The southpaw edge?

Left-handed pianists – from Vladimir Horowitz and Arthur Rubinstein to Richard Goode and Leif Ove Andsnes – may have an inherent advantage over right-handers. "All piano students must overcome the two hands’ resistance to work separately; by having to work harder on what’s essentially a right-handed instrument, the neurons of left-handed pianists get an extra workout and thus grow stronger," Pierre Ruhe writes in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

http://www.ajc.com/services/content/printedition/2009/01/04/lefty.html

A nostalgic top 25

Veteran critic Terry Teachout culls his list of favorite classical recordings to a top 25, in Commentary Magazine:

https://www.commentarymagazine.com/viewarticle.cfm/my-favorite-classical-recordings-14074?page=all

Teachout describes the exercise as "an occasion for nostalgia — and regret. My generation of music lovers (I was born in 1956) had access to records made by celebrated conductors, singers and instrumentalists who had been born as early as the 1830’s. But since I started writing about music for Commentary a decade-and-a-half ago, I have witnessed and chronicled the decline of the once-mighty classical-recording industry that preserved these performances for posterity. It may well be that performances of comparable quality and individuality continue to be given today, but if so, they will go unheard by the music lovers of tomorrow, for with rare exceptions they are not being recorded."

This elegy is not the first — Norman Lebrecht and others have written extensively, even obsessively, about the "end" of commercial classical recording. I think, à la Mark Twain, that reports of its demise are premature.

Major orchestras, such as the San Francisco, Chicago and London symphonies and Royal Concertgebouw of Amsterdam, now produce and market their own discs; and a growing number of soloists, chamber ensembles, even composers, have begun recording for their own "boutique" labels.

The Metropolitan Opera and other companies are airing high-definition videos of their productions in movie theaters and elsewhere, and streaming video and audio of concerts continue to proliferate on the Internet — the Berlin Philharmonic joins the crowd this month. You can be sure that those performances will be captured and circulated, legitimately or otherwise. (The Met's HDTV broadcasts already are reappearing as EMI DVDs.)

Still, Teachout's list serves the always useful purpose of reminding listeners that some of the greatest recorded music predates the digital era. In that spirit, here are my 25 favorite monaural and early stereo (mostly pre-1960) classical recordings — at least as individual, not to say idiosyncratic, as Teachout's selections.

Like Teachout, I'll limit my choices to discs in circulation (in my case, via www.arkivmusic.com) — and note with dismay that many great early recordings are not currently available.

In alphabetical order by composer, my top 25 classical oldies:

* Bach: "The Well-Tempered Clavier," Books 1 & 2 — Edwin Fischer (piano) (EMI Classics Références 67214).

* Bartók: "Contrasts," "Mikrokosmos" (excerpts) — Bela Bartók (piano), Joseph Szigeti (violin), Benny Goodman (clarinet) (Membran 223546).

* Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 3 ("Eroica") & 5 — Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra/Erich Kleiber (London/Decca 467 125).

* Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 ("Choral") — Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (soprano), Elsa Cavelti (mezzo-soprano), Ernst Haefliger (tenor), Otto Edelmann (bass), Lucerne Festival Chorus, Philharmonia Orchestra/Wilhelm Furtwängler (Tahra 2001).

* Beethoven: Piano Trio in B flat major, Op. 97 ("Archduke"); Brahms: Piano Trio in B major, Op. 8; Dohnányi: Serenade for string trio, Op. 10; Mozart: String Trio in E flat major, K. 563; Schubert: Piano Trio in B flat major, D. 898 — Jascha Heifetz (violin), William Primrose (viola), Emanuel Feuermann (cello), Arthur Rubinstein (piano) (Opus Kura 2062).

* Beethoven: Piano sonatas No. 17 ("Tempest"), No. 21 ("Waldstein"), No. 23 ("Appassionata"), No. 28; Bagatelle in E flat major, Op. 33, No. 1 — Walter Gieseking (piano) (VAI Audio 1088).

* Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2, "Tragic" Overture; Richard Strauss: "Till Eulenspiegel;" Mozart: Symphony No. 36 ("Linz"); works by Mendelssohn, Wagner, Ravel, Bartók, De Falla — Emil Gilels (piano), Chicago Symphony, et al./Fritz Reiner (EMI Classics/Arkiv CD 62866).

* Brahms, Sibelius: Violin concertos — Ginette Neveu (violin), Philharmonia Orchestra/Issay Dobrowen & Walter Süsskind (EMI Classics 76831).

* Bruckner: Symphony No. 8 — Berlin Philharmonic/Wilhelm Furtwängler (Testament 1143).

* Chopin: 14 waltzes, Barcarolle in F sharp minor, Nocturne in D flat major — Dinu Lipatti (piano) (EMI Classics 66956).

* Debussy: "Pelléas et Mélisande" — Irène Joachim (mezzo-soprano), Jacques Jansen (baritone), et al.; Yvonne Gouverné Chorus & Orchestra/Roger Desormière (EMI Classics 45782).

* Dvořák: String Quartet in F major ("American"), Piano Quintet; Janáček: String Quartet No. 1 ("Kreutzer Sonata") — Smetana Quartet, Pavel Stepán (piano) (Testament 1074).

* Elgar: Violin Concerto, "Enigma" Variations — Yehudi Menuhin (violin), London Symphony/Edward Elgar (EMI Classics 66994).

* Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto; Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 4; Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 1 — Joseph Szigeti (violin), London Philharmonic/Thomas Beecham (EMI Classics/Arkiv CD 64562).

* Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3 ("Scottish"), "A Midsummer Night's Dream" Overture & incidental music — London Symphony/Peter Maag (London/Decca 466 990).

* Mussorgsky: "Pictures at an Exhibition;" works by Chopin, Liszt, Schubert, Rachmaninoff ("The Sofia Recital") — Sviatoslav Richter (piano) (Philips 464 734).

* Rachmaninoff: Piano concertos Nos. 1-4, "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini" - Sergei Rachmaninoff (piano), Philadelphia Orchestra/Leopold Stokowski & Eugene Ormandy (RCA Victor 61658).

* Ravel: "Daphnis et Chloé," "Rapsodie espagnole," "Pavane pour une infante défunte" — London Symphony/Pierre Monteux (Decca 000624802).

* Schubert: Symphony No. 5, String Quintet — Isaac Stern & Alexander Schneider (violins), Milton Katims (viola), Pablo Casals & Paul Tortelier (cellos); Prades Festival Orchestra/Pablo Casals (Sony Classical 58992).

* Schubert: String quartets in D minor, D. 810 ("Death and the Maiden"), G major, D. 887 — Busch Quartet (EMI Classics 61589).

* Richard Strauss: Orchestral works — New York Philharmonic/Willem Mengelberg ("Ein Heldenleben"); Boston Symphony/Serge Koussevitzky ("Also sprach Zarathustra"); Alfred Wallenstein (cello), New York Philharmonic/Thomas Beecham ("Don Quixote"); Philadelphia Orchestra/Leopold Stokowski ("Death and Transfiguration"); Chicago Symphony/Frederick Stock ("Aus Italien") (RCA Victor/Arkiv CD 60929).

* Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5; works by Beethoven, Liszt, Sibelius, Rachmaninoff, Roy Harris — Boston Symphony/Serge Koussevitzky (EMI Classics/Arkiv CD 75118).

* Wagner: "Tristan und Isolde" — Kirsten Flagstad (soprano), Ludwig Suthaus (tenor), et al.; Philharmonia Orchestra/Wilhelm Furtwängler (EMI Classics 85873).

* Wagner: "Die Walküre" (Act 1) — Lotte Lehmann (soprano), Lauritz Melchior (tenor), Emanuel List (bass), Vienna Philharmonic/Bruno Walter (EMI Classics 345832).

* "The Very Best of Victoria de los Angeles" (arias by Puccini, Bizet, Mozart, Wagner, Gounod, Catalani, others) — Victoria de los Angeles (soprano), various accompanists (EMI Classics 75888).

And now (like Teachout, no doubt), I await "I can't believe you left out [insert your favorites]" comments.

Last look at 2008 centenarians

Alex Ross wraps up a year of reassessments of the two great centenarian composers of 2008, Elliott Carter and Olivier Messiaen, in The New Yorker:

http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/musical/2009/01/05/090105crmu_music_ross

Whither (or wither) City Opera?

Having lost the much-touted Gerard Mortier as its general director, lost a season to the renovation of its home theater, and lost enough money over time to be saddled with a huge deficit, where does the New York City Opera go from here?

The question is of more than passing interest to music-lovers in these parts. Former Richmond Symphony maestro George Manahan is the City Opera's music director, and the company has been a springboard for Richmond-bred singers such as Pamela Armstrong and William Ferguson, as it has for many other young American voices.

Anthony Tommasini ponders the City Opera's future in The New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/04/arts/music/04tomm.html?_r=1&ref=music

Update: City Opera snags George R. Steel, formerly executive director of Columbia University's Miller Theater and, since October, general director of the Dallas Opera, as its new general manager:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/15/arts/music/15oper.html?ref=music

Bless our hearts and gerunds

Syndicated columnist Kathleen Parker writes: "Bloggers, bless their hearts, are becoming the new-old curmudgeons, thinking hard before writing, still insisting on complete sentences with more than 140 characters, clinging to their gerunds, participles and semicolons. Many are camouflaged renegades from (or appendages to) newspapers, not so much new breeds as Darwinian adapters to a new environment." (via Romenesko)

I keep forgetting what gerunds are, but I'm sure I cling to them.

I also note Parker's use of "bless their hearts," a possibly loaded Southernism. As a Virginia matron explained to Slate's Dahlia Lithwick: "If you want to sound like a real Virginian, you just say, 'Bless your heart' after every single sentence. Doesn't matter how mean it is! You just turn to your hairdresser and say, 'I hate this goddamn, stupid haircut, bless your heart,' and you're from Virginia!"

The Haydn year

This year marks the 200th anniversary of Joseph Haydn's death (May 31, 1809). We shall see and hear how the commemoration compares with other recent musical anniversaries, notably the Mozart 250th-birthday bash of 2006.

I'll go out on a pretty sturdy limb and predict that string quartets and choral groups will make more of the Haydn year than other ensembles. A revival of a Haydn opera by any major American company would be a big surprise. In orchestra programming, this season's Richmond Symphony Haydn Festival is unique in this region, and even these programs are heavily garnished with works of Mozart, Beethoven and other composers.

I had a bit to say about the relative neglect of Haydn in reviewing the first concert of the symphony festival . . .

http://letterv.blogspot.com/2008/10/review-richmond-symphony.html

. . . and I expect to expand on those thoughts as the year progresses.

Meanwhile, The Guardian's Stephen Moss starts out his Haydn year with rather muted praise and a road trip to the composer's old haunts:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/jan/01/classicalmusicandopera

This blog, by the way, owes its name to Haydn, at least indirectly. "Letter V" is the nickname sometimes attached to his Symphony No. 88 in G major.

January 2009 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, group and other discounts may be offered.

SCOUTING REPORT

* In/around Richmond: James Wilson, artistic director of the Richmond Festival of Music, plays three of Bach’s suites for solo cello, Jan. 13 at First Unitarian Church. . . . Marc Taddei, fourth of the Richmond Symphony’s music-director candidates, leads “Sinfonia del Fuego,” a pops concert focused on the Argentine tango, Jan. 10 at the Landmark Theater, and conducts Richard Strauss and Rachmaninoff, Jan. 16, 17 and 19 at three area churches. . . . Erin Freeman conducts the symphony in a Kicked Back Classics celebration of Edgar Allan Poe’s 200th birthday, Jan. 22 and 25 at The National, and leads the orchestra, the University of Richmond’s Schola Cantorum and the James River Singers in “Music in Times of Civil Unrest,” Jan. 30 at UR’s Modlin Arts Center. . . . Violinist Rachel Barton Pine plays at Virginia Commonwealth University on Jan. 31.

* New and/or different: Ilan Volkov conducts the National Symphony in George Crumb’s “A Haunted Landscape,” Jan. 15-17 at Washington’s Kennedy Center. . . . Billy Joel’s Elegy receives its Virginia premiere from the Roanoke Symphony, alongside works by Debussy, Britten, Smetana and Rachmaninoff Jan. 19 at the Roanoke Performing Arts Theatre. . . . Emmanuel Krivine conducts the National Symphony in “Apex” by Pascal Dusapin, as well as works of Ravel and Berlioz, Jan. 22-24 at the Kennedy Center. . . . The new-music ensemble Rêlache performs on Jan. 27 at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. . . . Ryan Brown conducts Opera Lafayette in a rare revival of Pierre Alexandre Monsigny’s “Le Déserteur” (1769), Jan. 29 at the Kennedy Center.

* Star turns: Norwegian virtuoso Leif Ove Andsnes takes on Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 with the National Symphony, Jan. 15-17 at the Kennedy Center. . . . Radu Lupu, the celebrated Romanian pianist, plays Beethoven and Schubert, Jan. 20 at the UVa. . . . Conductor-composer André Previn anticipates his 80th birthday (coming in April) with his ex-wife, violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter, and the National Symphony, Jan. 31 at the Kennedy Center.

* Bargain of the month: The Richmond Symphony, University of Richmond Schola Cantorum and James River Singers in "Music in Times of Civil Unrest," Jan. 30 at the Modlin Center. (Free; tickets required)

* My picks: JoAnn Falletta conducting the Virginia Symphony in “The Ring Without Words,” Lorin Maazel’s arrangement of highlights from Wagner’s “Ring” cycle, Jan. 9-11 at various Tidewater venues. . . . The Richmond Symphony’s “Sinfonia del Fuego,” featuring bandoneon player Raul Jaurena, violinist Karen Johnson and the Latin Ballet of Virginia, Jan. 10 at the Landmark Theater. . . . James Wilson’s all-Bach recital, Jan. 13 at First Unitarian Church. . . . Radu Lupu’s Beethoven-Schubert recital, Jan. 20 at UVa.


Jan. 3 (8 p.m.)
Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Washington
Strauss Symphony Orchestra of America
Sascha Göetzel conducting
Ingeborg Schöpf, soprano
Michael Baba, tenor
Company members from Budapest Ballet & International Champion Ballroom Dancers
“Salute to Vienna: America’s New Year’s Concert,” works by Strauss family
$39-$100
(800) 444-1324
http://www.kennedy-center.org/

Jan. 8 (7 p.m.)
Jan. 9 (8 p.m.)
Jan. 10 (8 p.m.)
Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Washington
National Symphony Orchestra
Philippe Jordan conducting
Prokofiev: Symphony No. 1 (“Classical”)
Schumann: Cello Concerto
Lynn Harrell, cello
Beethoven: Symphony No. 4
$20-$80
(800) 444-1324
http://www.kennedy-center.org/

Jan. 9 (8 p.m.)
Ferguson Arts Center, Christopher Newport University, Newport News
Jan. 10 (8 p.m.)
Chrysler Hall, 201 E. Bremelton Ave., Norfolk
Jan. 11 (2:30 p.m.)
Sandler Arts Center, 201 S. Market St., Virginia Beach
Virginia Symphony
JoAnn Falletta conducting
Wagner-Maazel: “The Ring Without Words”
$23-$83
(757) 892-6366
http://www.virginiasymphony.org/

Jan. 10 (8 p.m.)
Landmark Theater, Main and Laurel streets, Richmond
Richmond Symphony Pops
Marc Taddei conducting
Raul Jaurena, bandoneon
Karen Johnson, violin
Latin Ballet of Virginia
Ana Ines King directing
“Sinfonia del Fuego,” jazz, tango and classical program
$35-$60
(804) 788-1212
http://www.richmondsymphony.com/

Jan. 11 (4 p.m.)
Bon Air Presbyterian Church, 9201 W. Huguenot Road, Richmond
Second Sunday South of the James:
Ben Houghton, piano
Works by Haydn, Debussy, Gershwin, Prokofiev, others
Donation requested
(804) 272-9541

Jan. 13 (7:30 p.m.)
First Unitarian Church, 1000 Blanton Ave. at the Carillon, Richmond
Chamber Music Society of Central Virginia:
James Wilson, cello
Bach: Suite No. 3 in C major, BWV 1009
Bach: Suite No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008
Bach: Suite No. 6 in D major, BWV 1012
$25
(804) 519-2098
http://www.cmscva.org/

Jan. 15 (7 p.m.)
Jan. 16 (8 p.m.)
Jan. 17 (8 p.m.)
Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Washington
National Symphony Orchestra
Ilan Volkov conducting
Stravinsky: “Jeu de cartes”
George Crumb: “A Haunted Landscape”
Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 3
Leif Ove Andsnes, piano
$20-$80
(800) 444-1324
http://www.kennedy-center.org/

Jan. 16 (8 p.m.)
Second Baptist Church, River and Gaskins roads, Richmond
Jan. 17 (8 p.m.)
First Baptist Church, Boulevard at Monument Avenue, Richmond
Jan. 19 (8 p.m.)
St. Michael Catholic Church, 4491 Springfield Road, Glen Allen
Richmond Symphony
Marc Taddei conducting
Richard Strauss: “Four Last Songs”
Melissa Citro, soprano
Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 2
$20-$50
(804) 788-1212
http://www.richmondsymphony.com/

Jan. 16 (8 p.m.)
The Barns at Wolf Trap, The Barns at Wolf Trap, 1645 Trap Road, Vienna
Keith Phares, baritone
Patricia Risley, mezzo-soprano
Kim Pensinger Witman, piano
Program TBA
$35
(877) 965-3872
http://www.wolftrap.org/

Jan. 17 (8 p.m.)
Center for the Arts, George Mason University, Fairfax
Fairfax Symphony
Daniel Meyer conducting
Bernstein: “Three Dance Episodes” from “On the Town”
Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor
Jennifer Frautschi, violin
Brahms: Symphony No. 1
$25-$55
(888) 945-2468 (Tickets.com)
http://www.fairfaxsymphony.org/

Jan. 18 (2 p.m.)
Terrace Theater, Kennedy Center, Washington
Kennedy Center Chamber Players
Dvořák: Terzetto in C major
Britten: “Phantasy” Quartet for oboe, violin, viola and cello
Brahms: String Sextet No. 2, Op. 36
$35
(800) 444-1324
http://www.kennedy-center.org/

Jan. 19 (7:30 p.m.)
Grace and Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 8 N. Laurel St., Richmond
Greater Richmond Children's Choir
Grace and Holy Trinity Adult Choir
Riverview Baptist Sanctuary Choir
"A Celebration of Unity Concert," sacred and secular songs honoring Martin Luther King Jr.
Donation requested
(804) 359-5628
http://www.grcchoir.org/

Jan. 19 (8 p.m.)
Roanoke Performing Arts Theatre, Orange Avenue at Williamson Road
Roanoke Symphony
David Stewart Wiley conducting
Billy Joel: Elegy
Britten: “Four Sea Interludes” from “Peter Grimes”
Handel: Hornpipe from “Water Music”
Rachmaninoff: Vocalise
Smetana: “The Moldau” from “Ma Vlast”
Debussy: “La Mer”
$19-$39
(540) 343-9127
http://www.rso.com/

Jan. 20 (8 p.m.)
Old Cabell Hall, University of Virginia, Charlottesville
Tuesday Evening Concerts:
Radu Lupu, piano
Beethoven: Sonata No. 9 in E Major , Op. 14, No. 1
Beethoven: Sonata No. 10 in G Major, Op. 14, No. 2
Beethoven: Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13 (“Pathétique”)
Schubert: Sonata in B flat major, D.960
$12-$28 (waiting list)
(434) 924-3984
http://tecs.org/

Jan. 22 (6:30 p.m.)
Jan. 25 (4 p.m.)
The National, Seventh and Broad streets, Richmond
Richmond Symphony
Richmond Symphony Chorus
Erin Freeman conducting
Richmond Shakespeare actors
“Music for Poe,” program marking bicentennial of Edgar Allan Poe’s birth
Trad.: Dies irae (Gregorian chant)
David Baker: "Fantasy on Themes from 'The Masque of the Red Death' "
Verdi: Introduction and "Witches' Chorus" from "Macbeth"
Gesualdo: "Morro Lasso"
Mozart: Dies irae from Requiem
Fauré: Pavane
Robert Wendel: "The Pit and the Pendulum"
Grieg: "In the Hall of the Mountain King" from "Peer Gynt"
Gounod: "Funeral March of a Marionette"
Saint-Saëns: "Danse macabre"
$10-$17
(804) 788-1212
http://www.richmondsymphony.com/

Jan. 22 (7 p.m.)
Jan. 23 (8 p.m.)
Jan. 24 (8 p.m.)
Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Washington
National Symphony Orchestra
Emmanuel Krivine conducting
Pascal Dusapin: “Apex”
Ravel: Piano Concerto in G major
Yundi Li, piano
Berlioz: “Symphonie fantastique”
$20-$80
(800) 444-1324
http://www.kennedy-center.org/

Jan. 24 (2 p.m.)
Terrace Theater, Kennedy Center, Washington
Yevgeny Sudbin, piano
Haydn: Sonata in B minor Hob XVI:32
Haydn: Sonata in C Major, Hob.XVl/50
Medtner: “Two Fairy Tales,” Op. 20, No. 1; Op. 51, No. 3
Chopin: Mazurka No. 2 in D Major, Op. 33
Chopin: Mazurka No. 4 in B minor, Op. 33
Ravel: “Gaspard de la Nuit”
$38
(202) 785-9727 (Washington Performing Arts Society)
http://www.wpas.org/

Jan. 25 (4 p.m.)
Vlahcevic Concert Hall, Singleton Arts Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Park Avenue at Harrison Street, Richmond
VCU Guitar Series:
Sam Dorsey, classical guitar
Program TBA
$10
(804) 828-6776
www.vcu.edu/arts/music/dept/events/index.html

Jan. 25 (3:30 p.m.)
Old Cabell Hall, University of Virginia, Charlottesville
Chamber Orchestra of Charlottesville
Kate Tamarkin conducting
Wagner: “Siegfried Idyll”
Vivaldi: Concerto for Oboe, RV 447
Aaron Hill, oboe
George Walker: “Lyric for Strings”
Mozart: Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K.550
$10-$35
(434) 924-3984
http://www.cvillesymphony.org/

Jan. 25 (7:30 p.m.)
Terrace Theater, Kennedy Center, Washington
Augustin Hadelich, violin
Rohan De Silva, piano
Beethoven: Sonata No. 8 in G major, Op. 30, No. 3
Bartók: Sonata for Solo Violin, Sz 117, BB 124
Prokofiev: Sonata No. 2 in D major, Op. 94a
Sarasate: “Carmen Fantasy”
$38
(800) 444-1324
http://www.kennedy-center.org/

Jan. 27 (8 p.m.)
Old Cabell Hall, University of Virginia, Charlottesville
Rêlache
Program TBA
Free
(434) 924-3984
http://artsandsciences.virginia.edu/music/performance/events/index.html

Jan. 28 (7:30 p.m.)
American Theatre, 125 E. Mellen St., Hampton
Spanish Brass
Program TBA
$25-$30
(757) 722-2787
http://hamptonarts.net/american_theatre/onsalenow.php

Jan. 29 (7:30 p.m.)
Terrace Theater, Kennedy Center, Washington
Opera Lafayette
Ryan Brown conducting
Pierre Alexandre Monsigny: “Le Déserteur”
Dominique Labelle (Louise)
William Sharp (Alexis)
John Lescault, actor
Catherine Turocy, stage director
in French and English
$60
(800) 444-1324
http://www.kennedy-center.org/

Jan. 30 (7:30 p.m.)
Camp Concert Hall, Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond
Richmond Symphony
Erin Freeman conducting
UR Schola Cantorum
Jeffrey Riehl directing
James River Singers
Christopher Lindbloom directing
“Music in Times of Civil Unrest”
Verdi: “Un ballo in maschera” (Prelude, Act 2)
Curulli (arr.): “Ashokan Farewell”
Shostakovich: Chamber Symphony, Op. 110a (second and third movements)
Barber: Adagio
Virgil Thomson: Fugue and Chorale on “Yankee Doodle” (1944)
Schoenberg: “Friede Auf Erden”
Haydn: “Mass in Time of War” (Agnus Dei and Dona Nobis Pacem)
Free; tickets required
(804) 289-8980
http://www.modlin.richmond.edu/

Jan. 30 (8 p.m.)
Harrison Opera House, 160 W. Virginia Beach Boulevard, Norfolk
Virginia Opera
Peter Mark conducting
Puccini: “Tosca”
Mary Elizabeth Williams (Tosca)
Michael Hayes (Cavaradossi)
Stephen Kechulius (Scarpia)
Marc Astafan, stage direction
in Italian, English captions
(866) 673-7282
http://www.vaopera.org/

Jan. 31 (8 p.m.)
Vlahcevic Concert Hall, Singleton Arts Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Park Avenue at Harrison Street, Richmond
Rennolds Chamber Concerts:
Rachel Barton Pine, violin
Matthew Hagle, piano
Program TBA
$32
Pine conducts free string master class, 4 p.m. Jan. 30 at Singleton Center
(804) 828-6776
www.vcu.edu/arts/music/dept/events/index.html

Jan. 31 (7:30 p.m.)
Camp Concert Hall, Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond
Roby Lakatos Ensemble
Classical, jazz, gypsy music
$32
(804) 289-8980
http://www.modlin.richmond.edu/

Jan. 31 (7:30 p.m.)
Terrace Theater, Kennedy Center, Washington
Vocal Arts Society:
Sarah Coburn, soprano
Lawrence Brownlee, tenor
Martin Katz, piano
Program TBA
$55
(800) 444-1324
http://www.kennedy-center.org/

Jan. 31 (8 p.m.)
Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Washington
National Symphony Orchestra
André Previn conducting
Haydn: Symphony No. 104 (“London”)
Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 3
Anne-Sophie Mutter, violin
Previn: Double Concerto for violin, contrabass and orchestra
Anne-Sophie Mutter, violin
Roman Patkolo, double-bass
Richard Strauss: “Der Rosenkavalier” Suite
$20-$85
(800) 444-1324
http://www.kennedy-center.org/