The Ninth on New Year's Eve

One of my favorite holiday musical traditions is the New Year’s Eve performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. This is a fixture on the cultural calendar of many cities in Central Europe, but rarely seen and heard in this country.

Thanks to the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and its “One City One Symphony” initiative, a recording from the orchestra’s November concerts of the Beethoven Ninth, conducted by its music director designate, Louis Langrée, is available as a free download, here:

http://cincinnatisymphony.org/Content.php?id=29

A nice opportunity to try the Ninth at New Year at home, and a chance to hear one of the leading U.S. orchestras with its next generation of artistic leadership.

Galina Vishnevskaya (1926-2012)

Galina Vishnevskaya, the great Russian soprano and widow of cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, has died at 86.

An obituary by Jonathan Kandell in The New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/12/arts/music/galina-vishnevskaya-electrifying-soprano-dies-at-86.html?adxnnl=1&hpw=&adxnnlx=1355290134-QBFMnj+hZJtMRWvO1Juw1w

Ravi Shankar (1920-2012)

Ravi Shankar, master of the sitar and North Indian classical music, has died at the age of 92.

An obituary by Reginald Massey for The Guardian:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/dec/12/ravi-shankar-dies

Charles Rosen (1927-2012)

Charles Rosen, the pianist, author (of “The Classical Style” and “The Romantic Generation,” among other books), critic and scholar of subjects ranging from French literature to architecture and art, has died at 85.

As a pianist, Rosen was celebrated for his mastery of an unusually wide range of repertory, from Bach and Beethoven to Pierre Boulez and Elliott Carter.

He last performed in Richmond in an October 2010 concert at Virginia Commonwealth University, in which he surveyed music of Robert Schumann during the composer’s bicentenary.

An obituary by Ivan Hewett in The Guardian:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/dec/10/charles-rosen

And another, by The New York Times’ Margalit Fox:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/11/arts/music/charles-rosen-pianist-polymath-and-author-dies-at-85.html?hpw

Dave Brubeck (1920-2012)

Dave Brubeck, the pianist, bandleader and composer whose "Take Five" (1959) became the first million-selling jazz single, has died a few days shy of his 92nd birthday.

Later in his career, Brubeck, who had sytudied with Darius Milhaud, produced a number of long-form classical and jazz-classical ("third stream") compositions.

An obituary by Ben Ratliff in The New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/06/arts/music/dave-brubeck-jazz-musician-dies-at-91.html?hp

December 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/youth, group and other discounts may be offered.

SCOUTING REPORT

* In the spirit of the season . . . It’s all good.

Dec. 1 (8 p.m.)
Dec. 2 (3 p.m.)
Carpenter Theatre, Richmond CenterStage, Sixth and Grace streets
Richmond Symphony Pops & Chorus
Erin R. Freeman conducting
City Singers Children’s Choir
“Let It Snow!”
holiday pops program TBA
$9-$76
(800) 514-3849 (ETIX)
www.richmondsymphony.com

Dec. 1 (8 p.m.)
Dec. 2 (3:30 p.m.)
Old Cabell Hall, University of Virginia, Charlottesville
Charlottesville & University Symphony Orchestra
U.Va. University Singers
Michael Slon conducting
“Family Holiday Concerts”
Christmas carols TBA
Anderson: “Sleigh Ride”
“Winter Wonderland”
“Twelve Days of Christmas”
Randall Criswell Ball, vocalist
$10-$38
(434) 924-3376
http://artsandsciences.virginia.edu/music/concertsevents/index.html

Dec. 1 (2 p.m.)
Center for the Arts, George Mason University, Fairfax
Virginia Opera
Gary Thor Wedow conducting
Johann Strauss II: “Die Fledermaus”
Emily Pulley (Rosalinde)
Sarah Jane McMahon (Adele)
Abigail Nims (Orlovsky)
Philip Cutlip (Eisenstein)
Ryan MacPherson (Alfred)
Christopher Burchett (Dr. Falke)
Dorothy Danner, stage director
in English with captions
$25-$114
(888) 945-2468 (Tickets.com)
www.vaopera.org

Dec. 1 (2 p.m.)
Terrace Theater, Kennedy Center, Washington
Lukáš Vondrácek, piano
Haydn: Sonata in C major, Hob. XVI:50
Mendelssohn: “Variations serieuses”
Suk: “Love Song”
Brahms: “Six Pieces,” Op. 118
Prokofiev: Sonata No. 7
$38
(202) 785-9727 (Washington Performing Arts Society)
www.wpas.org

Dec. 1 (8 p.m.)
Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Washington
National Symphony Orchestra
Juraj Valcuha conducting
Szymanowski: “Concert Overture”
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 13 in C major, K. 415
Jonathan Biss, piano
Ravel: “Ma Mère l’oye” Suite
Debussy: “La Mer”
$10-$85
(800) 444-1324
www.kennedy-center.org

Dec. 2 (4 p.m.)
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 520 N. Boulevard, Richmond
Richmond Choral Society
Markus Compton directing
Christopher Martin, organ
Keith Tan, piano
Virginia Girls Choir
“Christmas With the Richmond Choral Society”
program TBA
$20
(804) 353-9582
www.richmondchoralsociety.org

Dec. 2 (4 p.m.)
Vlahcevic Concert Hall, Singleton Arts Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Park Avenue at Harrison Street, Richmond
VCU Guitar Ensemble
Community Guitar Ensemble
John Patykula directing
program TBA
free
(804) 828-6776
www.vcumusic.org

Dec. 3 (7 p.m.)
The Atrium of The James Center, 1051 E. Cary St., Richmond
Richmond Philharmonic
Paul S. Kim conducting
“Family Holiday Concert”
program TBA
donation requested
(804) 673-7400
www.richmondphilharmonic.org

Dec. 3 (7:30 p.m.)
Camp Concert Hall, Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond
UR Chamber Ensembles
program TBA
free
(804) 289-8980
www.modlin.richmond.edu

Dec. 3 (7:30 p.m.)
Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Washington
Yo-Yo Ma, cello
Ahmet Adnan Saygun: Partita, Op. 31 (allegretto)
Bach: Suite No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007
Mark O’Connor: “Appalachian Waltz”
Bach: Suite No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008
George Crumb: Sonata for solo cello
Bach: Suite No. 3 in C major, BWV 1009
$50-$175 (waiting list)
(202) 785-9727 (Washington Performing Arts Society)
www.wpas.org

Dec. 3 (8 p.m.)
Coolidge Auditorium, Library of Congress, First Street at Independence Avenue S.E., Washington
William Hicks, piano & director
Jerry Grossman, cello
Rebecca Luker, Ron Raines, Aaron Lazar & Korliss Uecker, vocalists
“The Musical Worlds of Victor Herbert”
program TBA
free; tickets required
(703) 573-7328 (Ticketmaster)
http://www.loc.gov/rr/perform/concert/1213-schedule.html

Dec. 4 (7:30 p.m.)
Vlahcevic Concert Hall, Singleton Arts Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Park Avenue at Harrison Street, Richmond
VCU Choral Arts Society
Vocal Chamber Ensemble
program TBA
$7 in advance, $10 day of event
(804) 828-6776
www.vcumusic.org

Dec. 4 (7:30 p.m.)
Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Washington
Simón Bolivar Symphony Orchestra
Gustavo Dudamel conducting
Chavez: “Sinfonia India”
Julián Orbón: “Tres Versiones Sinfonicas”
Richard Strauss: “An Alpine Symphony”
$45-$175 (waiting list)
(202) 785-9727 (Washington Performing Arts Society)
www.wpas.org

Dec. 5 (7:30 p.m.)
Camp Concert Hall, Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond
UR Symphony Orchestra
Alexander Kordzaia conducting
Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 1 (first movement)
Richard Hu, piano
Beethoven: Symphony No. 7
free
(804) 289-8980
www.modlin.richmond.edu

Dec. 6 (7:30 p.m.)
Vlahcevic Concert Hall, Singleton Arts Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Park Avenue at Harrison Street, Richmond
VCU Symphony Orchestra
Daniel Myssyk conducting
Saint-Saëns: “Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso”
Frank Wu, violin
Beethoven: Symphony No. 5
$7 in advance, $10 day of event
(804) 828-6776
www.vcumusic.org

Dec. 6 (7:30 p.m.)
American Theatre, 125 E. Mellen St., Hampton
Eugenia Zukerman, flute
Jacques Thibaud String Trio
works by Schubert, Beethoven, Français, C.P.E. Bach, Mozart
$25-$30
(757) 722-2787
www.hamptonarts.net

Dec. 6 (7 p.m.)
Dec. 7 (8 p.m.)
Dec. 8 (8 p.m.)
Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Washington
National Symphony Orchestra
Hans Graf conducting
Lutoslawski: “Trauermusik”
Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 1
Yuja Wang, piano
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 3 (“Polish”)
$10-$85
(800) 444-1324
www.kennedy-center.org

Dec. 7 (7:30 p.m.)
Vlahcevic Concert Hall, Singleton Arts Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Park Avenue at Harrison Street, Richmond
VCU Music Holiday Gala:
VCU Commonwealth Singers
VCU Guitar Ensemble
Community Guitar Ensemble
VCU Symphonic Wind Ensemble
Kenneth Wood, tenor
other artists TBA
program TBA
$15; proceeds benefit VCU Hospital Hospitality House
(804) 828-6776
www.vcumusic.org

Dec. 7 (8 p.m.)
Regent University Theater, 1000 Regent University Drive, Virginia Beach
Dec. 8 (8 p.m.)
Chrysler Hall, 201 Brambleton Ave., Norfolk
Dec. 9 (2:30 p.m.)
Ferguson Arts Center, Christopher Newport University, Newport News
Dec. 13 (8 p.m.)
Phi Beta Kappa Hall, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg
Virginia Symphony & Chorus
Benjamin Rous conducting
Handel: “Messiah”
Jo Ellen Miller, soprano
Abigail Fischer, mezzo-soprano
Zachary Wilder, tenor
Aaron Engebreth, baritone
$16-$80
(757) 892-6366
www.virginiasymphony.org

Dec. 7 (7 p.m.)
Salem Civic Center, 1001 Roanoke Boulevard
Roanoke Symphony & Chorus
David Stewart Wiley conducting
Roanoke College Children’s Choir
Elizabeth Crot, soprano
Mill Mountain Ringers
“Holiday Pops: It’s a Wonderful Life”
program TBA
$25-$80
(434) 434-9127
www.rso.com

Dec. 7 (8 p.m.)
Old Cabell Hall, University of Virginia, Charlottesville
Dec. 15 (8 p.m.)
St. Thomas Aquinas University Parish, University of Virginia, Charlottesville
Virginia Glee Club
Frank Albinder directing
Christmas concerts
program TBA
$15
(434) 924-3376
http://artsandsciences.virginia.edu/music/concertsevents/index.html

Dec. 8 (7 p.m.)
Carpenter Theatre, Richmond CenterStage, Sixth and Grace streets
Richmond Symphony & Chorus
Steven Smith conducting
Handel: “Messiah”
Devon Guthrie, soprano
Ellie Jarrett, mezzo-soprano
Gregory Warren, tenor
Matthew Burns, bass-baritone
$12-$45
(800) 514-3849 (ETIX)
www.richmondsymphony.com

Dec. 8 (7 p.m.)
Food Court, Chesterfield Towne Center, Huguenot Road at Midlothian Turnpike, Midlothian
Dec. 9 (3 p.m.)
Food Court, Virginia Center Commons, 10101 Brook Road (U.S. 1), Glen Allen
Central Virginia Wind Symphony
Mike Goldberg conducting
Da Capo Virginia
Tracee Prillaman directing
Juan Conde (Dec. 8) & Kat Simons (Dec. 9), hosts
“Holiday Spectacular” 
Reineke: “River of Life”
Sousa: “Washington Post March”
Mozart-Barnes: “Il Re Pastore” Overture
Rodgers-Moss: “Victory at Sea”
Anderson: “Belle of the Ball”
Lloyd Webber-Barker: selections from “The Phantom of the Opera”
Bock-Warrington: selections from “Fiddler on the Roof”
Anderson: “A Christmas Festival”
Ployhar: “Christmas Sing-a-Long”
Anderson: “Sleigh Ride”
free
(804) 342-8797
www.thewindsymphony.com

Dec. 8 (8 p.m.)
Old Cabell Hall, University of Virginia, Charlottesville
U.Va. Chamber Singers
Michael Slon directing
Three Notch’d Road Baroque Ensemble
Vivaldi: Magnificat
Charpentier: “Messe de Minuit pour Noël”
Bach: chorales and Chaconne for solo violin
free 
(434) 924-3376
http://artsandsciences.virginia.edu/music/concertsevents/index.html

Dec. 8 (4:30 and 7 p.m.)
Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Charlottesville
Ash Lawn Opera
Kate Tamarkin conducting
Menotti: “Amahl and the Night Visitors”
Chloe Horner (Amahl)
Brandy Lynn Hawkins (The Mother)
Benjamin Bunshold (King Kaspar)
Hyung Yun (King Melchior)
Kenneth Kellog (King Balthasar)
VaShawn McIllwain (The Page)
Virginia Consort & Wilson School of Dance members
Andrea Dorf McGray, stage director
in English
$27-$37
(434) 979-1333
www.ashlawnopera.com

Dec. 8 (8 p.m.)
Center for the Arts, George Mason University, Fairfax
Fairfax Symphony Orchestra
Christopher Zimmerman conducting
Rossini: “La gazza ladra” Overture
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1
James Dick, piano
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 (“Pathétique”)
$25-$55
(888) 945-2468 (Tickets.com)
www.fairfaxsymphony.org

Dec. 8 (8 p.m.)
Dec. 22 (8 p.m.)
Dec. 23 (3 p.m.)
Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD
National Philharmonic & Chorale
Stan Engebretson conducting
Handel: “Messiah”
Danielle Talamantes, soprano
Magdalena Wór, mezzo-soprano
Matthew Smith, tenor
Kevin Deas, bass
$28-$84
(301) 581-5100
www.strathmore.org

Dec. 9 (4 p.m.)
Bon Air Presbyterian Church, 9201 W. Huguenot Road, Richmond
Second Sundays South of the James:
chamber orchestra
Anne Carr Regan conducting
Handel: “Messiah” (sing-along performance)
Karen Floyd Savage, soprano
Heather Jones, mezzo-soprano
James Taylor, tenor
Chase Peake, bass
Kim Peachy, harpsichord
Stephen Henley, organ
donation requested
public rehearsal at 1 p.m. Dec. 8 at church
(804) 272-7514

Dec. 9 (4 p.m.)
Goochland High School, 3250 River Road West, Goochland County
Richmond Symphony & Chorus
Erin R. Freeman conducting
Handel: “Messiah” (sing-along performance)
Cynthia Hickman, Erin Stuhlman, Gabrielle Bergeret & Meredith Outlaw, sopranos
Elise Jenkins & Ellen Broen, mezzo-sopranos
Paul Brockman, tenor
Stephen Wright, bass
$20
(800) 838-3006 (Brown Paper Tickets)
www.brownpapertickets.com/event/252951

Dec. 9 (5 and 8 p.m.)
Cannon Memorial Chapel, University of Richmond
UR Schola Cantorum & Women’s Chorale
Jeffrey Riehl & David Pedersen directing
Christmas Candlelight Service: Festival of Lessons and Carols
free
(804) 289-8980
www.modlin.richmond.edu

Dec. 9 (2:30 p.m.)
American Theatre, 125 E. Mellen St., Hampton
Virginia Symphony Orchestra Holiday Brass
holiday program TBA
$25-$30
(757) 722-2787
www.hamptonarts.net

Dec. 9 (7:30 p.m.)
Terrace Theater, Kennedy Center, Washington
Kennedy Center Chamber Players
Milhaud: Suite for violin, clarinet and piano
Franck: Sonata for cello and piano
Bach: Sonata in G minor, BWV 1030b, for cello and piano
Bartók: “Contrasts” for violin, clarinet and piano
$35
(800) 444-1324
www.kennedy-center.org

Dec. 9 (7 p.m.)
Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD
MYCO Chamber Orchestra
Mozart: Sinfonia concertante in E flat major, K. 364
Nurit Bar-Josef, violin
Jonathan Carney, viola
Mahler: “Totenfeier” from Symphony No. 2 (“Resurrection”)
Tan Dun: “Internet Symphony” No. 1 (“Eroica”)
$20-$22
(301) 581-5100
www.strathmore.org

Dec. 10 (7:30 p.m.)
Ferguson Arts Center, Christopher Newport University, Newport News
The Irish Tenors
Finbar Wright, Anthony Kearns & Ronan Tynan
“The Premier Irish Holiday Celebration Tour” 
program TBA
$52-$82
(855) 337-4849
www.fergusoncenter.cnu.edu

Dec. 11 (7:30 p.m.)
Terrace Theater, Kennedy Center, Washington
Fine Arts Quartet
Haydn: Quartet in G major, Op. 77, No. 1
Efram Zimbalist: String Quartet (1959)
Schubert: Quartet in D minor (“Death and the Maiden”)
$38
(800) 444-1324
www.kennedy-center.org

Dec. 12 (7:30 p.m.)
Terrace Theater, Kennedy Center, Washington
Vocal Arts DC:
Vinson Cole, tenor
pianist TBA
program TBA
$45
(800) 444-1324
www.kennedy-center.org

Dec. 12 (8 p.m.)
Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD
Baltimore Symphony Pops
Robert Bernhardt conducting
Baltimore Choral Arts Society
“Holiday Pops Celebration”
program TBA
$28-$88
(877) 276-1444 (Baltimore Symphony box office)
www.strathmore.org

Dec. 13 (7 p.m.)
Dec. 14 (8 p.m.)
Dec. 15 (8 p.m.)
Dec. 16 (7 p.m.)
Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Washington
National Symphony Orchestra Pops
Randall Craig Fleischer conducting
New York Voices
“Happy Holidays”
program TBA
$20-$85
(800) 444-1324
www.kennedy-center.org

Dec. 13 (8 p.m.)
Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD
Mark O’Connor, violin/fiddle
other artists TBA
“An Appalachian Christmas”
$25-$55
(301) 581-5100
www.strathmore.org

Dec. 14 (8 p.m.)
Center for the Arts, George Mason University, Fairfax
Vienna Boys Choir
“Christmas in Vienna”
program TBA
$25-$50
(888) 945-2468 (Tickets.com)
http://cfa.gmu.edu/calendar/

Dec. 15 (2 p.m.)
Gellman Room, Richmond Public Library, First and Franklin streets
Richmond Boys Choir
holiday program TBA
free
(804) 646-7223
www.richmondpubliclibrary.org

Dec. 15 (8 p.m.)
Center for the Arts, George Mason University, Fairfax
The Romeros guitar quartet
Concerto Malaga
Massimo Paris conducting
holiday program TBA
$23-$46
(888) 945-2468 (Tickets.com)
http://cfa.gmu.edu/calendar/

Dec. 15 (2 p.m.)
Dec. 22 (1 and 4 p.m.)
Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Washington
The Washington Chorus
Julian Wachner directing
“A Candlelight Christmas”
program TBA
$18-$70
(800) 444-1324
www.kennedy-center.org

Dec. 15 (2 p.m.)
Coolidge Auditorium, Library of Congress, First Street at Independence Avenue S.E., Washington
Peter Sheppard-Skærved, violin
“The Paganini Project”
program TBA 
free; tickets required
(703) 573-7328 (Ticketmaster)
http://www.loc.gov/rr/perform/concert/1213-schedule.html

Dec. 16 (4 p.m.)
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, 1800 Lakeside Ave., Richmond
Greater Richmond Children's Choir
Hope Armstrong Erb directing
“Festival of Holidays”
program TBA
(804) 201-1894
www.grcc.org

Dec. 16 (1 p.m.)
Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Washington
Choral Arts Society of Washington
chamber ensemble
Joseph Holt directing
Catherine Flye, playwright & director
“A Family Christmas”
program TBA
$45
(800) 444-1324
www.kennedy-center.org

Dec. 17 (7 p.m.)
Dec. 24 (1 p.m.)
Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Washington
Choral Arts Society of Washington
instrumental ensemble
Scott Tucker directing
“An Enchanted Christmas”
program TBA
$15-$70
(800) 444-1324
www.kennedy-center.org

Dec. 18 (7:30 p.m.)
American Theatre, 125 E. Mellen St., Hampton
The Romeros guitar quartet
Concerto Malaga
Massimo Paris conducting
holiday program TBA
$40
(757) 722-2787
www.hamptonarts.net

Dec. 18 (8 p.m.)
Coolidge Auditorium, Library of Congress, First Street at Independence Avenue S.E., Washington
Miró Quartet
Ricardo Morales, clarinet
Schubert: Quartet in G major, D. 887
Brahms: Clarinet Quintet
free; tickets required
(703) 573-7328 (Ticketmaster)
http://www.loc.gov/rr/perform/concert/1213-schedule.html

Dec. 20 (7 p.m.)
Dec. 21 (8 p.m.)
Dec. 22 (8 p.m.)
Dec. 23 (1 p.m.)
Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Washington
National Symphony Orchestra
Rolf Beck conducting
Handel: “Messiah”
Katherine Whyte, soprano
Anthony Roth Constanzo, countertenor
Sunnyboy Vincent Dladla, tenor
Scott Conner, bass
University of Maryland Chorus
$10-$85
(800) 444-1324
www.kennedy-center.org

Dec. 22 (8 p.m.)
Center for the Arts, George Mason University, Fairfax
American Festival Pops Orchestra
Anthony Maiello conducting
“Holiday Pops: Songs of the Season”
program TBA
(888) 945-2468 (Tickets.com)
http://cfa.gmu.edu/calendar/

Dec. 30 (3 p.m.)
Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD
The Strauss Symphony of America
Mika Eichenholz conducting
Mónika Fischl, soprano
Michael Heim, tenor
Kiev-Aniko Ballet of Ukraine dancers
“New Year’s Concert 2013: Salute to Vienna”
program TBA
$49-$95
(301) 581-5100
www.strathmore.org

Dec. 31 (8:30 p.m.)
Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Washington
National Symphony Orchestra Pops members
Steven Reineke conducting
Cheyenne Jackson, vocalist
“Music of the ‘Mad Men’ Era”
program TBA
$55-$105
(800) 444-1324
www.kennedy-center.org