2012-13 season overview

Chalk it up to the economy, or the Zeitgeist, or what have you – the 2012-13 classical-music season in Richmond is going to be especially big on string quartets.

Between mid-November and early May, we’ll be hearing from the Brentano, Shanghai, Takács, Ebène and Tokyo quartets. The Takács will play all six of the string quartets by Bela Bartók on two nights. The Tokyo’s Richmond appearance is part of the venerable ensemble’s farewell tour.

Most of the rest of the season’s star power is concentrated in chamber music. (That’s not unusual here.) Among the stellar guests are pianists Simone Dinnerstein and Jeremy Denk, violinist Jennifer Koh, and the trio of Emerson String Quartet violinist Philip Setzer, former Emerson cellist David Finckel and pianist Wu Han, Finckel’s wife and duo partner.

And it’s no longer wildly out of the ordinary for a hefty share of our town’s noteworthy chamber programs to be devoted to contemporary music. The University of Richmond’s Modlin Arts Center is putting on a Philip Glass festival to mark the composer’s 75th year; Glass will speak and perform, the fall program of eighth blackbird’s UR residency will center on Glass, and several films with his soundtracks will be screened. The centenary of John Cage will be celebrated at UR and elsewhere. Two more noted contemporary composers will visit: Nico Muhly with eighth blackbird at UR, and Bruce Adolphe with the Brentano Quartet at Virginia Commonwealth University. John Luther Adams’ percussion extravaganza “Inuksuit” will be performed on Earth Day at UR.

Virginia Opera will be one of the first regional companies to stage André Previn’s “A Streetcar Named Desire,” and the Richmond Symphony’s programming includes new and recent works by Derek Bermel, Paquito D’Rivera, John Hedges and Stephen Hartke, as well as major concertos by Bartók and Barber, Britten’s Serenade for tenor, horn and strings and a season finale marking the centennial of Stravinsky’s “The Rite of Spring.”

The symphony’s Masterworks season will be trimmed from eight to seven programs, three of them staged only on Saturday nights. On the plus side, the orchestra will revive casual concerts for adults with a pair of one-hour Rush-Hour programs at Richmond CenterStage’s Gottwald Playhouse.

Virginia Opera’s season opens with Bizet’s “The Pearl Fishers,” a piece new to its repertory, and also features Johann Strauss II's “Die Fledermaus” and Mozart's “The Marriage of Figaro,” the latter with the Richmond Symphony and its music director, Steven Smith, conducting. Lyric Opera Virginia has put off its staging of Puccini’s “The Girl of the Golden West” until next season, but will go on with its Broadway offering, “Camelot,” and a “jewel-box” (condensed) version of Gounod’s “Romeo and Juliet.”

Alexander Paley, the Russian-American piano virtuoso, will present the 15th season of his Richmond music festival, this year focusing on Bach, Mozart and Beethoven. No word yet from the Chamber Music Society of Central Virginia on its programming for 2012-13; but its artistic director, cellist James Wilson, usually cooks up flavorful blends of old and new, familiar and obscure.

Conflicting performances, a bane of Richmond’s recent seasons, look to be less numerous this season. The main conflict occurs on Nov. 17, when the symphony is joined by pianist Orion Weiss (with no Sunday repeat) and the Brentano with Adolphe perform in VCU’s Rennolds Chamber Concerts series.

The following list of classical events will be supplemented in coming weeks, as locally based chamber groups, choruses and other presenters announce their seasons. Details can be found on the websites of presenters, links to which follow the listings.

SEPTEMBER
7 – David Sinden, organ (St. Paul’s Episcopal Church).
8 – Richmond Symphony Pops (Pocahontas State Park) (rain date: Sept. 9).
10 – Brahms’ “Liebeslieder Waltzes” (UR Modlin Center).
15 – Philip Setzer, violin/David Finckel, cello/Wu Han, piano (VCU Singleton Center).
16 – Anne O'Byrne, soprano/Tracey Welborn, tenor/Charles Staples, piano (UR Modlin Center).
16 – Nathan Mills, guitar (VCU Singleton Center).
19 – eighth blackbird (UR Modlin Center).
21 – Ruth Smedina-Starke, piano (VCU Singleton Center).
21-23 – Alexander Paley Music Festival (First English Lutheran Church).
22-23 – Richmond Symphony/Norman Krieger, piano/Symphony Chorus (Richmond CenterStage).
26 – VCU Symphonic Wind Ensemble (VCU Singleton Center).
28 – UR Music Department Family Weekend Concert (UR Modlin Center).
29 – Richmond Symphony Pops/Jamie Bernstein, narrator “Bernstein on Broadway” (Richmond CenterStage).

OCTOBER
4 – Richmond Symphony Rush-Hour concert (Richmond CenterStage).
5 – Philip Glass, keyboards/Tim Fain, violin (UR Modlin Center).
7 – Richmond Symphony/Joseph Evans, tenor/James Ferree, French horn (Randolph-Macon College).
7 – Torcuato Zamora, flamenco guitar (VCU Singleton Center).
9 – VCU Symphony (VCU Singleton Center).
13 – Jennifer Koh, violin/Shai Wosner, piano (VCU Singleton Center).
14 – Sonia Vlahcevic, piano (VCU Singleton Center).
14 – Gianna Barone, soprano/Drew Seigla, tenor (Bon Air Presbyterian Church).
19, 21 – Virginia Opera “The Pearl Fishers” (Richmond CenterStage).
20 – Kenneth Wood, voice (VCU Singleton Center).
22 – Tabatha Easley, flute (VCU Singleton Center).
23 – Russell Wilson, piano (VCU Singleton Center).
26 – Simone Dinnerstein, piano (UR Modlin Center).
27 – Richmond Symphony LolliPops “Peter and the Wolf” (Richmond CenterStage).
28 – Richmond Philharmonic/José Ramos-Santana, piano (VCU Singleton Center).
28 – UR Schola Cantorum & Women’s Chorale (UR Modlin Center).

NOVEMBER
2-3 – Third Practice Electroacoustic Music Festival (UR Modlin Center).
3 – Sheri Oyan, saxophone/Quux Collective new-music ensemble (VCU Singleton Center).
4 – Richmond Symphony (Randolph-Macon College).
7 – Richmond Symphony/Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra “Side by Side” (Richmond CenterStage).
11 – UR Wind Ensemble (UR Modlin Center).
11 – Charles Staples, piano (Bon Air Presbyterian Church).
12 – Stephen Tharp, organ (Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church).
16, 18 – VCU Opera scenes (VCU Singleton Center).
17 – Richmond Symphony/Orion Weiss, piano (Richmond CenterStage).
17 – Brentano String Quartet/Bruce Adolphe, composer (VCU Singleton Center).
18 – Richmond Symphony/community musicians “Come and Play” (VCU Siegel Center).
23, 25 – Virginia Opera “Die Fledermaus” (Richmond CenterStage).
26 – Anna Kijanowska, piano (UR Modlin Center).
30 – Commonwealth Singers/Women’s Choir (VCU Singleton Center).

DECEMBER
1-2 – Richmond Symphony Pops/Symphony Chorus/City Singers Children’s Choir “Let It Snow!” (Richmond CenterStage).
2 – Richmond Symphony youth orchestras (Richmond CenterStage).
2 – VCU Guitar Ensemble/Community Guitar Ensemble (VCU Singleton Center).
3 – Richmond Philharmonic Family Holiday Concert (James Center Atrium).
4 – Choral Arts Society/Vocal Chamber Ensemble (VCU Singleton Center).
5 – UR Symphony Orchestra/Richard Hu, piano (UR Modlin Center).
6 – VCU Symphony (VCU Singleton Center).7 – VCU Music Department Holiday Gala (VCU Singleton Center).
8 – Richmond Symphony/Symphony Chorus/soloists TBA “Messiah” (Richmond Center Stage).
9 – Christmas Candlelight Services (UR Cannon Chapel).
9 – “Messiah” Sing-Along (Bon Air Presbyterian Church).

JANUARY
13 – Mike Goldberg, clarinet (Bon Air Presbyterian Church).
19 – Richmond Symphony Pops/Maureen McGovern, vocalist (Richmond CenterStage).
23 – Paul Hanson, piano (UR Modlin Center).
26-27 – Richmond Symphony/Marina Piccinini, flute (Richmond CenterStage).
27 – Lyric Opera Virginia “Camelot” (Landmark Theater).
27 – Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra (Richmond CenterStage).
27 – David Robertson, guitar (VCU Singleton Center).

FEBRUARY
2 – Richmond Symphony LolliPops/Michael Boudewyns, actor “Scheherazade” (Richmond CenterStage).
3 – Richard Becker, piano (UR Modlin Center).
4 – James Weaver, baritone/Joanne Kong, piano (UR Modlin Center).
10 – Members and friends concert (Bon Air Presbyterian Church).
11 – Matthew Worth, baritone (UR Modlin Center).
16-17 – Richmond Symphony/Symphony Chorus (Richmond CenterStage).
21 – Richmond Symphony Rush-Hour concert (Richmond CenterStage).
22 – Stefan Engels, organ (St. Paul’s Episcopal Church).
23 – New York Polyphony (VCU Singleton Center).
24 – Richmond Symphony (Randolph-Macon College).
24 – Shanghai Quartet/Paul Neubauer, viola (UR Modlin Center).

MARCH
2 – Richmond Symphony Pops/Tiempo Libre (Richmond CenterStage).
3 – Richmond Philharmonic/Akemi Takayama, violin (VCU Singleton Center).
8, 10 – Virginia Opera “A Streetcar Named Desire” (Richmond CenterStage).
10 – Durham (NC) Piano Performance Team (Bon Air Presbyterian Church).
14 – VCU Symphony (VCU Singleton Center).
16 – Richmond Symphony/Diana Cohen, violin (Richmond CenterStage).
17 – Richmond Guitar Quartet (VCU Singleton Center).
20 – eighth blackbird/Nico Muhly, composer (UR Modlin Center).
21 – John Cage Centennial concert I/eighth blackbird (UR Modlin Center).
23 – Richmond Symphony LolliPops/VCU dancers “Come Dance with Us” (Richmond CenterStage).
23 – Jeremy Denk, piano (VCU Singleton Center).
24 – Richard Becker & Doris Wylee-Becker, pianos (UR Modlin Center).
27 – John Cage Centennial concert II/Paul Hanson, prepared piano (UR Modlin Center).

APRIL
7-8 – Takács Quartet (UR Modlin Center).
10 – UR Symphony Orchestra/Charles Staples, piano (UR Modlin Center).
12 – Isabelle Demers, organ (River Road Church, Baptist).
12 – Choral Arts Society/Vocal Chamber Ensemble (VCU Singleton Center).
14 – Lisa Edwards-Burrs, soprano (Bon Air Presbyterian Church).
14 – Lyric Opera Virginia “Romeo and Juliet” (Collegiate School).
14 – Richmond Symphony youth orchestras (Richmond CenterStage).
17 – UR Wind Ensemble (UR Modlin Center).
19 – Ebène Quartet (UR Modlin Center).
20 – Richmond Symphony/Kathryn Leemhuis, mezzo-soprano (Richmond CenterStage).
21 – Earth Day Celebration (UR location TBA).
25 – Richmond Symphony Chorus/brass & organ (River Road Church, Baptist).
26, 28 – Virginia Opera “The Marriage of Figaro” (Richmond CenterStage).
27 – Richmond Symphony Chorus/brass & organ (Chester Presbyterian Church).

MAY
4 – Tokyo String Quartet (VCU Singleton Center).
5 – Richmond Philharmonic/Wanchi Huang, violin/Amadi Azkiwe, viola (VCU Singleton Center).
5 – Richmond Symphony/Molly Sharp, viola/Symphony Chamber Chorus (Randolph-Macon College).
11-12 – Richmond Symphony (Richmond CenterStage).

JUNE
2 – Richmond Symphony youth orchestras (Pocahontas State Park).
16 – Richmond Philharmonic Family Summer Concert (Brandermill).


Richmond Symphony:
www.richmondsymphony.com

Virginia Opera:
www.vaopera.org

Lyric Opera Virginia:
www.lyricoperavirginia.org

Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond:
www.modlin.richmond.edu

VCU Music Department:
www.vcumusic.org

Richmond Philharmonic:
www.richmondphilharmonic.org

Richmond chapter, American Guild of Organists:
www.richmondago.org