upcoming concerts

Concert Roundup: Wednesday Edition

For some reason I keep thinking it’s Thursday; I almost posted a viola joke. Wishful thinking, I guess.

• The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra breaks out the BSO Pops with “Music of the Baby Boomers.” So I’m not the target audience. Apparently Frankie Valli is happening; you mean it’s not spelled “Valley”? Live and learn, I guess. May 17 at Strathmore; May 18 – 20 at the Meyerhoff. [ See it! ]
• The National Symphony Orchestra counters with a very classical program: a Haydn symphony, a Weill symphony, and the Brahms second piano concerto as performed by Nelson Freire. May 17 – 19. [ See it! ]
• This week at Strathmore, we offer two counts of Debussy, a brass ensemble, and a talented soprano. [ See the calendar! ]

Whose opinion is more valued than mine?

RHETORICAL QUESTION. But as a loyal reader, you totally want to know all about my picks from the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s upcoming season, right? Especially since I, personally, found that you have to wade through an unexciting beginning. Don’t be put off – there’s a gold streak running all the way from January to June!

• Alexander Nevsky (January 11 – 13) – Um, full Prokofiev score live, set to the film? Yes please.
• Hairspray (January 24 – 27) GOOD MORNING BALTIMORE! A concert opera version narrated by – wait for it – none other than John Waters himself.
• Pictures at an Exhibition (January 31 – February 2) – I said PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION. Why aren’t you buying your tickets right now?
• Mozart’s Requiem (February 28; March 2 & 3) – Everyone knows I’m not Mozart’s greatest fan, but no one can deny theRequiem.
• Mahler’s Titan (March 7 – 9) – Oh, Mahler, I love your “Titan” so. Nothing can take that away from us.
• Saint-Saen’s Thundering Organ Symphony (March 14 & 17) – A friend recently informed me that this was the theme from Babe. My understanding of pop culture is weak; my love for this piece is strong.
• Wagner: A Composer Fit for a King (April 19 & 20) – Neuschwannstein! Mad King Ludwig! Obsession! Insanity! Fun!
• Time for Three (May 2 & 4) – I saw them premiere Jennifer Higdon’s Concerto Four-Three, and it was awesome. Let’s do it again.
• Romeo and Juliet (May 23 – 25) – PROKOFIEV version. Tchaikovsky, Berlioz, I’m terribly sorry, but you’re going to have to clear out.
• West Side Story (June 13 – 16) – Um, full Bernstein score live, set to the film? Yes please.

So those are my picks. Check out the concert calendar – anything striking your fancy?

A Concert Roundup Carol

Looking for some respite from the relentless holiday cheer? Well, you’re not getting any. Suck it up, Mr. Scrooge.

• Speaking of Mr. Scrooge, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra premiers a musical version of A Christmas Carol this week, from the composer of the ever-popular Too Hot to Handel Bob Christianson, whom I believe will be there. The Baltimore City College Choir joins a handful of soloists in all your favorite roles, from Tiny Tim to an assortment of chronology-obsessed ghosts. December 16 & 17 at the Meyerhoff. Oh, and there’s a party afterward. [ See it! ] [ Party time! ]
• Miss the BSO’s Messiah last week? No problem — this week the National Symphony Orchestra tackles Handel’s Christmas oratorio. This one has different people — like the University of Maryland Concert Choir — and is in D.C. instead of Baltimore, but I’m pretty sure the basic principle is the same. [ See it! ]

It’s a Wonderful Concert Roundup

‘Tis the season for classical Christmas holiday music! Oh, don’t grimace at me like that. Sure, you can rail against commercialism and grumble about the true meaning being lost and what have you — have fun with that. I’ll be over here, clapping my hands and declaring “CHRISTMAS TIME! SQUEEEEEE!” And I ask you — who will be having a better time?

Answer: I will. Wish to join me in my Yuletide joy? Well, one solution is to watch A Charlie Brown Christmas on repeat until you are healed. You could also try one of these concerts:

• The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra believes that tap-dancing Santas are not enough anymore. They want to show you that people can fly, and what’s more, they can fly to a holiday soundtrack. It’s a holiday-themed Cirque de la Symphonie, with jugglers and contortionists and aerial artists and the whole nine yards of tinsel. Kids’ tickets are cheaper! December 7 through 11; some days also offer matinee performances. [ See it! ]
• The National Symphony Orchestra is busting out the Pops moniker for this one, and also the denizens of what my Toronto friend likes to call the Soviet Republic of Khanuckistan. The Canadian Tenors star in a concert entitled “The Perfect Gift,” featuring “your favorite Christmas and holiday tunes.” Which is all well and good, as long as they sing the correct lyrics to my beloved “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” None of this “hanging a shining star” crap. December 8 – 11. [ See it! ]

Concert Roundup 2: This Time It’s Not Concert Roundup 1

This title brought to you by Dangeresque. So you’re gonna have to jump.

Which should totally get you in the mood for this week’s concerts:

• This week at the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra we have everyone’s favorite oratorio, Handel‘s Messiah! As if you would ever not desperately want to go to that. Please. Edward Polochick not only conducts, but also plays the harpsichord, and the solo singers are accompanied by the Concert Artists of Baltimore Symphonic Chorale. For unto us a child is born! December 2 & 3 at the Meyerhoff. [ See it! ]
• Or, if you’d rather spend your Saturday morning straight chillin’ with your inner child, the BSO is also offering a children’s concert featuring Rheda Becker narrating Cinderella to Prokofiev‘s ballet score. Helping her out will be Bob Brown Puppets. Yes. Puppets. But not the scary kind. I don’t think. The look perfectly harmless in the picture and none of them are clowns, so you should be okay. [ See it! ]
• Over at the National Symphony Orchestra, they have Midori. ‘Nuff said. Wait, you want more said? Well, she’s playing a Britten violin concerto, plus there will be a new Golijov piece and the first Shostakovich symphony. Christoph Eschenbach conducts. Hey, NSO, you don’t want to send me some tickets, do you? I think you should. December 1 through 3. [ See it! ]
• “Are you ready for something new?” asks @TerpsMusic. I am. I am ready. And for free, no less! The University of Maryland music program is presenting a concert of original works by UMD students. Just think — someday you might be able to say you heard them when! Tonight, November 30. [ See it! ]

2 Concert 2 Roundup

See, this is why you are loyal to Countess Classical Music — she never abandons you. And neither will I — holiday weekend or no, you shall have your Viola Joke Thursday and LOL Friday as usual. And concerts to attend!

• At the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra this week… well, the BSO doesn’t actually play. But a dude named Michael Feinstein will sing Frank Sinatra tunes at the Meyerhoff in their place. Okay, so I guess the Countess did, technically, abandon you here, but as I’m sure you’re aware Sinatra could really sing, so if they’re letting this Feinstein character approximate him, he must be good. I hope he does the “Susie” song from Anchors Aweigh. November 25 through 27. [ See it! ]
• Meanwhile, over at the National Symphony Orchestra, it’s… a tribute to Nat King Cole. Forget what I said about the Countess. But at least the NSO Pops actually play in this one, while guitarist and vocalist George Benson tackles the main Nat King Cole bit. Randy Waldman and Steven Reineke conduct. November 25 & 26. [ See it! ]

Concert Roundup and the Sundance Kid

Good morning, collective sunshine! It’s… well, it’s rainy and uniformly gray over here. And it’s supposed to be cold over the weekend, which is why you’ll want to forgo any sort of outdoor activity and stay within the safe confines of the concert hall. Take your pick:

• This week the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra puts on quite a production with an old school-style oratorio by Arthur Honnegar — Joan of Arc. Marin Alsop is at the podium for this vocal and orchestral production, with Caroline Dhavernas in the title role. It promises to be quite a spectacle. November 17 & 18 at the Meyerhoff. [ See it! ]
• Over at the National Symphony Orchestra, conductor Christoph Eschenbach has put together a program featuring Leonidas Kavakos playing the famous Brahms violin concerto and, more importantly, Beethoven‘s sixth symphony, the “Pastoral.” I practically cut my classical teeth on the “Pastoral;” great stuff. November 17 – 19. [ See it! ]
• Although this alternative NSO family concert aimed at kids sounds so interesting that I really wish I were a small child again (this, admittedly, is not the only reason). NSO musician Glenn Donnellan made an electric violin out of a Louisville Slugger. How cool is that? So cool that he’s going to play Van Halen on it. Well, also Vivaldi and what have you. November 19. [ See it! ]

Not Without My Concert Roundup

But first! A personal plea.

The nonprofit arm of my ballet studio, Performing Arts Repertory Company, is in a DC-area fundraising competition. For November 9 only, Give To The Max will track how much money is donated to PARC, as well as how many individuals donate. Depending on our ranking in both categories, we could win additional funds, which would go toward dance scholarships, workshops, and education and outreach programs, among other things. A noble cause — so you want to help, right? Donate now, before you forget — it’s tax-deductible!

I give you this concert recap in thanks for your donation. If you didn’t donate, I hope you feel really guilty right now.

• The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra likes to be in America — this week’s concert features Copland‘s Appalachian Spring, in addition to Old American Songs. A solid work, one people will come out for, except in this case what I’m sure they’re actually coming for is Gershwin‘s An American in Paris overture. Edward Collins‘ Tragic overture is also in the mix. Marin Alsop to conduct, William Sharp to baritonate; November 10 & 13 at the Meyerhoff.  [See it!]
• This week at the National Symphony Orchestra it’s The Return of Leonard Slatkin! On the conductor’s docket: Clyne, a Rachmaninoff symphony, and a Saint-Saen cello concerto performed by Gautier Capucon. November 10-12. [See it!]

Updated to add: Got this from Benevolent Dictator Jamie:

Emerson String Quartet
Baird Auditorium
Natural History Museum
November 19 at 6 PM

This concert offers an exclusive opportunity to hear the quartet
perform in an intimate setting with excellent acoustics.

Metro Stop: Federal Triangle
Walk south on 12th Street, and cross Constitution Avenue to the Natural History
Museum on the left. (NOT on the National Mall side.)

Ticket prices for students: $10*
Rush tickets are available for purchase starting at
5:30 p.m. on November 19th at the door.
*Valid student ID required when purchasing and redeeming tickets.  Two tickets per student ID, per concert.  No refunds or exchanges available.  Subject to availability.

We interrupt your regularly scheduled program…

Don’t worry; you’ll get your viola joke later today. I just wanted to put this up first to make sure I didn’t forget.

Remember Benevolent Dictator Jamie, my benevolent dictator while I was interning at the BSO? Well, she’s working for the Smithsonian now, and the other day she sent me some awesome news to share with you: not only does the Smithsonian feature some awesome classical concerts inside the museums, but there is now a student program that nets you tickets for $10. Just wave your student ID around and you’re good to go.

This weekend you can choose between the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra at the Natural History Museum and the Axelrod String Quartet at the Museum of American History. If you don’t live near D.C. maybe you should take a moment to reflect, ponder why not, and move. Learn more and see it!

Concert Roundup: The Reckoning

Hey, guess which blog has its second anniversary tomorrow? No, no, you have to guess.

While you’re thinking, here are this week’s concerts:

• The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is trying to fake me out by titling this week’s offering “Rachmaninoff’s Third,” but I’m way too sharp for that. Rather than dismiss it at face value, I ripped off the mask and said “AHA! It’s Rimsky-Korsakov‘s Capriccio Espagnol under there!” And, admittedly, Rachmaninoff‘s third symphony. And the first Liszt piano concerto. But everyone knows I have a soft enough spot for Capriccio Espagnol to carry me through. Vasily Petrenko conducts, Barry Douglas pianates, and you can find it October 28 and 30 at the Meyerhoff, October 29 at Strathmore. See it!
• The National Symphony Orchestra counters with a different handful of the Mighty Handful and offers up Mussourgsky‘s Pictures at an Exhibition. Talk about carrying you through. If you’re not already convinced, the Exhibition is augmented with a Grieg piano concerto and a Berlioz overture. Solid. Lorin Maazel conducts, Simon Trpčeski pianates, and you can find it October 27-29 at the Kennedy Center concert hall. See it!
• Update to add: @TerpsMusic tells me that there’s a concert at The University of Maryland on October 28 featuring Jonathan Richards, winner of the 2010 UMSO Concerto Competition. He’ll play Shostakovich‘s first violin concerto; the program also includes some Tchaikovsky, Ravel, and Takemitsu. See it!