WASHINGTON PERFORMING ARTS 2018/19 SEASON
WELCOME TO YOUR 2018/19 SEASON! “I think we musicians are emissaries. Every time we go before the public, we’re there to make converts.” – Hazel Scott These words, from one of the 20th century’s most exuberant, talented forces of nature, ring true to me. Artists thrive on the potential for their work to connect, ground, and inspire others. And, more than any time in my memory, many of us are seeking much the same: authentic, unmediated connection. Likely, this is why Yo-Yo Ma thought that the Washington National Cathedral would be the perfect place to perform Bach’s elegant, meditative cello suites this fall: a sacred, welcoming space. Our 52nd season is filled with moments of fun and reflection alike from familiar and yet-to-be-discovered artists. Many with whom we have enduring relationships return to us in new collaborations or projects (Cécile McLorin Salvant with the Monterey Jazz Festival, Carlos Henriquez’s Dizzy Gillespie tribute), and some appear more than once (Evgeny Kissin, Steven Isserlis, Jeremy Denk). Others we’ve long admired and are presenting for the first time (Lara Downes with Rhiannon Giddens, Dr. Lonnie Smith). “Local” features prominently as well, including our Mars Urban Arts Initiative resident artists, Ve Ve & tha Rebels and DuPont Brass. The season is bookended by virtuoso accordionist Hanzhi Wang in October and our resident choirs, the Men, Women, and Children of the Gospel, in June. Off-stage, through our partnership with the D.C. Public Schools, thousands of students will have hands-on experience with keyboard, string, and band instruments (Capital Arts Partnership, D.C. Keys) and will work with diplomats from over 80 countries (Embassy Adoption Program). And through our Gateway Student Ticket Program, low-priced concert tickets (available when single tickets go on sale this fall) will help launch the next generation of concert-goers.
QUICK START Subscription Plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 “Friends” donor program (Enjoy seating priority & more!) . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Season Themes & Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Season Listings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Venue information . . . . . . . . . Inside Back Cover Season Calendar . . . . . . . . Fold-Out Back Cover
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Importantly this season, the motif of “Home” has a strong, gravitational pull for us and for several of our artists—not only through the lens of cultural identity, but also against a backdrop of vulnerability that so many have experienced here and abroad. Dreamer, a co-commissioned oratorio by Jimmy López and Nilo Cruz, captures the plight of a young immigrant; Kronos Quartet’s Music for Change: The Banned Countries features music by artists from Muslim-majority nations; Yevgeny Kutik’s Music from the Suitcase includes music that his family carried when they fled the Soviet Union; and the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra is a living model of co-existence and partnership among Arabs and Israelis. As you’ll see on pages 4-5, we’ve balanced this variety with an ever greater focus on enabling you, our subscribers, to choose just what you want to see. I encourage you to explore widely, savoring the opportunity to select favorites alongside taking a chance on something new that intrigues you. Thank you, as always, for your ongoing support—I’ll look forward to seeing you soon! Warmly,
Jenny Bilfield, President & CEO
CONTENTS BENEFITS OF SUBSCRIBING AND DONATING . . . . . . . . . 4 2018/19 SEASON THEMES AND HIGHLIGHTS . . . . . . . . . 6 OCTOBER Hanzhi Wang, accordion (Oct 11) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Yekwon Sunwoo, piano (Oct 24) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Hilary Hahn, violin (Oct 26) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Vusi Mahlasela (Oct 27) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Czech Philharmonic (Oct 29) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 NOVEMBER West-Eastern Divan Orchestra (Nov 7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Meyer, Hussain & Fleck (Nov 10) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Danish String Quartet (Nov 12) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Gil Shaham, violin & Akira Eguchi, piano (Nov 15) . . . . 13 Yo-Yo Ma, cello (Nov 29) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 DECEMBER Simone Dinnerstein, piano (Dec 6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 JANUARY Jeremy Denk, piano (Jan 29) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 FEBRUARY Leon Fleisher 90th Birthday Celebration (Feb 9) . . . . . . 16 Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (Feb 13) . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Living the Dream…Singing the Dream (Feb 17) . . . . . . 17 Lara Downes & Rhiannon Giddens (Feb 23) . . . . . . . . . 17 MARCH Kronos Quartet (Mar 2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Sir András Schiff, piano (Mar 5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Steven Isserlis, cello (Mar 6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Master Class: Sir James Galway (Mar 14) . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Dr. Lonnie Smith Trio (Mar 16) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Simulcast: Dreamer with the Philharmonia Orchestra (Mar 17) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Cécile McLorin Salvant (Mar 21) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Anoushka Shankar (Mar 23) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 San Francisco Symphony (Mar 23) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Christina & Michelle Naughton, pianos (Mar 24) . . . . . . 22 APRIL On the Air: A Glenn Miller Swing Celebration (Apr 2) . . . 23 Chucho Valdés (Apr 6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Dreamers’ Circus (Apr 10) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Dénes Várjon, piano (Apr 13) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Yevgeny Kutik, violin (Apr 23) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 VeVe & tha Rebels with DuPont Brass (Apr 27) . . . . . . . . 26 Itzhak Perlman, violin & Evgeny Kissin, piano (Apr 28) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 MAY Bell, Isserlis & Denk (May 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Philharmonix (May 4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Weilerstein, Barnatan, Khachatryan & Currie (May 9) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Evgeny Kissin, piano (May 21) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 JUNE Carlos Henriquez Octet (Jun 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Washington Performing Arts Gospel Choirs (Jun 7) . . . . 31 Education & Community Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Mars Urban Arts Initiative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 2018/19 Season Venues . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Back Cover Fold-Out Season Calendar . . . . . . . . Fold-Out Back Cover All programs and artists subject to change
ON THE COVER: This colorful treatment of our logo is a mixed-media installation that resides in our office’s reception area—literally the first thing you see when you visit us. It was created by D.C.-based artist Ron Mayhew of SUI Creative, pictured here in our entryway with another of his creations, a painting inspired by a photograph of our founder, Patrick Hayes (at left) and inaugural Board Chair Todd Duncan.
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SUBSCRIBE TODAY!
Great seats. The best prices. Unlimited options. NEW FOR 2018/19: In keeping with a more flexible and expansive approach to our programming, we’ve revised our subscription plans for the new season: • As always, a Custom Subscription Series is a great choice—you pick just the shows you want to attend. • Most of our traditional, single-venue Fixed Package Series have been retired—you’ll still find the same artistic breadth, but shared across multiple venues. • Our two longest-running Fixed Packages, the Orchestra Series and Hayes Series, continue as “Legacy Series” (see page 6).
Choose 1 of 2 formats 1) Custom Subscription Series The choice is yours! Select at least 3 performances—or 5 or more for greater savings—and receive these benefits: • • • •
Preferred Seating – Get the best available seats before tickets go on sale to the general public. Valuable Savings – Save up to 10%* when you choose three (3) or more concerts. Save up to 15% when you choose five (5) or more events. Exchange Privileges – Plans change? Exchange your tickets for another performance this season. (Some restrictions apply.) Advance Sale Days – Order additional single tickets before they go on sale to the public.
2) Legacy Subscription Series We continue to offer two single-venue series that are cornerstones of our programming and our legacy: the Orchestra Series at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall and our showcase of emerging artists, the Hayes Series at the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. Choose one or both of these pre-packaged series and enjoy these benefits: • • • •
Same seats for every performance in your series** Savings of up to 20%* off single ticket prices Option: Add on more performances at a 15% discount— the choice is yours Exchange Privileges and Advance Sales Days (same as under “Custom Series,” above)
Please note: At present, tickets to 2018/19 events are only available via subscription. Single tickets will go on sale in late summer (date TBA). * Some seating sections or performances are excluded from discounts. **Starting in 2018/19, Legacy Subscription Series discounts and guaranteed same seats are available for a limited time only. Your order must be received by May 7, 2018. Orders received after this date will be seated in the same seats as space permits.
Yo-Yo Ma (page 14)
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How to order: WashingtonPerformingArts.org (202) 785-9727
WANT HIGHER SEATING PRIORITY? BECOME A FRIEND. NEW FOR 2018/19: Subscribers will be seated by group within a series of multi-day advance sales periods in late April and early May (see website for dates). Within each period, seats will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis by date and time of order. Act early and become a Friend or renew your support to gain access to better seats for your events. For even better seating, increase your giving level for access to an earlier advance sales period.
How to become a Friend: Add a gift of $75+ to your subscription order today! $2,500+
Advance Sales Period‡ Savings Ticket Fees
Chairman’s Circle Member or Renewing Legacy Subscriber
$500-$2,499
Friends or Renewing 2017/18 Fixed Series Subscriber
$75-$499 Friends
Subscriber
(No Friend contribution)
Single Ticket Buyers
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
n/a
Up to 20%†
Up to 15%
Up to 15%
Up to 20%†
$0
$10 per order (waived for Chairman’s Circle)
$10 per order (waived for Friends)
$0 (fee waived for Friends)
$10 per order
14% of ticket order subtotal
x
x
x
First priority to purchase added concerts
x
Free ticket exchanges
x
‡ Orders received outside of seating window will be seated first-come, first-served by order date and time. † 20% discount applies to Legacy Series subscription series only
WHY BECOME A FRIEND? Friends enjoy amazing benefits and access throughout the season! Recent benefits have included: •
Behind-the-scenes events with mainstage artists
•
Listening parties with experts and enthusiasts
•
Free concert Guest Passes
•
and more!
Visit WashingtonPerformingArts.org/support for upto-date Friends benefits. Thank you for your support! Jazz vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant (page 21) greets Washington Performing Arts Friends at a private reception.
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2018/19 SEASON
Themes and Highlights
LEGACY SERIES ORCHESTRA SERIES Washington Performing Arts proudly presents an international array of orchestras—a cornerstone of each season’s programming—each performing works that speak to its identity and mission.
Czech Philharmonic (Oct 29) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 West-Eastern Divan Orchestra (Nov 7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (Feb 13) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 San Francisco Symphony (Mar 23) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
HAYES SERIES Established in 1966 in honor of Washington Performing Arts founder Patrick Hayes and his wife, Evelyn Swarthout Hayes, this series features recitals by some of the world’s finest emerging artists.
Daniele Gatti & Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (page 16)
Hanzhi Wang, accordion (Oct 11) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Yekwon Sunwoo, piano (Oct 24) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Christina & Michelle Naughton, pianos (Mar 24) . . . . . . . . 22 Dénes Várjon, piano (Apr 13) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
RECITALISTS IN CONCERT The 2018/19 season features chamber performances by a number of the world’s premier soloists.
Gil Shaham, violin & Akira Eguchi, piano (Nov 15) . . . . . . 13 Yo-Yo Ma, cello (Nov 29) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Simone Dinnerstein, piano (Dec 6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Jeremy Denk, piano (Jan 29) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Sir András Schiff, piano (Mar 5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Steven Isserlis, cello (Mar 6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Yevgeny Kutik, violin (Apr 23) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Itzhak Perlman, violin & Evgeny Kissin, piano (Apr 28) . . 26 Bell, Isserlis & Denk (May 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Weilerstein, Barnatan, Khachatryan & Currie (May 9) . . . 29 Evgeny Kissin, piano (May 21) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 6 | WashingtonPerformingArts.org
Hanzhi Wang (page 8)
JAZZ LUMINARIES The 2018/19 jazz roster boasts legends and rising stars alike, delving into a range of styles including bebop, post-bop, Latin jazz, and more.
Dr. Lonnie Smith Trio (Mar 16) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Cécile McLorin Salvant / Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour (Mar 21) . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Chucho Valdés (Apr 6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Carlos Henriquez Octet (Jun 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
HOME Dr. Lonnie Smith (page 19)
Drawing on deep personal experience and the issues of our time, a number of our artists delve into the meaning of “Home”—its central place in cultural history and identity, its political vulnerability, and its perennial role as emotional and spiritual touchstone.
The Voice of South Africa: Vusi Mahlasela (Oct 27) . . . . . . 10 West-Eastern Divan Orchestra (Nov 7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Kronos Quartet (Mar 2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Simulcast: Dreamer with the Philharmonia Orchestra (Mar 17) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Music from the Suitcase: Yevgeny Kutik, violin (Apr 23) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
SPECIAL EVENTS These shows reside in the “Can’t Miss It” zone—from oncein-a-lifetime pairings of artist and venue to “only in D.C.” celebrations.
Yo-Yo Ma plays Bach (Nov 29) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Vusi Mahlasela (page 10)
Leon Fleisher 90th Birthday Celebration (Feb 9) . . . . . . . . 16
Living the Dream…Singing the Dream (Feb 17) . . . . . . . . Master Class: Sir James Galway (Mar 14) . . . . . . . . . . . . . Simulcast: Dreamer with the Philharmonia Orchestra (Mar 17) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . On the Air: A Glenn Miller Swing Celebration (Apr 2) . . . . Washington Performing Arts Gospel Choirs (Jun 7) . . . . .
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THE WORLD IN OUR CITY Washington Performing Arts continues its commitment to cultural diplomacy through the arts via mainstage, education, and community events. Mainstage programs featured as part of the World in Our City initiative are found throughout this book with the globe icon above. Hilary Hahn (page 9)
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THE SEASON Opening Night: Hayes Series I
HANZHI WANG, accordion with special guests the Zorá Quartet
THU, OCT 11, 7:30pm KENNEDY CENTER TERRACE THEATER Prepare to have your expectations defied and your ears delighted by the sound, technique, texture, and repertoire of the accordion. Close your eyes while listening to Hanzhi Wang’s Bach, and you will mistake her accordion for a harpsichord. Or an organ. Or four musicians at once. Wang’s formidable mastery of her instrument and captivating stage presence are complemented by her creative programming, spanning transcriptions of Baroque music, delightful tangos, and contemporary works written for the instrument and for Wang herself. Her embrace of transcriptions of the keyboard repertoire— including works on this program by Bach, Mozart, and Moszkowski —make her an unconventional yet captivating choice to join the emerging pianists in this season’s Hayes Series. Program includes solo works by BACH, GUBAIDULINA, MOZART, LOHSE, and MOSZKOWSKI, and PIAZZOLLA tangos with the Zorá Quartet Co-presented with Young Concert Artists
Hayes Series II
YEKWON SUNWOO, piano WED, OCT 24, 7:30pm KENNEDY CENTER TERRACE THEATER “A genuine poetic sensibility, a way of making the music his own and telling you things about it you had not heard before” – Chicago Tribune Gold medalist of the 2017 Van Cliburn Piano Competition (which has been streamed by five million people and counting) and already a seasoned international performer at venues such as Wigmore Hall and Carnegie Hall, Yekwon Sunwoo expertly balances technical ferocity with deep lyricism. STRAUSS (arr. GRAINGER) - Ramble on the Last Love Duet from Der Rosenkavalier SCHUBERT - Four Impromptus, D. 935 BRAHMS - Sonata No. 3 in F minor, Op. 5
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Bach Sonatas and Partitas
HILARY HAHN, violin FRI, OCT 26, 7:30pm KENNEDY CENTER TERRACE THEATER At age 17, Hilary Hahn released her debut CD, Hilary Hahn Plays Bach, a recording of two partitas and one sonata hailed by critics at the time as “amazing” (New York Times) and “simply a magnificent performance” (Stereo Review). Now a three-time Grammy-winner, universally acknowledged as one of our era’s greatest violinists—and a longtime favorite of Washington Performing Arts audiences—Hahn returns to the music that launched her recording career in this performance of Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin by Johann Sebastian Bach. “Bach is, for me, the touchstone that keeps my playing honest,” Hahn once told St. Paul Sunday. “One can’t fake things in Bach, and if one gets all of them to work, the music sings in the most wonderful way.” BACH - Sonata No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001 BACH - Partita No. 1 in B minor, BWV 1002 BACH - Partita No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004 This performance is made possible through the generous support of Dr. Gary Mather and Ms. Christina Co Mather.
“As Bach’s lines wove together, her playing … deepened into something intense, adventurous, and affecting.” – New York Times
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The Voice of South Africa
VUSI MAHLASELA SAT, OCT 27, 8pm SIXTH & I
“A rare and mesmerizing musical mind [and] a voice that seems to have few limits” – Los Angeles Times A national treasure in his homeland of South Africa—where he is known simply and definitively as “The Voice”—Vusi Mahlasela was a powerful, rallying figure in the struggle against apartheid and continues to serve as a worldwide messenger of peace, dignity, and compassion. Anchored by Mahlasela’s soaring, plaintive vocals, and bolstered by a red-hot band, his concerts are occasions of infectious grooves and unbridled joy. In the words of Nobel Prize-winning South African novelist Nadine Gordimer: “Vusi sings as a bird does, in total response to being alive.”
Great Orchestras I
CZECH PHILHARMONIC
Semyon Bychkov, music director & chief conductor Alisa Weilerstein, cello
MON, OCT 29, 8pm KENNEDY CENTER CONCERT HALL “At a time when orchestras far and wide seem to be sounding more alike, the Czech Philharmonic bucks the trend.” – Washington Post The Czech Republic’s premier orchestra returns to D.C. for the first time under its new music director, Semyon Bychkov, for a signature program featuring Dvořák’s triumphant Seventh Symphony and a rarely heard work by the 20th-century composer Luboš Fišer. Alisa Weilerstein makes her first of two appearances for Washington Performing Arts this season with her “raptly passionate account” (Sunday Times) of the Dvořák Cello Concerto. LUBOŠ FIŠER - Double for Orchestra DVOŘÁK - Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104 DVOŘÁK - Symphony No. 7 in D minor, Op. 70 Alisa Weilerstein also appears this season with Inon Barnatan, Sergey Khachatryan, and Colin Currie. See page 29. One of 20 World in Our City events this season, this performance is made possible in part through the generous support of Dr. Gary Mather and Ms. Christina Co Mather. Washington Performing Arts orchestral performances in the 2018/19 season are made possible through the generous support of Betsy and Robert Feinberg.
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Weilerstein
Great Orchestras II
WEST-EASTERN DIVAN ORCHESTRA Daniel Barenboim, conductor Kian Soltani, cello
WED, NOV 7, 8PM KENNEDY CENTER CONCERT HALL As profiled on CBS’s 60 Minutes earlier this year “We aspire to total freedom and equality between Israelis and Palestinians, and it is on this basis that we come together to play music.” – Shared statement of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra Embodying the motto “Equal in Music,” the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra unites young Arab and Israeli musicians in the art of performance and the practice of dialogue, understanding, and collaboration. Founded in 1999 by the renowned Argentine-Israeli conductor/pianist Daniel Barenboim and the late, distinguished Palestinian scholar/author Edward Said, “the Divan” pairs its inspirational message with first-rate artistry—its Hommage à Boulez CD on Deutsche Grammophon was named one of the New York Times’ “25 Best Classical Music Recordings of 2017.” In the words of the Berliner Morgenpost, “Not only do they send a signal of international understanding. Artistically, they also offer an unforgettable evening.” The Divan makes its D.C. debut with cellist Kian Soltani, winner of the 2017 Leonard Bernstein Award, in the “role” of Strauss’s Don Quixote, with the beloved “Tchaik 5” balancing the program. STRAUSS - Don Quixote, Op. 35 TCHAIKOVSKY - Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64 Co-presented with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts This performance is made possible in part through the generous support of Morton and Norma Lee Funger, Dr. Gary Mather and Ms. Christina Co Mather, and Northern Trust. Washington Performing Arts orchestral performances in the 2018/19 season are made possible through the generous support of Betsy and Robert Feinberg.
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The Melody of Rhythm
EDGAR MEYER, bass ZAKIR HUSSAIN, tabla BÉLA FLECK, banjo SAT, NOV 10, 8pm LISNER AUDITORIUM Three traditions meet in one unforgettable experience. Hop on this genre-bending ride through the rhythm that binds the varied traditions of jazz, bluegrass, and traditional Indian music together. Individually known for their collaborative passions, these virtuosos combine forces to make music without borders based on their 2009 album, The Melody of Rhythm. As the Los Angeles Times wrote, “What left the biggest impression was how seamlessly the three principals’ seemingly disparate sound meshed.” This performance is made possible in part through the generous support of the Dan Cameron Family Foundation, Inc., and Gordon and Lisa Rush.
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Nordic Origins I
DANISH STRING QUARTET MON, NOV 12, 8pm SIXTH & I “[A]n exceptional quartet, whatever repertory they play” – New York Times Already well-known as masters of traditional classical repertoire—as a rapt Washington Performing Arts audience experienced in an unforgettable 2017 performance—the DSQ are passionately committed to sharing folk music from their home country, as heard on two highly popular albums of old Nordic melodies and dances, Wood Works and Last Leaf. In a program focused solely on this music, the Danes’ crystalline sound shines through on moving ballads, energetic jigs, and everything in between. This performance is made possible through the generous support of an anonymous donor.
The Virtuoso Violin
GIL SHAHAM, violin AKIRA EGUCHI, piano THU, NOV 15, 8pm THE MUSIC CENTER AT STRATHMORE “A virtuoso and a player of deeply intense sincerity…one of today’s preeminent violinists” – New York Times Shaham’s “go-for-broke passion” and his “silvery tone, spot-on intonation and meticulously molded phrasing” (Washington Post) are perfectly showcased in an eclectic program ranging from the drama and fireworks of Avner Dorman’s Nigunim to the matchless harmonic intricacy of Bach. As the Baltimore Sun wrote of Shaham’s Bach in recital: “It’s hardly news that Shaham is an impeccable violinist, one capable of bringing out the mechanics and the majesty of Bach in equal measure. Still, it was great to be startled all over again by the brilliance of his playing, the penetrating power of his interpretations.” KREISLER - Preludium and Allegro PROKOFIEV - 5 Melodies, Op. 35 FRANCK - Sonata in A Major for Violin and Piano BACH - Partita No. 3 in E Major for Solo Violin, BWV 1006 SAINT-SAËNS - Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso AVNER DORMAN - Nigunim
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In Memory of Isaac Stern
YO-YO MA, cello
The Complete Bach Suites THU, NOV 29, 8pm WASHINGTON NATIONAL CATHEDRAL “Bach’s music touches us. It reconnects us to our common humanity.” – Yo-Yo Ma Yo-Yo Ma comes to Washington Performing Arts at the National Cathedral as part of a two-year journey that will bring Bach’s complete solo cello suites to a limited number of locations on six continents. It is a journey motivated not only by the music’s significance in his life—it is among the very first he ever played—but also by Bach’s ability to speak universally. In Ma’s own words: “We live in a world of boundless possibility, but we also face daunting challenges, even to our very survival. I believe that during times of stress, confusion, and insecurity, we should share sources that offer comfort, purpose, and meaning. Bach does that.” Writing in the New Yorker last year, critic Alex Ross proclaimed Ma’s Hollywood Bowl performance of the Bach suites “the loveliest experience of my listening year,” adding, “It was as if music had stilled the world.” Also at this event, the Library of Congress will present a display of treasures and manuscripts relating to J.S. Bach and Yo-Yo Ma’s career. BACH – Suites for Unaccompanied Cello, BWV 1007-1012 This performance is made possible in part by the generous support of Dr. Gary Mather and Ms. Christina Co Mather; and the Linda and Isaac Stern Charitable Foundation.
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Gnossiennes
SIMONE DINNERSTEIN, piano THU, DEC 6, 7:30pm KENNEDY CENTER TERRACE THEATER “An astonishing richness of opulence, brilliance, muted hues, and quiet clarity” – Washington Post Taking Erik Satie’s atmospheric and mysterious compositional form—the “Gnossienne”—as inspiration and point of departure, the ever-inventive pianist Simone Dinnerstein presents a centuries-spanning program of works in which (in her own words) “each composition evokes an act of worship from a service that no one has ever attended.” COUPERIN - Les Barricades Mystérieuses SCHUMANN - Arabesque PHILIP GLASS - Mad Rush COUPERIN - Tic Toc Choc SATIE – Gnossienne No. 3 SCHUMANN - Kreisleriana Dinnerstein’s engagement with Washington Performing Arts includes a multi-day residency in the D.C. Public Schools under the auspices of our D.C. Keys education program.
Varied Variations
JEREMY DENK, piano TUE, JAN 29, 7:30pm KENNEDY CENTER TERRACE THEATER “One of his generation’s most eloquent and thoughtful interpreters” – New York Times Perhaps the New York Times said it best: “Mr. Denk, clearly, is a pianist you want to hear no matter what he performs, in whatever combination—both for his penetrating intellectual engagement with the music and for the generosity of his playing.” In this evening of music in the intimate Terrace Theater, the MacArthur “Genius Award” winner returns to explore a variety of variations before ending his program with Schumann’s beloved “Fantasy in C Major.” BEETHOVEN - Five Variations on “Rule Britannia” in D Major JOHN ADAMS - Pocket Variations BIZET - Variations chromatiques MENDELSSOHN - Variations sérieuses in D Minor, Op. 54 BEETHOVEN - An die ferne Geliebte, Op. 98 (trans. Liszt) SCHUMANN - Fantasy in C Major, Op. 17 Jeremy Denk also appears this season in recital with Joshua Bell and Steven Isserlis. See page 27. This performance is made possible in part through the generous support of Dr. Gary Mather and Ms. Christina Co Mather, and Gordon and Lisa Rush.
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LEON FLEISHER & FRIENDS A 90th Birthday Celebration
SAT, FEB 9, 7:30pm KENNEDY CENTER TERRACE THEATER Celebrating one of the most revered pianists and teachers of the last century Who doesn’t love a celebration? Join us as we fête esteemed pianist and pedagogue Leon Fleisher on the occasion of his 90th birthday, where he’ll perform solo and duo works, including pianists Katherine Jacobson and Fleisher’s protégé, Jonathan Biss. The evening includes some surprise guests—via video—who will share their birthday greetings with the master, and a Q&A with Washington Post chief classical music critic Anne Midgette, who co-authored Fleisher’s memoir, My Nine Lives. BACH - Capriccio “on the departure of a beloved brother,” BWV 992 LEON KIRCHNER - L.H. for Leon Fleisher, for piano left hand SCHUBERT - Fantasy in F minor, D. 940 LEON KIRCHNER - Interlude II RAVEL - La Valse DVOŘÁK - Selected Slavonic Dances This performance is made possible in part through the generous support of Susan S. Angell; Mary and Chris Mahle; and Anne and Burton Fishman.
Great Orchestras III
ROYAL CONCERTGEBOUW ORCHESTRA Daniele Gatti, music director Pierre-Laurent Aimard, piano
WED, FEB 13, 8PM KENNEDY CENTER CONCERT HALL “An orchestra of this caliber doesn’t come along every day.” – Washington Post Lauded as the “Number One Orchestra in the World” by Gramophone, the acclaimed Royal Concertgebouw returns to D.C. with a program evoking emperors and heroes. The “brilliant musician and an extraordinary visionary” (Wall Street Journal) Pierre-Laurent Aimard joins the orchestra for Beethoven’s show-stopping “Emperor” Concerto. Then Daniele Gatti makes the most of the orchestra’s “rich sound, especially its mellow, full-bodied string section” (New York Times) in Strauss’ famed heroic tone poem Ein Heldenleben, which was originally dedicated to the RCO. BEETHOVEN – Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat Major, Op. 73 “Emperor” STRAUSS - Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40 This performance is made possible in part through the generous support of Dr. Gary Mather and Ms. Christina Co Mather.
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Washington Performing Arts orchestral performances in the 2018/19 season are made possible through the generous support of Betsy and Robert Feinberg.
LIVING THE DREAM… SINGING THE DREAM
Washington Performing Arts Gospel Choirs Michele Fowlin & Theodore Thorpe III, artistic directors Stanley J. Thurston, artistic director emeritus Choral Arts Society of Washington Scott Tucker, artistic director
SUN, FEB 17, 7pm KENNEDY CENTER CONCERT HALL For more than 25 years, Washington Performing Arts’ Gospel Choirs have shared the inspirational gift of gospel music with audiences throughout the D.C. region and beyond. The choirs’ annual concert with the Choral Arts Chorus, honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., is a joyful celebration of the power of music, collaboration, and the human spirit. Co-presented with the Choral Arts Society of Washington Performances by the Children of the Gospel Choir are made possible through the generous support of Jacqueline Badger Mars and Mars, Incorporated.
Holes in the Sky
LARA DOWNES, piano
With special guest Rhiannon Giddens, singer and instrumentalist
SAT, FEB 23, 8pm SIXTH & I “I want real things— live people to take hold of —to see—and talk to—music that makes holes in the sky— I want to love as hard as I can.” – Georgia O’Keefe Inspired by Georgia O’Keefe’s words, the trailblazing, NPR chart-topping Lara Downes has channeled her prodigious creativity and “luscious, moody, and dreamy” (New York Times) sound into an intimate program of solo and ensemble works that pays tribute to women past and present who are composers and poets. Her special guest is multi-instrumentalist/composer/singer and MacArthur “Genius Award” winner Rhiannon Giddens, who, through her own work and her performances as a member of the Grammy-winning Carolina Chocolate Drops, embodies precisely the ethos Downes had in mind. Featuring music by FLORENCE PRICE, MARGARET BONDS, BILLIE HOLIDAY, NINA SIMONE, JOAN BAEZ, JONI MITCHELL, ABBEY LINCOLN, HAZEL SCOTT, AND MEREDITH MONK, with world premieres by SARAH KIRKLAND SNIDER, ELENA RUEHR, JULIA ADOLPHE, ANGELICA NEGRON, REENA ESMAIL, LAURA KARPMAN, and EVE BEGLARIAN. Co-commissioned by Washington Performing Arts. This performance is made possible through the generous support of the Susan B. Hepner Family and Great Jones Capital.
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Music for Change: The Banned Countries
KRONOS QUARTET SAT, MAR 2, 8pm SIXTH & I
“Kronos has led and continues to lead what surely must be the longest unending revolution by any ensemble ever in music history.” – Los Angeles Times In a potent and poignant artistic response to the 2017 Executive Orders limiting travel to the United States by people from largely Muslim-majority countries, the Grammy-winning Kronos Quartet performs works by composers from the original seven “banned countries”: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. The repertoire (TBA) will include signature Kronos works, new compositions from Kronos’ Fifty for the Future commissioning project (in which Washington Performing Arts is a partner), and more. On the inspiration for the project, Kronos founder, artistic director, and violinist David Harrington remarked, “Increasingly, I feel my role as an artist is to point in constructive musical and cultural directions as we attempt to help repair the torn fabric of our society.” This performance highlights year four of Kronos Quartet’s five-year residency with Washington Performing Arts. The residency involves participation in the Embassy Adoption Program, a partnership with D.C. Public Schools and part of the World in Our City initiative.
Bach, Bartók & Beyond
SIR ANDRÁS SCHIFF, piano TUE, MAR 5, 8pm THE MUSIC CENTER AT STRATHMORE “To attend an András Schiff recital is to enter a secular temple to music.” – Washington Post Legendary pianist Sir András Schiff returns to Washington Performing Arts for another musthear concert of the season. On the heels of his epic all-Schubert recital from 2017, Sir András offers an expansive program that juxtaposes solo works by J.S. Bach and Bartók, among others. J.S. BACH - Duets, Nos. 1-4, BWV 802-805 BARTÓK - Six Dances in Bulgarian Rhythm, Sz. 107 BARTÓK - Sonata, Sz. 80 JANÁČEK - In the Mists SCHUMANN - Davidsbündlertänze, Op. 6 This performance is made possible in part through the generous support of Betsy and Robert Feinberg; and Anne and Burton Fishman.
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Composers and Their Muses
STEVEN ISSERLIS, cello CONNIE SHIH, piano WED, MAR 6, 7:30pm KENNEDY CENTER TERRACE THEATER “Vivid drama, expressive phrasing and spontaneity…simply gorgeous” – Washington Post Acclaimed for unsurpassed musicianship, deep intellect, and personal warmth, British cellist Steven Isserlis features works by three significant male composers alongside the works of three less well-known, unfairly neglected women composers who influenced them. C. SCHUMANN (arr. ISSERLIS) - 3 Romances, Op. 22 R. SCHUMANN – Romances, Op. 94 VÍTEZSLAVA KAPRALOVA - Ritornelle BOHUSLAV MARTINŮ - Sonata No. 1 AUGUSTA HOLMÈS (arr. ISSERLIS) - Minstrel’s Chant FRANCK - Sonata Steven Isserlis also appears this season in recital with Joshua Bell and Jeremy Denk. See page 27.
MASTER CLASS: SIR JAMES GALWAY THU, MAR 14, 7:30pm KENNEDY CENTER TERRACE THEATER “Nonchalant virtuosity and sterling musicianship” – Chicago Tribune Sir James Galway is recognized the world over as a flute master, having sold over 30 million albums through his extensive international tours. A regular teacher at the Galway Flute Academy (alongside his wife, Lady Jeanne Galway), Sir James brings his teaching expertise to Washington Performing Arts’ 2018/19 season, sharing his distinguished knowledge with the next generation of flutists in a public master class. This performance is made possible through the generous support of Catherine and Douglas Wheeler.
B-3 Legend
DR. LONNIE SMITH TRIO SAT, MAR 16, 8pm SIXTH & I “He really seems to be up to something bigger than music, and older, and deeper. An hour and a quarter in his presence, and you start thinking about the nature of time, ancestors, the circulatory system.” – New York Times He’s arguably the greatest living legend of the Hammond B-3 organ and a newly minted NEA Jazz Master, but don’t expect any resting on laurels when Dr. Lonnie Smith takes the stage. As JazzTimes wrote of the good doctor’s new live album, All in My Mind, recorded in New York last summer, “With his prismatic swirls, dramatic gestures, tidal swells, and unforeseen detours, Smith delights in defining the young-at-heart aesthetic.” 202.785.9727 | 19
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Simulcast Performance:
DREAMER
Music by Jimmy López Libretto by Nilo Cruz Featuring
PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA
Esa-Pekka Salonen, principal conductor & artistic advisor Ana María Martínez, soprano Choir TBA
SUN, MAR 17, 6pm Venue TBA
López
East Coast Premiere, simulcast from Zellerbach Hall, at University of California, Berkeley From the sanctuary city of Berkeley, California, to the sanctuary city of our nation’s capital, the powerhouse creative team of Jimmy López and Nilo Cruz and a roster of all-star performers debut a courageous work of wrenching, immediate relevance. The oratorio centers on the story of a so-called Dreamer, whose legal status is in jeopardy because she and her parents arrived in America illegally. The Dreamer (a soprano) and Chorus narrate parallel stories throughout three distinct sections: the perils of crossing the border, the difficulty of assimilation, and the uncertainty of the future. The fictional story is based on true testimonies that Cuban-American Cruz and Peruvian-American López have collected from immigrants who have come to the U.S. in search of a better life. JIMMY LÓPEZ - Dreamer STRAVINSKY – The Firebird Dreamer was created with funding from a Hewlett 50 Arts Commission, commissioned by Cal Performances at the University of California, Berkeley, and co-commissioned by Washington Performing Arts and others. This simulcast is presented in Washington in partnership with GALA Hispanic Theatre.
This performance is made possible in part through the generous support of Tom Gallagher, in honor of Turnaround, Inc. Washington Performing Arts orchestral performances in the 2018/19 season are made possible through the generous support of Betsy and Robert Feinberg. *Tickets for this event will go on sale this fall (date TBD). This performance may not be applied toward a Custom Subscription Series.
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Cruz
EXPANDING THE CONVERSATION The premiere of Dreamer will be surrounded by several activities throughout the week, curated by the Mars Urban Arts Initiative in partnership with GALA Hispanic Theatre. Explore varied perspectives on this timely issue through performances and conversations with a range of artists, advocates, and policy-makers. Stay tuned:
www.washingtonperformingarts.org/dreamer
Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour Starring
CÉCILE McLORIN SALVANT THU, MAR 21, 8pm THE MUSIC CENTER AT STRATHMORE “You get a singer like this once in a generation or two.” – Wynton Marsalis on Cécile McLorin Salvant (as told to the New Yorker)
Now with a second “Best Jazz Vocal Album” Grammy to her credit—awarded this year for Dreams and Daggers— Washington Performing Arts audience favorite Cécile McLorin Salvant makes her triumphant return under the banner of the legendary Monterey Jazz Festival, fronting a quintet of rising stars: Melissa Aldana (tenor sax), Bria Skonberg (trumpet), Christian Sands (piano/music director), Yasushi Nakamura (bass), and Jamison Ross (drums). “Ms. Salvant has it all,” the New York Times marveled, “perfect pitch and enunciation, a playful sense of humor, a rich and varied tonal palette, a supple sense of swing, exquisite taste in songs and phrasing, and a deep connection to lyrics.” Co-presented with Strathmore
The Classical Sitar
ANOUSHKA SHANKAR SAT, MAR 23, 7pm & 9:30pm SIXTH & I A superstar of the sitar in an intimate, all-classical setting In a reprise of her packed-house performances in spring 2017, sitar virtuoso and cross-genre adventurer Anoushka Shankar returns to her roots in North Indian classical music in back-to-back concerts at Sixth & I. Reviewing Shankar’s 2015 all-classical disc, Home, London’s Songlines magazine praised “Shankar’s sublime playing,” adding, “There’s a tangible feeling of the warm evening air, scents and heightened emotions. It’s something to bask and revel in.”
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Great Orchestras IV
SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY Michael Tilson Thomas, music director Christian Tetzlaff, violin
SAT, MAR 23, 8pm KENNEDY CENTER CONCERT HALL “More than just an unforgettable night of music-making” – San Francisco Chronicle Michael Tilson Thomas makes his momentous final appearance in Washington, D.C., as music director of the San Francisco Symphony in a program featuring Beethoven’s “Eroica” Symphony and one of Thomas’ own compositions. German virtuoso Christian Tetzlaff, described as a “non-stop tour de force” (Independent), shines in Mozart’s Third Violin Concerto. MICHAEL TILSON THOMAS - Agnegram MOZART - Violin Concerto No. 3 in G Major, K. 216 BEETHOVEN - Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major, Op. 55 “Eroica” This performance is made possible in part through the generous support of Morton and Norma Lee Funger and Dr. Gary Mather and Ms. Christina Co Mather. Washington Performing Arts orchestral performances in the 2018/19 season are made possible through the generous support of Betsy and Robert Feinberg.
Hayes Series III
CHRISTINA & MICHELLE NAUGHTON, pianos SUN, MAR 24, 2pm KENNEDY CENTER TERRACE THEATER “They have a twins’ sense of telepathy, and their synchronization is downright acrobatic.” – Los Angeles Times Hailing from Wisconsin and trained at Curtis and Juilliard, twin sisters Christina and Michelle explore lesser-known works of four-hand and two-piano repertoire by towering figures of piano music. “The textures shimmer like pure gold in bright light, dancing in every conceivable rhythm. They have to be heard to be believed” (Washington Post). SCHUBERT - “Lebensstürme” in A minor, D. 947 POULENC - Sonata for Four Hands PAUL SCHOENFIELD - Five Days in the Life of a Manic Depressive DEBUSSY - En Blanc et Noir RACHMANINOFF - Suite No. 2, Op. 17 This performance is made possible through the generous support of Susan S. Angell.
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SPE
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LE ON THE AIR: VEN T! A GLENN MILLER SWING CELEBRATION The United States Air Force Band Col Larry Lang, commander & conductor Murray Horwitz, emcee
FREE TUE, APR 2, 8PM THE MUSIC CENTER AT STRATHMORE The music of one of the most popular artists in American history—played by the band he created—in a free anniversary concert 2019 marks the 75th anniversary of the passing of Alton Glenn Miller, by some measures the most popular American recording artist of all time. With a band capable of playing both “sweet” and “hot,” he also revolutionized military music during World War II, creating the U.S. Army Air Forces Band. The USAF Airmen of Note carry on the tradition, playing his hits with stellar musicianship. Washington Performing Arts Artist In Residence (and host of WAMU’s The Big Broadcast) Murray Horwitz emcees the concert—staged as a radio broadcast—with guest soloists. This performance is made possible through the generous support of Lyn and Barry Chasen. *Free, but tickets are required. Details TBA. This performance may not be applied toward a Custom Subscription Series.
Afro-Cuban Jazz Legend
CHUCHO VALDÉS SAT, APR 6, 8pm SIXTH & I
“A pianist of imperial command, possessed of a dazzling, deceptively casual virtuosity” – New York Times Jazz piano doesn’t get more immediate, awe-inspiring, or electrifying than this: the towering virtuoso, Afro-Cuban jazz icon, six-time Grammy-winner, and three-time Latin Grammy-winner Jesús “Chucho” Valdés, alone on the intimate stage of Sixth & I. Experience for yourself the pianistic mastery the New York Times hailed as “great hydraulic fountains of notes, each drop sparkling as it falls.” This performance is made possible through the generous support of Susan S. Angell.
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Nordic Origins II
DREAMERS’ CIRCUS WED, APR 10, 8pm SIXTH & I “The watchword here is ‘expansive,’ for the trio crafts remarkably open vistas from humble means.” – RootsWorld Equally at home jamming after hours in a pub (which is how they first met), guesting with the likes of Sarah Jarosz or the Copenhagen Philharmonic, or performing at the celebrated Roskilde Festival, the Danish acoustic trio Dreamers’ Circus perform original compositions combining influences from Scandinavian folk music with elements of classical music and other traditions from around the world. With instrumentation comprising piano/accordion, cittern (a stringed instrument related to the mandolin and bouzouki), and violin (played by a violinist of the stellar Danish String Quartet), the trio’s palette ranges from gentle, intertwining melodies to fiery folk grooves for a sound that has dazzled audiences worldwide and, with only two recordings to date, has garnered no fewer than five Danish Music Awards. Violinist Rune Tonsgaard Sørensen also appears this season with the Danish String Quartet (see page 13).
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Hayes Series IV
DÉNES VÁRJON, piano SAT, APR 13, 2pm KENNEDY CENTER TERRACE THEATER “Aside from the immaculate technique and deft sense of phrasing, Várjon brought something far more rare—a tangible sense of character in virtually everything he played.” – Washington Post A onetime protégé of Sir András Schiff and Alfred Brendel and a regular collaborator of the likes of Joshua Bell and Steven Isserlis, Hungarian pianist Dénes Várjon boasts prodigious technique and a balance of inventiveness and sensitivity in his interpretations of both standard and lesser-known repertoire. The New York Times praised his 2016 New York debut performance at Zankel Hall as “elegant, passionate, and always technically impressive, his compelling artistry superior to some of the starrier pianists who perform regularly on the main stage of Carnegie Hall.” BEETHOVEN - Piano Sonata in A Major, Op. 101 BRAHMS - Six Piano Pieces, Op. 118 GYÓRGY KURTÁG - Games (selection) SCHUMANN - Symphonic Études, Op.13
Music from the Suitcase
YEVGENY KUTIK, violin ANNA POLONSKY, piano TUE, APR 23, 7:30pm KENNEDY CENTER TERRACE THEATER “Dark-hued tone and razor sharp technique” – New York Times Distinguished Belarusian-American violinist Yevgeny Kutik performs Russian miniature works drawn from a single suitcase of sheet music that his family brought to the United States when they emigrated from the Soviet Union in 1990. A onetime pupil of Roman Totenberg, Kutik has distinguished himself as an artist who combines consummate artistry with intellectual rigor and a commitment to representing stories of the displaced. His “evocative” recordings (New York Times) have garnered widespread critical recognition (including a spot on the Boston Globe’s “Best of 2016” list) and popular support—including a #5 ranking on the Billboard classical chart. Program includes works by STRAVINSKY, PROKOFIEV, RAVEL, and others, as well as new works by GITY RAZAZ and ANDREIA PINTO CORREIA (commissioned by Washington Performing Arts) Linger Longer: Following the concert, join us for a talkback with Kutik and NPR’s Nina Totenberg, who has followed Kutik’s career since his student days under her father’s tutelage.
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Mars Urban Arts Initiative presents
VEVE & THA REBELS DUPONT BRASS SAT, APR 27, 8pm SIXTH & I
Two of D.C.’s hottest bands present their signature sounds that capture the pulse of the city
VeVe & tha Rebels
Mars Urban Arts Initiative 2018/19 ensemblesin-residence VeVe & tha Rebels and DuPont Brass come together for a double bill that showcases some of the most vibrant performing and teaching artists in D.C. Truly a musical representation of what it means to call D.C. home, these two bands work closely with Washington Performing Arts’ educational and community programs throughout the season to empower the voices and stories of students and our community. The original Afro-folk songs of VeVe & tha Rebels tell the complex story of discovery and identity through purpose-driven music making. DuPont Brass delights with an unabashedly soulful mash-up of styles to uplift the spirit. Washington Performing Arts’ Mars Urban Arts Initiative is generously supported by Jacqueline Badger Mars and Mars, Incorporated.
DuPont Brass
Dynamic Duo
ITZHAK PERLMAN, violin EVGENY KISSIN, piano SUN, APR 28, 4pm KENNEDY CENTER CONCERT HALL A meeting of the masters! Blockbuster soloists Itzhak Perlman and Evgeny Kissin unite for an evening of chamber music on a grand scale. The eminence of the performers is matched by the prominence of the repertoire, including timeless favorites of the violin repertoire by Mozart, Beethoven, and Brahms. Perlman
BRAHMS – Violin Sonata No. 2 in A Major, Op. 100 BEETHOVEN – Violin Sonata No. 9 in A Major, Op. 47 “Kreutzer” Additional works to be announced Evgeny Kissin also appears this season in solo recital. See page 30. This performance is made possible in part through the generous support of Betsy and Robert Feinberg and Dr. Gary Mather and Ms. Christina Co Mather.
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Kissin
The Power of Three
JOSHUA BELL, violin STEVEN ISSERLIS, cello JEREMY DENK, piano WED, MAY 1, 8pm THE MUSIC CENTER AT STRATHMORE Extending the “magical intimacy” (The Strad) of the collaboration immortalized on their critically acclaimed 2016 album, For the Love of Brahms, this trio of A-list performers (who happen to be good friends) expand their repertoire to four masters of the 19th and 20th centuries.
Bell
As Bell noted at the time of the earlier project, the trio’s success lies in the balance between creative cohesion and tension. “It felt like family getting together,” Bell said. “We have three very strong personalities. There were some tense moments.” “We’re three pretty strong characters with our different views,” Isserlis agreed. “But we met in the end, we were in a good mood at the end, and that’s a good sign.” “We evolved.… It turned into something unexpected,” Bell concluded. Expect more of the unexpected—and the transcendent—at Strathmore this season. MENDELSSOHN - Piano Trio TBD SHOSTAKOVICH - Piano Trio No. 2 in E minor, Op. 67 RACHMANINOFF - Trio élégiaque No. 1 in G minor RAVEL - Piano Trio in A minor Steven Isserlis and Jeremy Denk also appear this season in solo recitals. See pages 19 and 15. This performance is made possible in part through the generous support of Betsy and Robert Feinberg, and Dr. Gary Mather and Ms. Christina Co Mather.
Isserlis
Denk
“Distinct musical personalities [who] work together extremely well” – Gramophone
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The Vienna/Berlin Music Club
PHILHARMONIX SAT, MAY 4, 8pm SIXTH & I
These seven members of the Berlin and Vienna Philharmonic Orchestras will leave their tuxedos and all inhibitions behind when they take the Sixth and I stage as the Philharmonix—a rip-roaring, seriously swinging chamber ensemble with repertoire ranging from Satie to Sting, from Brahms’s Hungarian Dances to Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody”—with plenty of jazz, klezmer, Latin music, and more mixed in for good measure. In the band’s own words: “Is it good music? Do we like it? Would we enjoy performing this piece? These are the only criteria—without any thoughts about genre…. When we like something, we’ll just play it!”
The Philharmonix Golden Rule: “Anything goes, as long as it’s fun.”
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Weilerstein
Barnatan
Khachatryan
Currie
Transfigured Nights
ALISA WEILERSTEIN, cello INON BARNATAN, piano SERGEY KHACHATRYAN, violin COLIN CURRIE, percussion THU, MAY 9, 7:30pm KENNEDY CENTER TERRACE THEATER Four master soloists explore the magic of transcription. Four transcendent musicians—each an in-demand soloist on the international scene—explore a fascinating program anchored by works that have been “transfigured” through the act of transcription. The centerpiece of the evening is Edward Steuermann’s famous transcription of Schoenberg’s early masterwork (originally written for string sextet), Verklärte Nacht (‘Transfigured Night’). In another highlight, Scottish percussion virtuoso Colin Currie performs a work commissioned for him: Rolf Wallin’s Realismos Magicos for Solo Marimba, inspired by the magic-realist stories of Colombian Nobel Prize–winning author Gabriel García Márquez. BEETHOVEN - Piano Trio in D Major, Op. 70, No. 1 “Ghost” ROLF WALLIN - Realismos mágicos for Solo Marimba SCHOENBERG - Verklarte Nacht for Piano Trio, (trans. Steuermann) SHOSTAKOVICH - Symphony No. 15 for Piano Trio and Percussion (trans. Derevianko) Alisa Weilerstein also appears this season with the Czech Philharmonic. See page 10. This performance is made possible through the generous support of Susan S. Angell.
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The Russian Piano
EVGENY KISSIN, piano TUE, MAY 21, 8pm THE MUSIC CENTER AT STRATHMORE “Full throttle virtuosity” – Guardian Master pianist Evgeny Kissin makes a second appearance this season in an intimate solo recital. Described as “a great and possibly the great native Russian pianist of our day” (Los Angeles Times), Kissin brings his trademark passion and mature insight to the great Russian piano tradition. CHOPIN - Nocturne Op. 55, No. 1 in F Minor CHOPIN - Nocturne Op. 37, No. 2 in G Major CHOPIN - Nocturne Op. 62, No. 2 in E Major SCHUMANN - Piano Sonata No. 3, Op. 14 DEBUSSY - Selections from Preludes, Book I SCRIABIN - Sonata No. 4, Op. 30 Evgeny Kissin also appears this season in recital with Itzhak Perlman. See page 26. This performance is made possible through the generous support of Betsy and Robert Feinberg.
Grooving with Dizzy
CARLOS HENRIQUEZ OCTET SAT, JUN 1, 8pm SIXTH & I “Nearly every note from Carlos Henriquez…is cool, clear, judicious. He waits for his moment, then delivers with concision.” – New York Times Get ready for a high-energy tribute to the Latin jazz legacy of trumpet legend and bebop pioneer John Birks “Dizzy” Gillespie as Bronx-born bassist, composer, and longtime Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra veteran Carlos Henriquez takes the Sixth & I stage with his ace octet. With a style combining currents of ’60s-era hard bop, Afro-Cuban salsa, classical music, and more, Henriquez is an ideal explorer of Dizzy’s own wideranging songbook, which, in addition to straight-ahead standards like “A Night in Tunisia” and “Salt Peanuts,” includes seminal Afro-Cuban jazz compositions like “Manteca” and “Tin Tin Deo.” This performance is made possible through the generous support of Mr. Frank White and Mrs. Sylvia Davis White.
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United in Song
WASHINGTON PERFORMING ARTS GOSPEL CHOIRS Michele Fowlin, artistic director (Children of the Gospel Choir) Theodore Thorpe III, artistic director (Men & Women of the Gospel Choir) Stanley J. Thurston, artistic director emeritus
FRI, JUN 7, 8pm THE MUSIC CENTER AT STRATHMORE Season finale! Gospel music on a grand scale with two sensational choirs. Each possessing more than a quarter-century of D.C. musical history, Washington Performing Arts’ two namesake choirs— the Men and Women of the Gospel and the Children of the Gospel—take the stage together in an evening of inspiration and jubilation. Fixtures of the regional gospel scene, the “MWCOTG” have performed in prestigious settings from the National Cathedral and Kennedy Center to White House state dinners and the National Cherry Blossom Parade. Their joint Strathmore concert is sure to be an occasion for celebration and a festive finale to our 2018/19 Season! The Men, Women, and Children of the Gospel also appear this season in Living the Dream… Singing the Dream. See page 17. Performances by the Children of the Gospel Choir are made possible through the generous support of Jacqueline Badger Mars and Mars, Incorporated. See page 33 for more information about Washington Performing Arts’ gospel programs.
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L-R: Students participate in the Capital Jazz Partnership, Capital Strings Partnership, and Embassy Adoption Program
IMPACT THROUGH EDUCATION
How Washington Performing Arts honors founder Patrick Hayes’s legacy of excellence and engagement For more than 50 years, Washington Performing Arts has produced educational programs for youth, adults, and seniors, fostering appreciation for and active participation in the arts. This is at the heart of why Washington Performing Arts was founded: to celebrate and spark curiosity, collaboration, and creativity, and to be a home for all members of our community to experience the arts. •
Washington Performing Arts annually produces more than 800 education and community engagement events that serve over 50,000 participants across greater D.C.
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More than 80 embassies and classrooms are paired in the Embassy Adoption Program, a partnership with D.C. Public Schools, which engages 2,500 students.
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Washington Performing Arts is an integral partner in changing music education in D.C. Public Schools through the innovative D.C. Keys program, which reaches approximately 27,000 elementary school students in all eight wards of D.C.
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Washington Performing Arts provides education programs and curricular support to 94 D.C. Public Schools.
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More than 14,000 students in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia experience interactive, multicultural performances and residencies with dynamic local teaching artists through our Concerts in Schools and In-School Residencies.
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Professional artists serve more than 3,000 residents of regional nursing homes and senior communities each year through immersive Enriching Experiences for Seniors performances that promote social engagement and life enhancement across generations.
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Through the Gateway Student Ticket Program, Washington Performing Arts is pleased to offer $10 tickets to students of all ages (up to two tickets for each performance with a valid ID) for our mainstage performances. (Gateway tickets go on sale along with single tickets in late summer.)
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Washington Performing Arts Men and Women of the Gospel Choir and Children of the Gospel Choir, our resident performance ensembles, honor the traditions and vibrancy of this uniquely American art form through dynamic performances, community engagement, and rigorous and holistic vocal training. With a storied 25year history, and scores of illustrious alumni, the Men, Women, and Children of the Gospel Choirs have become the destination for D.C. area vocalists who seek to combine voice and musicianship study with exceptional performance experiences. Under the artistic leadership of Michele Fowlin, Theodore Thorpe III, and Stanley J. Thurston, these vibrant choirs present the highestquality gospel music to audiences through two main stage performances and more than 15 community performances each year.
To learn more and find opportunities to participate, visit WashingtonPerformingArts.org/education We are grateful to the following donors for their generous support of our education and community programs: Gospel Programs: Mr. Jeffrey Bauman and Ms. Linda Fienberg; Reginald Van Lee; Hubert “Hank” Schlosberg and the Schlosberg Family; The Dan Cameron Family Foundation, Inc.; Jacqueline Badger Mars and Mars, Incorporated; D.C. Keys: Pink Pearls; D.C. Honors Ensemble: The Linda and Isaac Stern Charitable Foundation; Mr. Bruce Rosenblum and Ms. Lori Laitman; Embassy Adoption Program: James J. Sandman and Elizabeth D. Mullin; Concerts In Schools: The Greene-Milstein Family Foundation; Enriching Experiences for Seniors: NoraLee and Jon Sedmak; Gateway Student Ticket Program: Betsy and Robert Feinberg; Dr. Gary Mather and Ms. Christina Co Mather; Capital Arts Partnership: CHIME (Community Help In Music Education); The World in Our City: Jan and Marike Paulsson; Whittle School & Studios; Jennifer and Brian Coulter; Dr. Gary Mather and Ms. Christina Co Mather; Mary Jo Veverka; Wells Fargo; Michael Frankhuizen
MARS URBAN ARTS INITIATIVE The Mars Urban Arts Initiative (MUAI) is a creative platform for Washington Performing Arts and the D.C. community to celebrate and empower local artists through performances, unique educational programs, and interdisciplinary grassroots collaborations that showcase the diversity and vitality of our city. D.C. has always been an incubator for powerful artistic voices with worldwide resonance, from Duke Ellington and Todd Duncan to Shirley Horn and Chuck Brown. Reflective of our founder Patrick Hayes’ motto, “Everybody In, Nobody Out,” the Mars Urban Arts Initiative amplifies the role of local artists throughout Washington Performing Arts’ productions, educational opportunities, and special events. The program is anchored by residencies for leading artists and ensembles, curated performances across all eight wards, and artistic happenings that reflect what it means to call D.C. home. For more information, email nbrown@washingtonperformingarts.org. #MarsUrbanArts Washington Performing Arts’ Mars Urban Arts Initiative is generously supported by Jacqueline Badger Mars and Mars, Incorporated.
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ABOUT WASHINGTON PERFORMING ARTS One of the most established and honored performing arts institutions in America, Washington Performing Arts has more than a half-century history of serving artists, audiences, students, and civic life. The city is truly our stage: in venues ranging from concert halls and clubs to public parks, we present a tremendous range of artists and art forms, from the most distinguished symphony orchestras to both renowned and emerging artists in classical music, jazz, international genres, and more. Washington Performing Arts nourishes communities throughout the region by partnering with local organizations and other arts institutions, staging concerts and arts activities in the neighborhoods, involving internationally known main-stage performers in community programs, and presenting locally based artists to a wider audience. We place a premium on establishing artists as a continuing presence in the lives of both young people and adults through sustained residencies and educational programs. Our achievements have been recognized with a National Medal of Arts and with two Mayor’s Arts Awards from the D.C. Government. We have embarked upon our next half-century with the goals of expanding our commitment to excellence and rededicating ourselves to the motto of our founder, Patrick Hayes: “Everybody in, nobody out.� Washington Performing Arts is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing the national capital region with performing arts presentations of the highest quality and to providing lifelong learning opportunities through arts education. Washington Performing Arts is exempt from Federal income tax as a public charity under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Engage with us on social media:
@WashPerformArts
@WashingtonPerformingArts
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THE CITY IS OUR STAGE 2018/19 Season Venues The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (Concert Hall and Terrace Theater) 2700 F Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20566
Parking: Kennedy Center, Watergate, and Columbia Plaza garages Metrorail: Foggy Bottom/GWU (Blue/Orange/Silver Lines), free shuttle available from station to venue
Lisner Auditorium
730 21st Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20052 Parking: Area garages and street parking Metrorail: Foggy Bottom/GWU (Blue/Orange/ Silver Lines)
Sixth & I
600 I Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20001 Parking: Limited street and garage parking in area Metrorail: Gallery Place-Chinatown (Red, Green/ Yellow Lines), 7th & H Street exit
Washington National Cathedral 3101 Wisconsin Avenue NW Washington, D.C. 20016
Parking: Cathedral garage, limited street parking Metrobus: Accessible via 30N, 30S, 31, or 33 buses from Tenleytown; N2, N3, N4, or N6 buses from Dupont Circle; or 96 or X3 buses from Woodley Park
The Music Center at Strathmore
5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD 20852 Parking: Complimentary parking at the Grosvenor Metro station Metrorail: Grosvenor-Strathmore (Red Line)
Kennedy Center Concert Hall
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Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Infocus Direct 20187 1400 K Street NW, Suite 500 Washington, D.C. 20005
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