JoAnn Falletta will conduct the Virginia Symphony and choruses in Leonard Bernstein's Mass on April 23 and 24 at Norfolk's Chrysler Hall, during the 2010 Virginia Arts Festival. The piece, written in 1971 for the opening of the Kennedy Center in Washington, was rarely heard for a generation thereafter, but has enjoyed a number of revivals in recent years.
Other classical artists and attractions announced for
the spring festival in Hampton Roads:* Pianist Maurizio Pollini, May 4 at Harrison Opera House, Norfolk.
* Cellst Alisa Weilerstein, May 27 at Williamsburg Presbyterian Church, and with the Virginia Symphony, May 30 at Williamsburg Lodge.
* Sitar player Anoushka Shankar, April 16 at Roper Performing Arts Center, Norfolk.
* Venice Baroque Orchestra, April 28 at Trinity Episcopal Church, Portsmouth.
* Orion String Quartet, May 20 at the American Theatre, Hampton, and with pianist André-Michael Schub, May 21 at the Sandler Arts Center in Virginia Beach and May 23 at Williamsburg Winery.
* Trio Mediaeval, April 19 at Old Dominion University, Norfolk.
* Classical guitarist David Russell, April 27 at Chrysler Museum Theater, Norfolk.
* Boston Brass, May 21 at Ferguson Arts Center, Newport News.
* Cavani String Quartet, May 4 at Trinity Episcopal Church, Portsmouth, and May 6 at Chrysler Museum Theater, Norfolk.
* Banjoist Bela Fleck with tabla player Zakir Hussain and double-bassist Edgar Meyer, May 28 at Williamsburg Lodge.
Other attractions include the Pilobolus Dance Theater, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Garth Fagan Dance, jazz trumpeter Chris Botti and the African Children's Choir. The festival's popular gathering of military bands, the Virginia International Tattoo, is scheduled for April 30-May 2 at the Norfolk Scope arena.
More on the 2010 festival from Teresa Annas in The Virginian Pilot:
http://hamptonroads.com/2009/10/virginia-arts-festival-brings-mass-spring
And on the Virginia Arts Festival website:
www.vafest.com/2010/index.php