatre)
28…Richmond Philharmonic/Robert Mirakian (Vlahcevic Concert Hall, Singleton Arts Center, Virginia Commonwealth University)
28…Christophe Montoux, organ (St. Paul’s Episcopal Church)

MARCH
1…Jennifer Cable, soprano, & Kenneth Merrill, harpsichord (Camp Concert Hall, Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond)
3…eighth blackbird: “Slide,” works by Rinde Eckert & Steve Mackey (Camp Concert Hall, Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond)
5, 7…Virginia Opera: “Don Giovanni” (Carpenter Theatre)
5/7…Richmond Symphony/Erin Freeman/Lynette Wardle, harp (Camp Concert Hall, Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond/Randolph-Macon College)
10...Richmond Piano Trio (Vlahcevic Concert Hall, Singleton Arts Center, Virginia Commonwealth University)
13…Richmond Symphony Pops/Arturo Sandoval, trumpet (Carpenter Theatre)
20-21…Richmond Symphony/Erin Freeman/Tai Murray, violin (Carpenter Theatre)
21…Jeremy Denk, piano (Camp Concert Hall, Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond)
21...Richmond Choral Society: "Women of Note" (St. Mark's Episcopal Church)
27…Jupiter String Quartet (Vlahcevic Concert Hall, Singleton Arts Center, Virginia Commonwealth University)
28...Karen Johnson, violin & Joanne Kong, piano (Vlahcevic Concert Hall, Singleton Arts Center, Virginia Commonwealth University)
28…Richard Becker & Doris Wylee Becker, pianos (Camp Concert Hall, Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond)

APRIL
11…UR Schola Cantorum: “Messiah” (Cannon Memorial Chapel, University of Richmond)
17…Peter Wispelwey, cello (Vlahcevic Concert Hall, Singleton Arts Center, Virginia Commonwealth University)
19…Rachel Laurin, organ (Westminster Presbyterian Church)
24…Richmond Symphony/conductor TBA/Gil Shaham, violin (Carpenter Theatre)
30…Virginia Opera: “Porgy and Bess” (Carpenter Theatre)

MAY
2…Virginia Opera: “Porgy and Bess” (Carpenter Theatre)
3…Richmond Philharmonic/Robert Mirakian/Concerto Competition winner (location TBA)
8…Richmond Symphony Lollipops/Erin Freeman (Carpenter Theatre)
9…Richmond Philharmonic/Robert Mirakian/Concerto Competition winner (Vlahcevic Concert Hall, Singleton Arts Center, Virginia Commonwealth University)
15-16…Richmond Symphony & Chorus/conductor TBA/organist TBA (Carpenter Theatre)
23...Richmond Symphony/Erin Freeman (Pocahontas State Park)

JUNE
6...Richmond Choral Society: "A Sentimental Journey" pops program (St. Mark's Episcopal Church)
20…Richmond Philharmonic/Robert Mirakian (The Gardens at Sunday Park, Brandermill)


RICHMOND SYMPHONY:
http://www.richmondsymphony.com/
http://letterv.blogspot.com/2009/03/richmond-symphony-2009-10.html

VIRGINIA OPERA:
http://www.vaopera.org/
http://letterv.blogspot.com/2008/11/virginia-opera-2009-10.html

MODLIN CENTER, UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND:
http://www.modlin.richmond.edu/
http://letterv.blogspot.com/2009/06/ur-modlin-center-2009-10.html

VCU MUSIC & RENNOLDS CHAMBER CONCERTS:
www.vcu.edu/arts/music/dept/events/index.html
http://letterv.blogspot.com/2009/05/vcu-rennolds-concerts-2009-10.html

ALEXANDER PALEY MUSIC FESTIVAL:
http://www.paleyfestival.info/

RICHMOND CHAPTER, AMERICAN GUILD OF ORGANISTS:
www.richmondago.org/programs/recital.cfm

RICHMOND PHILHARMONIC:
http://www.richmondphilharmonic.org/

RICHMOND CHORAL SOCIETY:
http://www.richmondchoralsociety.org/schedule.html