Friday, May 1, 2015
May 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.
* In and around Richmond: A busy and varied coda to the fall-to-spring concert season: Pianist Richard Goode is joined by soprano Sarah Shafer in the season finale of the Rennolds Chamber Concerts, May 2 at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Singleton Arts Center. . . . The Richmond Symphony stages a “Music Marathon” benefit featuring its members, staff and associates on May 2 at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery; the finale of its Metro Collection series, featuring Lynette Wardle playing Ginastera’s Harp Concerto, May 3 at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland; and the Richmond Symphony Chorus singing in Bernstein’s “Chichester Psalms” and the orchestra performing Prokofiev’s Fifth Symphony in the Masterworks series finale, May 9-10 at Richmond CenterStage. . . . The Chamber Music Society of Central Virginia presents harpsichordist Carsten Schmidt playing Book 1 of Bach’s “Well-Tempered Clavier” on May 3 at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Comforter, and an ensemble of flute, piano and strings samples Scandinavian and Russian music in a free concert on May 16 at the Richmond Public Library and ticketed concerts on May 17 and 19 at First Unitarian Universalist Church. . . . Wesley Parrott performs in the last program of the season’s Repertoire Recital Series of the Richmond chapter, American Guild of Organists, May 8 on the Taylor & Boody organ of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church. . . . The Central Virginia Masterworks Chorale sings Maurice Duruflé’s Requiem and more, May 10 at Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church in Ashland and May 17 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Richmond. . . . James Ross discusses and conducts Dvořák’s “New World” Symphony (No. 9) with the Symphony Musicians of Richmond in a benefit for the United Way, May 20 at St. Michael Catholic Church.
* Noteworthy elsewhere: Violinist Leonidas Kavakos spends two weeks at Washington’s Kennedy Center, playing Sibelius’ Violin Concerto with the National Symphony, May 7-9; joining NSO music director and pianist Christoph Eschenbach in a recital on May 11; and playing violin and conducting the NSO in a program of Bach, Sibelius and Mussorgsky, May 14-16. . . . Marin Alsop conducts the Baltimore Symphony in an all-Russian program, with Lukáš Vondrácek as soloist in Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1, May 7 at Strathmore in the Maryland suburbs of DC and May 10 at the Ferguson Arts Center of Christopher Newport University in Newport News. . . . Two celebrated pianists perform on successive nights at the Kennedy Center, Igor Levit playing Bach, Beethoven and more on May 9, and Paul Lewis playing the last three sonatas of Beethoven on May 10. (Lewis’ recital is sold out, with a waiting list.) . . . Thierry Escaich plays compositions of Brahms, Bach, Vierne and Stravinsky and improvises a symphony on submitted themes, May 13 on the organ of the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. . . . Baroque specialist Nicholas McGegan leads the Virginia Symphony in an all-Handel program, featuring soprano Amanda Forsythe, May 24 at the Williamsburg Lodge. . . . Opera Lafayette, the DC early music troupe, gives two performances of André Grétry’s “L’Épreuve Villageoise” (“The Village Trial”), May 30 at the Kennedy Center.
May 1 (8 p.m.)
Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Washington
National Symphony Orchestra
Christoph Eschenbach & Ankush Kumar Bahl conducting
John Lescault, Lawrence Redmond, Danny Yoerges & Tracey Stephens, actors
“Beyond the Score: Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 – Fate Knocks?”
$10-$85
(800) 444-1324
www.kennedy-center.org
May 2 (1 p.m.)
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, Ownby Lane at Overbrook Road, Richmond
Richmond Symphony musicians, staffers, board and league members, others
“Music Marathon at Hardywood”
solo and chamber works TBA
donation requested; proceeds benefit Richmond Symphony
(804) 788-4717
www.richmondsymphony.com
May 2 (8 p.m.)
Vlahcevic Concert Hall, Singleton Arts Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Park Avenue at Harrison Street, Richmond
Rennolds Chamber Concerts:
Richard Goode, piano
Sarah Shafer, soprano
program TBA
$34
(804) 828-6776
www.arts.vcu.edu/music
May 2 (8 p.m.)
May 3 (2:30 p.m.)
Sandler Arts Center, 201 S. Market St., Virginia Beach
Virginia Symphony
Benjamin Rous conducting
“Disney ‘Fantasia’ Live in Concert”
$18.25-$60
(757) 892-6366
www.virginiasymphony.org
May 2 (8 p.m.)
Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Washington
National Symphony Orchestra
Christoph Eschenbach conducting
Johann Strauss II: “Die Fledermaus” Overture
Penderecki: Concerto grosso for three cellos and orchestra
Steven Honigberg, James Lee & David Teie, cellos
Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 in C minor
$10-$85
(800) 444-1324
www.kennedy-center.org
May 2 (8 p.m.)
May 3 (3 p.m.)
Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD
National Philharmonic
Piotr Gajewski conducting
Mozart: “The Marriage of Figaro” Overture
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major, K. 467
Christopher Taylor, piano
Mozart: Symphony No. 41 in C major, K. 551 (“Jupiter”)
(301) 581-5100
www.strathmore.org
May 3 (3 p.m.)
Blackwell Auditorium, Randolph-Macon College, 205 Henry St., Ashland
Richmond Symphony
Steven Smith conducting
Rossini: “The Italian Girl in Algiers” Overture
Ginastera: Harp Concerto
Lynette Wardle, harp
De Falla: “The Three-Cornered Hat” Suite No. 1
Arriaga: Symphony in D major
$20
(800) 514-3849 (ETIX)
www.richmondsymphony.com
May 3 (4 p.m.)
Episcopal Church of the Holy Comforter, Monument Avenue at Staples Mill Road, Richmond
Chamber Music Society of Central Virginia:
Carsten Schmidt, harpsichord
J.S. Bach: “The Well-Tempered Clavier,” Book 1
$25
(804) 519-2098
www.cmscva.org
May 5 (7 p.m.)
St. Luke Lutheran Church, 7757 Chippenham Parkway, Richmond
Virginia Benefit Chorale
program TBA
donation requested; proceeds benefit Virginia Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
(804) 272-0486
www.stlukerichmond.org
May 6 (8:15 p.m.)
Old Cabell Hall, University of Virginia, Charlottesville
Michael Idzior, euphonium
Johan de Meij: “UFO Concerto”
Sawako Yamazato: “Minyo Fantasy”
J.S. Bach: Cello Sonata No. 3 (euphonium arr.)
free
(434) 924-3376
www.music.virginia.edu
May 7 (7 p.m.)
May 8 (8 p.m.)
May 9 (8 p.m.)
Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Washington
National Symphony Orchestra
Christoph Eschenbach conducting
Sibelius: Violin Concerto
Leonidas Kavakos, violin
Mahler: Symphony No. 5
$29-$85
(800) 444-1324
www.kennedy-center.org
May 7 (7:30 p.m.)
Terrace Theater, Kennedy Center, Washington
Pro Musica Hebraica:
ARC Ensemble
“Before the Night: Jewish Classical Masterpieces of pre-1933 Europe”
Jerzy Fitelberg: Quartet No. 2
Castelnuovo-Tedesco: Piano Quintet No. 1
Korngold: Suite for two violins, cello and piano left-hand
$44
(800) 444-1324
www.kennedy-center.org
May 7 (8 p.m.)
Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
Marin Alsop conducting
Rimsky-Korsakov: “Russian Easter Overture”
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor
Lukáš Vondrácek, piano
Prokofiev: Symphony No. 7
$55-$105
(877) 276-1444 (Baltimore Symphony box office)
www.strathmore.org
May 8 (7:30 p.m.)
St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, 8706 Quaker Lane, Bon Air
American Guild of Organists Repertoire Recital Series:
Wesley Parrott, organ
J.S. Bach: Toccata and Fugue in E major, BWV 566
Dandrieu: “Premier Livre de Pièces d’Orgue”
Howells: “Six Pieces for Organ” – Saraband and “Master Tallis’s Testament”
Mendelssohn: Sonata in F minor, Op. 65, No. 1
Lefébure-Wely: “L’Organiste Moderne,” Book 11 – Sortie in E major
Vierne: “Triptyque pour grand Orgue” – “Stèle pour en enfant défunt”
Vierne: “Pièces de Fantasie” Suite No. 3, Op. 54, No. 2 – Impromptu
Widor: Symphony No. 5, Op. 42, No.1 – I: Allegro vivace (variations)
donation requested
(804) 272-0992
www.richmondago.org
May 9 (8 p.m.)
May 10 (3 p.m.)
Carpenter Theatre, Richmond CenterStage, Sixth and Grace streets
Richmond Symphony
Steven Smith conducting
Borodin: “Prince Igor” – “Polovtsian Dances”
Bernstein: “Chichester Psalms”
Richmond Symphony Chorus
Erin R. Freeman directing
Prokofiev: Symphony No. 5
$10-$78
(800) 514-3849 (ETIX)
www.richmondsymphony.com
May 9 (2 p.m.)
Terrace Theater, Kennedy Center, Washington
Igor Levit, piano
J.S. Bach: Partita No. 1 in B flat major, BWV 825
Beethoven: Sonata in F major, Op. 54
Ronald Stevenson: “Fantasy on ‘Peter Grimes’ ”
Beethoven: Sonata in D minor, Op. 31, No. 2 (“Tempest”)
Prokofiev: Sonata No. 7
$40
(202) 785-9727 (Washington Performing Arts)
www.wpas.org
May 9 (7 p.m.)
May 11 (7 p.m.)
May 13 (7:30 p.m.)
May 15 (7:30 p.m.)
May 16 (7 p.m.)
May 17 (2 p.m.)
May 19 (7:30 p.m.)
May 21 (7:30 p.m.)
Kennedy Center Opera House, Washington
Washington National Opera
Speranza Scappucci conducting
Rossini: “La Cenerentola” (“Cinderella”)
Isabel Leonard/Tara Erraught (Angelina)
Maxim Mironov/David Portillo (Don Ramiro)
Simone Alberghini (Dandini)
Paolo Bordogna (Don Magnifico)
Shenyang (Alidoro)
Deborah Nansteel (Tisbe)
Jacqueline Echols (Clorinda)
Joan Font, stage director
in Italian, English captions
$25-$300
(800) 444-1324
www.kennedy-center.org
May 10 (3 p.m.)
Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church, 201 Henry St., Ashland
May 17 (3 p.m.)
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Ninth and Grace streets, Richmond
Central Virginia Masterworks Chorale
David Sinden directing
Daniel Stipe, organ
Duruflé: Requiem
Duruflé: “Four Motets on Gregorian Themes”
trad.-James Erb: “Shenandoah”
$10 in advance, $15 at door
(800) 838-3006
www.cvamc.org
May 10 (4 p.m.)
Ferguson Arts Center, Christopher Newport University, Newport News
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
Marin Alsop conducting
Rimsky-Korsakov: “Russian Easter Overture”
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor
Lukáš Vondrácek, piano
Prokofiev: Symphony No. 7
$27-$87
(855) 337-4849
www.fergusoncenter.org
May 10 (7 p.m.)
Center for the Arts, George Mason University, Fairfax
Jeffrey Siegel, piano
“Keyboard Conversations: Rachmaninoff and Friends”
$24-$40
(888) 945-2468 (Tickets.com)
www.cfa.gmu.edu
May 10 (7:30 p.m.)
Terrace Theater, Kennedy Center, Washington
Paul Lewis, piano
Beethoven: Sonata in E major, Op. 109
Beethoven: Sonata in A flat major, Op. 110
Beethoven: Sonata in C minor, Op. 111
$49 (waiting list)
(202) 785-9727 (Washington Performing Arts)
www.wpas.org
May 11 (7:30 p.m.)
Terrace Theater, Kennedy Center, Washington
Leonidas Kavakos, violin
Christoph Eschenbach, piano
J.S. Bach: Sonata in E major, BWV 1016
Beethoven: Sonata in F major, Op. 24 (“Spring”)
Schumann: Sonata in D minor, Op. 121
$49
(800) 444-1324
www.kennedy-center.org
May 12 (7:30 p.m.)
Terrace Theater, Kennedy Center, Washington
Ustad Nishat Khan, sitar
Srimati Kaushiki Chakraborty, vocals
Samir Chatterjee, tabla
Kedar Naphade, harmonium
Indian classical works TBA
$30-$70
(800) 444-1324
www.kennedy-center.org
May 13 (8 p.m.)
Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Washington
Thierry Escaich, organ
Brahms: Prelude and Fugue in G minor, WoO 10
Brahms: Chorale Prelude, “Herzliebster Jesu,” Op. 122, No. 2
J.S. Bach: Chorale Prelude, “In dir ist Freude,” BWV 615
J.S. Bach: Chorale Prelude, “Christ ist erstanden,” BWV 627
Vierne: Symphony No. 4 in G minor, Op. 32 – Romance and Finale
Stravinsky-Escaich: “The Firebird” (excerpts)
Escaich: improvised symphony on submitted themes
$15
(800) 444-1324
www.kennedy-center.org
May 14 (7 p.m.)
May 15 (8 p.m.)
May 16 (8 p.m.)
Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Washington
National Symphony Orchestra
Leonidas Kavakos conducting
J.S. Bach: Violin Concerto in A minor, BWV 1041
Leonidas Kavakos, violin
Sibelius: “Pelléas and Mélisande”
Mussorgsky-Ravel: “Pictures at an Exhibition”
$10-$85
(800) 444-1324
www.kennedy-center.org
May 15 (8 p.m.)
University of Virginia Chapel, Charlottesville
Virginia Glee Club
Frank Albinder directing
Finals Concert
program TBA
free
(434) 924-3376
www.virginiagleeclub.org
May 16 (2 p.m.)
Gellman Room, Richmond Public Library, First and Franklin streets
Chamber Music Society of Central Virginia:
Jesse Mills & Daisuke Yamamoto, violins
Melissa Reardon, viola
James Wilson, cello
Mary Boodell, flute
Rieko Aizawa, piano
“Mixed Musix: Ice Cubes”
program TBA
free
(804) 519-2098
www.cmscva.org
May 16 (8 p.m.)
Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
Mario Venzago conducting
Schubert: Symphony No. 8 in B minor (“Unfinished”)
Haydn: Piano Concerto in D major
Oliver Schnyder, piano
Richard Strauss: “Don Juan”
Debussy: “La Mer”
$32-$95
(877) 276-1444 (Baltimore Symphony box office)
www.strathmore.org
May 17 (4 p.m.)
First Unitarian Universalist Church, 1000 Blanton Ave. at the Carillon, Richmond
Chamber Music Society of Central Virginia:
Jesse Mills & Daisuke Yamamoto, violins
Melissa Reardon, viola
James Wilson, cello
Mary Boodell, flute
Rieko Aizawa, piano
“Northern Lights: Romantics and Mystics”
Borodin: Quartet No. 2 in D major
Kuhlau: Quintet, Op. 51, No. 3
Borening: “Dark Wood”
Narbutaite: “Mozart Sommer”
$25
(804) 519-2098
www.cmscva.org
May 17 (4 p.m.)
St. Matthias' Episcopal Church, 11300 W. Huguenot Road, Midlothian
Richmond Symphony Brass Quintet
Clifton Hardison, percussion
“Anthony Holborne Suite”
Giovanni Gabrieli: “Canzona prima a 5”
J.S. Bach: Contrapunctus No. 1
Victor Ewald: Quintet No. 1
“Duke Ellington Suite”
reception follows
donation requested
(804) 272-8588
www.stmatmidlo.com
May 17 (8 p.m.)
Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Washington
Choral Arts Society of Washington & orchestra
Scott Tucker conducting
Orff: “Carmina burana”
soloists TBA
$15-$75
(800) 444-1324
www.kennedy-center.org
May 19 (7:30 p.m.)
First Unitarian Universalist Church, 1000 Blanton Ave. at the Carillon, Richmond
Chamber Music Society of Central Virginia:
Jesse Mills, violin
James Wilson, cello
Mary Boodell, flute
Rieko Aizawa, piano
“Northern Lights: Hot and Cold”
Roman: Trio Sonata in G major
Vasks: “Landscape with Birds”
Sibelius: “The Swan of Tuonela”
Tchaikovsky: Piano Trio in A minor, Op. 50
$25
(804) 519-2098
www.cmscva.org
May 19 (7:30 p.m.)
Terrace Theater, Kennedy Center, Washington
Myriad Trio
Anthony McGill, clarinet
Jan Bach: “Eisteddfod”
Debussy: Sonata for flute, viola and harp
Shostakovich: Waltzes
Dvořák-Webster: Slavonic dances TBA for flute, clarinet and harp
David Bruce: “The Eye of the Night”
$49
(800) 444-1324
www.kennedy-center.org
May 20 (7 p.m.)
St. Michael Catholic Church, 4491 Springfield Road, Richmond
Symphony Musicians of Richmond
James Ross conducting & narrating
introduction to and performance of Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 in E minor (“From the New World”)
$10 in advance; proceeds benefit Community Impact Fund of United Way of Greater Richmond and Petersburg
(804) 771-5827
www.yourunitedway.org
May 23 (8 p.m.)
Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
Markus Stenz conducting
Weber: “Der Freischütz” Overture
Richard Strauss: “Four Last Songs”
Heidi Melton, soprano
Schumann: Symphony No. 2 in C minor
$32-$95
(877) 276-1444 (Baltimore Symphony box office)
www.strathmore.org
May 24 (7 p.m.)
Williamsburg Lodge, 310 S. England St.
Virginia Symphony
Nicholas McGegan conducting
Amanda Forsythe, soprano
“A Handel Celebration”
program TBA
$35-$50
(757) 892-6366
www.virginiasymphony.org
May 24 (8 p.m.)
West Lawn, U.S. Capitol, Washington
National Symphony Orchestra
conductor & guest artists TBA
Memorial Day concert
program TBA
free
(800) 444-1324
www.kennedy-center.org
May 29 (8 p.m.)
May 30 (8 p.m.)
Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Washington
National Symphony Orchestra
Manuel López-Gómez conducting
Gershwin: “Cuban Overture”
Andy Akiho: Concerto for steel pan and orchestra (“Beneath Lighted Coffers”)
Liam Teague, steel pan
Ginastera: “Estancia” Suite
Antonio Estévez: “Meliodia en la Ilano”
Bernstein: “West Side Story” Symphonic Dances
$10-$70
(800) 444-1324
www.kennedy-center.org
May 30 (2 and 7:30 p.m.)
Terrace Theater, Kennedy Center, Washington
Opera Lafayette
Ryan Brown conducting
Grétry: “L’Épreuve Villageoise” (“The Village Trial”)
Pascale Beaudin/Emmanuelle de Negri (Denise)
Talise Trevigne (Madame Hubert)
Thomas Dolié (La France)
Francisco Fernández-Rueda (André)
Nick Olcott, stage director
in French, English captions
$65-$100
(800) 444-1324
www.kennedy-center.org
May 30 (8 p.m.)
Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD
National Philharmonic
Piotr Gajewski conducting
Brahms: Serenade No. 2 in A major
Fauré: Requiem
Julie Keim, soprano
Andrew McLaughlin, baritone
National Philharmonic Chorale
$28-$84
(301) 581-5100
www.strathmore.org