2019/20 SEASON
Welcome to our 53rd season! I often say that we strive to provide a platform for artists to do their best, most expressive work. And in 2019/20, they’ll do precisely that: their imagination and moxie burst forth from each page in this brochure. Some—like the String Queens, our Mars Arts D.C. Ensemble-in-Residence—reside right here in our community. Others bring inspiration from beyond the reach of our imaginations: NASA-sourced sounds and visuals shape Terry Riley’s epic Sun Rings for Kronos Quartet; and To Shiver the Sky, Christopher Tin’s majestic exploration of space—in oratorio form—features the powerhouse combination of the United States Air Force Band and Choral Arts in a free world premiere in our debut presentation at The Anthem. The power of the arts to connect people across geography and cultures is on full display this season. Four continents are represented, including orchestras from Budapest, Taipei, Melbourne, London, and Philadelphia. Intimate programs will feature Amjad Ali Khan, Kinan Azmeh’s CityBand, and the West-Eastern Divan Ensemble. In our jazz programming, cultural exchange comes by way of Danilo Pérez and his Global Messengers, Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, and Chilean-born saxophonist Melissa Aldana. The SHIFT Festival returns to shine a spotlight on the collaborative spirit and ingenuity of American orchestras, along with inspired choices of partners such as the Classical Theatre of Harlem, members of Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble, and Knoxville’s poet laureate! Our resident Men, Women, and Children of the Gospel Choirs hold forth with featured performances and also host the Kingdom Choir from the U.K. And we embrace the powerful intersection of art and social change in several events, including a performance by streetdance innovators Lil Buck and Jon Boogz.
QUICK START Subscription Plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 “Friends” donor program (Enjoy seating priority & more!) . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Season Themes & Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Season Listings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
And, of course, we join in the worldwide celebration of Beethoven 250th birthday, with immersive performances by friends who have made Beethoven’s music a touchstone of their life’s work: Emanuel Ax, Midori, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Anne-Sophie Mutter, and Igor Levit. Our classical offerings also include the eagerly awaited return of pianist Daniil Trifonov and a cornerstone of our own programming, the career-launching Hayes Piano Series. Please consider this brochure but one portal to explore! Visit our website and follow us on social media to learn more about our education and community events. And please tell students about our $10 Gateway Student Ticket Program (see page 36). I look forward to enjoying the new season alongside you!
Venue information . . . . . . . . . Inside Back Cover Season Calendar . . . . . . . . Fold-Out Back Cover Jenny Bilfield, President & CEO 2 | WashingtonPerformingArts.org
Contents BENEFITS OF SUBSCRIBING AND DONATING . . . . . . . . 4 2019/20 SEASON THEMES AND HIGHLIGHTS . . . . . . . . 6 OCTOBER Pink Martini (Oct 13) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Melbourne Symphony (Oct 16) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Drew Petersen, piano (Oct 19) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Spektral Quartet (Oct 29) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Chick Corea Trilogy (Oct 30) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 NOVEMBER Taipei Symphony Orchestra (Nov 15) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Amjad Ali Khan (Nov 16) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Zoltán Fejérvári, piano (Nov 17) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 DECEMBER Damien Sneed: Joy to the World (Dec 7) . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 JANUARY Kian Soltani, cello & Julio Elizalde, piano (Jan 22) . . . . 14 Midori, violin & Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano (Jan 25) . . 15 Living the Dream…Singing the Dream (Jan 26) . . . . . . 16 FEBRUARY Anne-Sophie Mutter, violin & Lambert Orkis, piano (Feb 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Kinan Azmeh’s CityBand (Feb 8) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Melissa Aldana (Feb 15) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Paul Lewis & Steven Osborne, pianos (Feb 18) . . . . . . . 18 Budapest Festival Orchestra (Feb 21) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Michael Barenboim & West-Eastern Divan Ensemble (Feb 27) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Matthew Whitaker (Feb 29) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
APRIL Jenny Lin, piano (Apr 5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Argus Quartet (Apr 14) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 The Philadelphia Orchestra (Apr 15) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Chineke! Orchestra (Apr 21) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Zakir Hussain Trio (Apr 24) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 The String Queens (Apr 25) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 MAY Lil Buck & Jon Boogz (May 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 The Kingdom Choir (May 3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Emanuel Ax, piano (May 6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Terry Riley & Gyan Riley (May 9) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Beatrice Rana, piano (May 12) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Igor Levit, piano (May 15) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Danilo Pérez’s Global Messengers (May 16) . . . . . . . . . 34 Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (May 21) . . . . . . . . . . 34 The United States Air Force Band: To Shiver the Sky (May 30) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 JUNE Washington Performing Arts Gospel Choirs (Jun 7) . . . 35 Education & Community Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Washington Performing Arts Gospel Choirs. . . . . . . . . 37 Mars Arts D.C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 2019/20 Season Venues . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Back Cover Fold-Out Season Calendar . . . . . . . . Fold-Out Back Cover All programs and artists subject to change
MARCH Daniil Trifonov, piano (Mar 4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Seong-Jin Cho, piano (Mar 8) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Kronos Quartet (Mar 13) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Murray Perahia, piano (Mar 20) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Veronica Swift (Mar 21) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 SHIFT Festival: Jacksonville Symphony (Mar 24) . . . . . 25 SHIFT Festival: Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (Mar 25) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 SHIFT Festival: Knoxville Symphony (Mar 27) . . . . . . . . 25 SHIFT Festival: Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Mar 28) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
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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 Piano 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** • Save 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 2019/20 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. **Legacy Subscription Series discounts and guaranteed same seats are available for a limited time only. Your order must be received by May 31, 2019. Orders received after this date will be seated in the same seats as availability permits.
How to order: WashingtonPerformingArts.org (202) 785-9727
Midori (page 15)
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WHY BECOME A FRIEND? Friends enjoy amazing benefits and access throughout the season! Benefits include: ••
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Visit WashingtonPerformingArts.org/support for complete Friends benefits. Thank you for your support! Jazz master Wynton Marsalis (page 34) greets Washington Performing Arts Friends and Junior Board members at a private reception.
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2019/20 Season
Themes and Highlights
LEGACY SERIES ORCHESTRA SERIES at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall 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. Melbourne Symphony (Oct 16) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 The Philadelphia Orchestra (Apr 15) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Jenny Lin (page 26)
Chineke! Orchestra (Apr 21) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
HAYES PIANO SERIES at the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater 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. Drew Petersen (Oct 19) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Zoltán Fejérvári (Nov 17) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Seong-Jin Cho (Mar 8) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Jenny Lin (Apr 5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
REMARKABLE RECITALISTS The 2019/20 season features chamber performances by a number of the world’s premier soloists. Kian Soltani, cello & Julio Elizalde, piano (Jan 22) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Midori, violin & Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano (Jan 25) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Anne-Sophie Mutter, violin & Lambert Orkis, piano (Feb 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Paul Lewis & Steven Osborne, pianos (Feb 18) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Murray Perahia (page 23)
Daniil Trifonov, piano (Mar 4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Murray Perahia, piano (Mar 20) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Emanuel Ax, piano (May 6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Beatrice Rana, piano (May 12) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Igor Levit, piano (May 15) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Beatrice Rana (page 33)
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Iván Fischer (page 19)
Melissa Aldana (page 18)
Spektral Quartet (page 10)
Danilo Pérez (page 34)
GREAT ORCHESTRAS
JAZZ LUMINARIES
In addition to the Orchestra Series at the Kennedy Center (see facing page), the orchestra season is rounded out by additional international orchestras at Strathmore, as well as the 2020 SHIFT Festival of American Orchestras.
The 2019/20 jazz roster boasts legends and rising stars alike, delving into a range of styles from Latin jazz to bebop to the Great American Songbook and more.
Taipei Symphony Orchestra (Nov 15) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Chick Corea Trilogy (Oct 30) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Budapest Festival Orchestra (Feb 21) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 SHIFT: A Festival of American Orchestras (Mar 24-28) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Pink Martini (Oct 13) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Melissa Aldana (Feb 15) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Matthew Whitaker (Feb 29) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Veronica Swift (Mar 21) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Danilo Pérez’s Global Messengers (May 16) . . . . . . . . . . 34 Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis (May 21) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
OUT OF THIS WORLD
…AND JUSTICE FOR ALL
From early dreams of flight to our forays into space, these events delve into humanity’s endless fascination with the sky and the heavens.
How can we people treat each other with respect, dignity, and fairness, as individuals and in groups? What happens when we fail? How do we rebuild—and inspire? Literally, how do we share this planet? These programs explore these and other pressing questions of social justice.
Spektral Quartet: Mysteries of the Universe (Oct 29) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Kronos Quartet: Terry Riley’s Sun Rings (Mar 13) . . . . . 22
Living the Dream…Singing the Dream (Jan 26) . . . . . . . 16
Argus Quartet: Garth Knox’s Satellites (Apr 14) . . . . . . . 27
West-Eastern Divan Ensemble (Feb 27) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
The United States Air Force Band: Christopher Tin’s To Shiver the Sky (May 30) . . . . . . . . 35
Kronos Quartet: Terry Riley’s Sun Rings (Mar 13) . . . . . 22 Lil Buck & Jon Boogz: Love Heals All Wounds (May 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Look for these icons for events included in the following themes THE WORLD IN OUR CITY
Main stage programs featured as part of the World in Our City initiative are found through this book with this icon. (Learn more at bit.ly/WorldInOurCity).
LVB 250
BEETHOVEN AT 250:
Washington Performing Arts celebrates Ludwig van Beethoven’s 250th birthday with a series of concerts featuring this icon.
LIFT EV’RY VOICE
In performances featuring this icon, we celebrate gospel music as a unique, American-born art form now enjoyed around the world.
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The 2019/20 Season
Global Cabaret
PINK MARTINI
with special guest MEOW MEOW
Meow Meow
SUN, OCT 13, 7pm KENNEDY CENTER CONCERT HALL “The world’s most audaciously imaginative pop-jazz act” – JazzTimes (on Pink Martini) How do you say “Wow!” in 25 languages? The members of the globe-trotting “little orchestra” Pink Martini surely know, based on their multilingual songbook infused with Argentinean tango, Brazilian samba, Japanese pop, good ol’ American swing, and more. Britain’s Guardian hails them as “an international phenomenon…mixing glamour and sophisticated easy-listening.” The concert includes a special guest appearance by Pink Martini’s good friend Meow Meow, the crowd-surfing Australian “tragi-comedienne” and chanteuse who “drags cabaret kicking and screaming into the 21st century” (Time Out, New York).
Parental Advisory: This performance may include some adult content.
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Orchestra Series I
MELBOURNE SYMPHONY
LVB 250
Sir Andrew Davis, chief conductor Garrick Ohlsson, piano
WED, OCT 16, 8pm KENNEDY CENTER CONCERT HALL “Garrick Ohlsson is a pianist who combines finely toned muscle with mollifying sensitivity.” – Gramophone
Ohlsson
What makes the Melbourne Symphony so special? As Sir Andrew Davis, their Chief Conductor, told the Guardian, “They perform with great virtuosity, but what really sets them apart is their love of what they do. Not all orchestras manage this.” The program features repertoire from both the Northern and Southern hemispheres, including the late, eminent Australian composer Peter Sculthorpe’s Earth Cry, a call for humanity to attune itself to the land, inspired by Aboriginal poetry. SCULTHORPE - Earth Cry BEETHOVEN - Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op. 58 RAVEL - Ma mère l’Oye (Mother Goose Suite) STRAVINSKY – The Firebird
Hayes Piano Series I
DREW PETERSEN, piano
SAT, OCT 19, 2pm KENNEDY CENTER TERRACE THEATER “Fearless playing, with recordings to match; this pianist is destined for great things.” – MusicWeb International Drew Petersen is what you might call an overachiever: Carnegie Hall debut at age five; graduation from Harvard at age 19; and an American Pianist Award–winner and Avery Fisher Career Grantee in his early twenties. The wellspring of all these achievements—as you will experience firsthand this October—is a crispness, ebullience, and depth of emotion rare at any age. In the words of composer/pianist Lukas Foss: “What is so astonishing about Drew [is] that he feels the music, he can make it come alive again, make you touched by it.” BACH - Partita No. 5 in G Major, BWV 829 SCHUBERT - Wanderer-Fantasie CHOPIN - Barcarolle, Op. 60 GRANADOS - Valses Poeticos BARBER - Sonata, Op. 26
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SPEKTRAL QUARTET
LVB 250
TUE, OCT 29, 7:30pm KENNEDY CENTER TERRACE THEATER “The Spektral Quartet likes to put on performances that are not so much concerts as high-energy thrill rides for musically inquisitive listeners.” – Chicago Tribune Experience the incandescent music of Icelandic composer Anna Thorvaldsdottir, “one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary music” (NPR), with the premiere of Eclipse, a work that explores the outer reaches of space through Thorvaldsdottir’s signature panoramic sound. The 2019 Grammy-nominated Spektral Quartet is one of America’s most innovative chamber ensembles, having commissioned more than 85 composers, including George Lewis, Marcos Balter, and Augusta Read Thomas. Spektral’s approach provokes discovery in beloved classics and curiosity in works of living composers.
Mysteries of the Universe
TOMÁS LUIS DE VICTORIA - O Magnum Mysterium ELIZA BROWN - String Quartet No. 1 BEETHOVEN - Quartet No. 16 in F Major, Op. 135 ANNA THORVALDSDOTTIR - Eclipse (East Coast premiere; A Washington Performing Arts co-commission) Mars Arts D.C. curates a series of residency events throughout the city, in conjunction with the D.C. premiere of Eclipse. Details to be announced.
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CHICK COREA TRILOGY
with Christian McBride and Brian Blade
WED, OCT 30, 8pm THE MUSIC CENTER AT STRATHMORE “The three have an uncanny connection, filling space with gorgeous and subtle phrasings, gliding through all manner of styles with a seemingly effortless elegance, grace, and freshness.” – AllMusic.com It doesn’t get more “A-list” than this! Jazz piano legend, NEA Jazz Master, and 22-time Grammy-winner Chick Corea takes the stage in an evening of near-telepathic interplay with two of the music’s most elite Gen-X masters: the mind-boggling bass virtuoso and 6-time Grammy-winner Christian McBride and Brian Blade, “one of those rare jazz drummers artistically powerful enough to direct the sound of a whole ensemble” (New York Times). Reigniting the chemistry of their namesake 2013 disc, the Trilogy deliver up-tothe minute takes on the Great American Songbook, Corea originals, and more.
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Orchestras at Strathmore I
TAIPEI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Jahja Ling, conductor Paul Huang, violin Felix Fan, cello
FRI, NOV 15, 8pm THE MUSIC CENTER AT STRATHMORE “The clarity, agility, and expressiveness of the TSO are awe–inspiring, an orchestra destined to take its place as one of the world’s top symphony orchestras.” – Saarbrücker Zeitung
Huang
Fan
Celebrating its 50th anniversary this season, the Taipei Symphony has grown from an ensemble of modest scale to a forceful musical presence known for its breadth of programming, extensive international appearances, and commitment to cultural diplomacy. The program’s centerpiece, Gordon Shi-Wen Chin’s poetic Double Concerto, features the prodigious talent of two Taiwan-born, U.S.-based virtuosi: Paul Huang, a winner of the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant and a cherished collaborator on many Washington Performing Arts seasons; and Felix Fan, the relentlessly creative, crossdisciplinary cellist and member of the Flux Quartet for whom this concerto was written. On the podium is Jahja Ling, widely credited as an orchestra-builder who led the now-thriving San Diego Symphony to great renown as its as music director. BERNSTEIN - Overture to Candide GORDON SHI-WEN CHIN - Double Concerto for Violin, Cello, and Orchestra BRAHMS - Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68
Sarod Trilogy
AMJAD ALI KHAN SAT, NOV 16, 8pm SIXTH & I
“The finest living exponent of the sarod” – The Guardian Having established himself as the world’s preeminent sarod player over the course of a distinguished career spanning more than six decades, Amjad Ali Kahn brings his expressive sound to the intimate confines of Sixth & I for a family gathering with his sons Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash, both “excellent musicians” (New York Times) in their own right. The power trio of sarod players join forces to create “a 57-string three-man symphony orchestra” (The Times, London) in this superb performance of Indian classical music, a living tradition that runs seven generations deep in this family.
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Hayes Piano Series II
ZOLTÁN FEJÉRVÁRI, piano
SUN, NOV 17, 2pm KENNEDY CENTER TERRACE THEATER “[Fejérvári] evidenced dazzling technique that can rank with the best piano virtuosi and his interpretive instincts were consistently revelatory. This is a pianist who needs to be heard more frequently in American concert halls.” – South Florida Classical Review A protégé of Sir András Schiff, Hungarian pianist Zoltán Fejérvári equally thrives while performing major concerti with the Budapest Festival Orchestra, chamber music with the Musicians of Marlboro, and recitals from major venues across Europe to Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall. As Germany’s Kultur-Vollzug described his impact in recital: “Fejérvári’s playing is multi-layered and precise…. Every note has its own particular dynamic, character, and expression.” JANÁČEK - Piano Sonata 1.X.1905 “From the Street” SCHUBERT - Drei Klavierstücke, D. 946 JANÁČEK - In the Mists CHOPIN - Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 35
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DAMIEN SNEED SAT, DEC 7, 8pm SIXTH & I
Joy to the World
“Damien Sneed is an ambassador for classical and gospel music who brings positivity, optimism and thoroughness to every occasion. In the realest sense, he uses his artistry to make our world a better place.” – Wynton Marsalis
Pianist, organist, vocalist, conductor, composer, producer, arranger, and educator Damien Sneed does it all, whether it’s writing an opera for the Lyric Opera of Chicago or serving as musical director for BET’s Sunday Best. In this program, “Joy to the World: A Christmas Musical Journey,” Sneed is joined by backing singers and a band in his own arrangements of gospel, jazz, and classical holiday favorites.
The Multifaceted Cello
KIAN SOLTANI, cello JULIO ELIZALDE, piano
LVB 250
WED, JAN 22, 7:30pm KENNEDY CENTER TERRACE THEATER “A remarkable cellist, with a piercingly beautiful tone and utterly pure intonation” – The Times Kian Soltani is a familiar face to many WPA patrons, having appeared in November of last season as a soloist in the “title role” of Strauss’s Don Quixote with Daniel Barenboim and the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra—earning praise from the Washington Post as “a wonderful cellist with dazzling intonation and clarity of sound extending to the instrument’s highest register.” In this much more intimate performance, he joins acclaimed pianist Julio Elizalde for a program that ranges from Beethoven’s spirited fifth cello sonata to Arvo Pärt’s mesmerizing Fratres. STRAVINSKY - Suite Italienne BEETHOVEN - Cello Sonata No. 5, in D Major, Op. 102, No. 2 ARVO PÄRT - Fratres FRANCK (arr. DELSART) – Sonata in A Major
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Beethoven Sonatas I
MIDORI, violin JEAN-YVES THIBAUDET, piano LVB 250
SAT, JAN 25, 8pm THE MUSIC CENTER AT STRATHMORE
Two of today’s most celebrated artists unite for a celebration 250 years in the making. Violin superstar Midori and “master colorist and…great communicator” (Seattle Times) Jean-Yves Thibaudet team up for their first Washington Performing Arts appearances in more than a decade to commemorate Beethoven’s 250th birthday year. Anchored by the exhilarating “Kreutzer,” which, in the Washington Post’s words, “[has drawn] more out of Midori than mere virtuosity,” the all-Beethoven recital promises to reveal how even mainstays of the canon can reveal fresh nuances and kindle powerful emotions in the hands of two master performers.
Ambassador of the Arts This season, Washington Performing Arts will honor Midori with the 2020 Ambassador of the Arts Award, recognizing extraordinary achievement, service, and advocacy in the performing arts. Past Ambassador of the Arts Award recipients: Sir James Galway (2019) Lonnie G. Bunch III (2018) Denyce Graves (2017) Jacqueline Badger Mars (2016) Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (2015) Leon Fleisher (2014) Jessye Norman (2013)
BEETHOVEN – Sonata No. 2 in A Major, Op. 12, No. 2 BEETHOVEN – Sonata No. 3 in E-flat Major, Op. 12, No. 3 BEETHOVEN – Sonata No. 9 in A Major, Op. 47 “Kreutzer”
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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, JAN 26, 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 Washington Performing Arts’ Children of the Gospel Choir are made possible by Jacqueline Badger Mars and Mars, Incorporated.
Beethoven Sonatas II
ANNE-SOPHIE MUTTER, violin LAMBERT ORKIS, piano
LVB 250
SAT, FEB 1, 3pm KENNEDY CENTER CONCERT HALL
Violin virtuoso returns to D.C. to put her stamp on Beethoven at 250. Longtime collaborators Anne-Sophie Mutter—the “undisputed queen of violin-playing” (The Times, London)—and NSO principal keyboardist Lambert Orkis reprise their Grammy Award-winning interpretation of three of Beethoven’s spectacular violin sonatas on the occasion of the composer’s 250th birthday. The “timeless team” (Classical Review) of Mutter and Orkis bring their decades of shared dialogue to the iconic “Kreutzer,” the lyrical “Spring,” and the quirky A minor sonatas. BEETHOVEN – Sonata No. 4 in A minor, Op. 23 BEETHOVEN – Sonata No. 5 in F Major, Op. 24 “Spring” BEETHOVEN – Sonata No. 9 in A Major, Op. 47 “Kreutzer”
Orkis
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The Eclectic Clarinet
KINAN AZMEH’S CITYBAND Kinan Azmeh, clarinet Kyle Sanna, guitar John Hadfield, percussion Josh Myers, double bass
SAT, FEB 8, 8pm SIXTH & I “[Azmeh’s] rhapsodic clarinet [is] able to seduce with a rare intimacy and explode in ecstasy.” – Los Angeles Times Perhaps best-known to WPA audiences as a member of Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble, Kinan Azmeh is equally astounding for his virtuosity on clarinet and his versatility as composer, improviser, and band leader. His polished and pulse-quickening CityBand (featuring guitar, double bass, and percussion) lives and breathes its musical roots—spanning jazz, contemporary, folk, and classical music—alongside the deeply resonant musical influences of Azmeh’s own Syrian homeland.
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Jazz Rising Stars I
MELISSA ALDANA SAT, FEB 15, 8pm SIXTH & I
“Aldana…embodies a new sense of possibility and direction in jazz.” – The Washington Post Recently seen and heard with Cécile McLorin Salvant in WPA’s “Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour” concert, Chilean-born tenor saxophonist Melissa Aldana has a storybook résumé: a saxist since age six, she was playing pro gigs as a teenager when she found an early booster in pianist Danilo Pérez (appearing May 16; see page 34). She went on to study at Berklee with the likes of Joe Lovano and Greg Osby and then, at age 24, became the first female to win first prize in the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition. She returns to WPA following the release of her fifth CD, Visions, inspired by the life of Frida Kahlo and brimming with Aldana’s trademark harmonic sophistication and deftly spun solos.
Master Pianists in French Classics
PAUL LEWIS & STEVEN OSBORNE, pianos
TUE, FEB 18, 7:30pm KENNEDY CENTER TERRACE THEATER Longtime collaborators showcase their “thoughtful excellence and sovereign control” (The Guardian) over all corners of the piano repertoire. Two of the great British pianists of our time come together to interpret gems from the French repertoire for piano duet. Hear shimmering interpretations of classics like Ravel’s Mother Goose Suite and immerse yourself in the expansive French sonic palette with works by Debussy, Fauré, Poulenc, and Stravinsky. FAURÉ - Dolly Suite, Op. 56 POULENC - Sonata for Piano Four Hands DEBUSSY - Six epigraphes antiques DEBUSSY - Petite Suite for Piano Four Hands STRAVINSKY - Trois pièces faciles RAVEL - Ma mère l’Oye (Mother Goose Suite)
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Orchestras at Strathmore II
BUDAPEST FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA
Fischer
Romberger
Iván Fischer, conductor Gerhild Romberger, contralto
FRI, FEB 21, 8pm THE MUSIC CENTER AT STRATHMORE “Thought-provoking and exhilaratingly enjoyable” – The Guardian (five-star review) Returning to Washington under the baton of former NSO principal conductor Iván Fischer, known to D.C. audiences as “a meticulous musician [with] an anarchic disdain for decorum” (New Yorker), the Budapest Festival Orchestra presents a novel program that pairs mainstays of the Mahler and Dvořák catalogues with underexposed works by the same two late-Romantic composers. The “expressive colours” (BBC Music Magazine) of German contralto Gerhild Romberger will bring to life the powerful emotions of Mahler’s Kindertotenlieder. MAHLER - Blumine DVOŘÁK - “Misto klekani (Evening blessing)” from Four Choruses, Op. 29/1 MAHLER - Kindertotenlieder DVOŘÁK - Symphony No. 8 in G Major, Op. 88
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MICHAEL BARENBOIM & WEST-EASTERN DIVAN ENSEMBLE
THU, FEB 27, 7:30pm KENNEDY CENTER TERRACE THEATER “No fine words were necessary, no heartfelt plea for peace… Young Israelis and Arabs joined…in a musical expression of solidarity.” – The Guardian Led by concertmaster Michael Barenboim, the WestEastern Divan Ensemble is the chamber formation of the namesake orchestra founded by renowned conductor/ pianist (and Michael’s father) Daniel Barenboim and the late Palestinian scholar/author Edward Said—and co-presented in November of last season by WPA and the Kennedy Center. Sharing the parent orchestra’s motto of “Equal in Music,” the ensemble brings together outstanding young Palestinian and Israeli musicians in a collaboration that supercedes national and cultural boundaries. The ensemble’s inherent diversity also extends to this evening’s program, comprising classic works from Schubert and Mendelssohn and a recent composition by contemporary French composer Benjamin Attahir, who fittingly draws inspiration from cultures of both the West and East. Barenboim
SCHUBERT - Rondo in A Major, D. 438 BENJAMIN ATTAHIR – Newly commissioned work TBD MENDELSSOHN - Octet in E-flat Major, Op. 20
Jazz Rising Stars II
MATTHEW WHITAKER SAT, FEB 29, 8pm SIXTH & I
“This young man is a genius! I love the way he’s mastering those keys…. He will go far…. Watch out!” – Jon Batiste, pianist and music director, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert A piano and Hammond B-3 organ wunderkind currently taking the jazz world by storm, 18-year-old Matthew Whitaker became, at age 13, the youngest musician to be endorsed by Hammond in the company’s history. Steeped in tradition yet pushing forward into a groove-infused space of his own, he has logged a series of top-tier gigs as a leader, including the 2019 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and the 2017 NEA Jazz Masters induction ceremony for B-3 godfather Dr. Lonnie Smith at the Kennedy Center. As the L.A. Times wrote of the Whitaker concert experience: “He sat center stage between two very large pieces of furniture: a Hammond B3 and a grand piano, [and] summoned the ghosts of Larry Young and Oscar Peterson…. [His] instrumental trio inspired spontaneous dancing and a standing ovation.”
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An Evening of Bach
DANIIL TRIFONOV, piano
WED, MAR 4, 8pm KENNEDY CENTER CONCERT HALL “Without question the most astounding pianist of our age” – The Times (London) Widely hailed as the heir apparent to the Russian piano dynasty forged by the likes of Sergei Rachmaninoff, Vladimir Ashkenazy, and Evgeny Kissin, Daniil Trifonov catapulted onto the classical music scene when he won the prestigious International Chopin Piano Competition, the Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition, and numerous prizes at the International Tchaikovsky Competition in the span of only two years. Since then, the Grammy Award–winner (in 2018, for “Best Instrumental Solo Album”) has become “the don’t-miss-him musician of the moment” with a knack for “finding ways to make the music seem like something entirely new” (Washington Post). His 2020 performance marks his first solo recital in D.C. since 2017. Don’t miss it! BACH/arr. BRAHMS - Chaconne from Violin Partita No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004 BACH/arr. RACHMANINOFF - Prelude, Gavotte, and Gigue from Violin Partita No. 3 in E Major, BWV 1006 BACH/arr. LISZT - Fantasie and Fugue in G minor BACH - The Art of Fugue, BWV 1080
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Hayes Piano Series III
SEONG-JIN CHO, piano
SUN, MAR 8, 7:30pm KENNEDY CENTER TERRACE THEATER “An eloquent and genuinely accomplished artist…. To a formidable keyboard technique, he adds both sensitivity and a quirky interpretive personality.” – San Francisco Chronicle It’s become commonplace to refer to Seong-Jin Cho as a “rising star” of the piano—but at this point, it might be time to retire the word “rising.” Already a favorite guest soloist of the National Symphony Orchestra, he has enjoyed sold-out recitals at Carnegie Hall, Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, Los Angeles’s Disney Hall, and many other premier concert halls and has won the prestigious Chopin Competition (joining a lineage that includes Martha Argerich and Maurizio Pollini). As the Washington Post put it: “Cho appears to have the musical potential to take his place alongside the greats of the past.” BRAHMS - Six Pieces for Piano, Op. 118 FRANCK - Prélude, Chorale, and Fugue BERG – Sonata, Op. 1 LISZT - Sonata in B minor, S. 178
KRONOS QUARTET Choral Arts Chamber Singers
FRI, MAR 13, 8pm LISNER AUDITORIUM
Terry Riley’s Sun Rings
“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
On the heels of its second Grammy Award, San Francisco’s venturesome Kronos Quartet travels not just beyond standard musical genres, but into outer space itself in the first-ever D.C. performance of Sun Rings, composer and longtime Kronos collaborator Terry Riley’s 2002 multimedia masterwork commissioned by NASA and others. Combining live performance by the quartet and chorus with pre-recorded “spacescapes” and visual design by Willie Williams, Sun Rings is an inspiring meditation on humanity and our place in the universe. Terry Riley also appears in performance this season with Gyan Riley. See page 32.
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Solo Piano Mastery I
MURRAY PERAHIA, piano
FRI, MAR 20, 8pm THE MUSIC CENTER AT STRATHMORE “His sound can be pure gold, and he voices chords with a clarity that you have to hear to believe.” – The Washington Post In the more than 40 years he has been performing, pianist Murray Perahia has left audiences around the world breathless. Recognized worldwide as a musician of rare musical sensitivity, the Grammy Award–winner has been dubbed “one of the piano’s most lyrical contemporary poets” by the Times (London). Program to be announced.
Jazz Rising Stars III
VERONICA SWIFT SAT, MAR 21, 8pm SIXTH & I
“A master class on space and dynamics... [Swift is] an adept lyrical interpreter with tremendous tonal command” – JazzTimes At only 24 years old, Veronica Swift is already a firmly established jazz artist. Adept at everything from swing to bebop to the Great American Songbook, and a whiz at rigorous vocal techniques like vocalese and scat, Swift counts Wynton Marsalis and Chris Botti as her most trusted mentors and frequent collaborators. She’s also become an increasingly familiar (and welcome!) face in WPA circles, having been a featured vocalist with Botti in 2018 and, even more recently, having dazzled audiences this year at our annual gala and “On the Air: A Glenn Miller Swing Celebration” with the U.S. Air Force Band.
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SHIFT A FESTIVAL OF AMERICAN ORCHESTRAS AT THE KENNEDY CENTER CONCERT HALL Co-presented by Washington Performing Arts and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
SHIFT celebrates the vitality, identity, and extraordinary artistry of orchestras and chamber orchestras in an immersive festival experience in the nation’s capital. The week-long festival is composed of mini-residencies, with each participating orchestra presenting education and community events in venues around Washington, D.C., along with full-orchestra performances in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. As the title suggests, SHIFT is about change: the evolution of the art form, the leaving behind of preconceived notions, and the welcoming of new audiences to symphonic music. All tickets for SHIFT’s concerts at the Kennedy Center are priced at a flat $25, and many companion events will be offered free of charge (some with advance reservations required; schedule and details will be announced in the coming months). Generous support for SHIFT is provided through a matching grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. SHIFT is presented in cooperation with the League of American Orchestras.
Photos from 2018 SHIFT Festival (clockwise from top left): Indianapolis Symphony’s Teddy Bear Concert at Busboys & Poets (Brookland); Tuba soloist Carol Jantsch with the Albany Symphony; Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and Texas Ballet Theater’s bilingual Peter & the Wolf school performance; National Symphony Orchestra at Union Station SHIFT residency events will be announced at a later date.
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CONCERT HALL PERFORMANCES (ALL TICKETS $25) JACKSONVILLE SYMPHONY Courtney Lewis, conductor Anthony McGill, clarinet
TUE, MAR 24, 8pm With a festival theme of “Bridges,” the Jacksonville Symphony explores the many influences that jazz artists and composers have had on traditional classical composers. The symphony’s composer-in-residence, Courtney Bryan, will have a significant presence in the main stage concert and in the Symphony’s residency activities. DUTILLEUX - Métaboles COPLAND - Clarinet Concerto ELLINGTON - Celebration COURTNEY BRYAN - Bridges STRAVINSKY - Symphony in C
BALTIMORE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Marin Alsop, conductor Cristina Pato, bagpipes Kayhan Kalhor, kamancheh David Krakauer, clarinet Michael Ward-Bergeman, hyper-accordion Washington Performing Arts Men & Women of the Gospel Choir
WED, MAR 25, 8pm Joined by an diverse range of guest stars—including veterans of Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble and our very own adult gospel choir—the BSO presents a program celebrating the changing faces of America. Works to be performed include Dvořák’s grand vision for American music, a forgotten treasure by the first African American woman recognized as a symphonic composer, and a tour de force concerto drawing influences from all over the world. FLORENCE PRICE - The Oak GOLIJOV - Rose of the Winds TRADITIONAL - “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” TRADITIONAL - “Goin’ Home” DVOŘÁK - Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 “From the New World”
KNOXVILLE SYMPHONY
Aram Demirjian, conductor Julia Bullock, soprano The University of Tennessee Symphony Brass R.B. Morris, Knoxville Poet Laureate, speaker
FRI, MAR 27, 8pm Every good journey begins and ends at home, and this program represents an homage to the classical music legacy of Knoxville—not necessarily the music that comes to mind when thinking of music from Tennessee. The program is about history—how we perceive it in the present, and how we will perceive it in the years to come.
Knoxville: Artists at Home MICHAEL SCHACHTER - Overture to Knoxville BARBER - Knoxville: Summer of 1915 JAMES P. JOHNSON - American Symphonic Suite (based on W.C. Handy’s St. Louis Blues) RACHMANINOFF - Symphonic Dances, Op. 45
ORPHEUS CHAMBER ORCHESTRA Classical Theatre of Harlem Peter Francis James, director
SAT, MAR 28, 8pm Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and Classical Theatre of Harlem offer a collaborative portrait of the cultural diversity and vitality of New York City through a musical and theatrical performance of Shakespeare’s classic tale A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The performance will include Mendelssohn’s incidental music, arranged for chamber orchestra, in its rightful place within Shakespeare’s timeless play (with some modern adaptations), combining all into a singular theatrical event. Drawing on the universal theme of love’s many caprices, this meditation will offer a specific portrait of Harlem’s rich culture and celebrate this space through a blend of music, theater, and dance.
A Meditation on Harlem Midsummer MENDELSSOHN/arr. TARKMANN - A Midsummer Night’s Dream, incidental music, Op. 21 and 61
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Hayes Piano Series IV
JENNY LIN, piano
A Brief (and Modern) History of Piano Études
SUN, APR 5, 2pm KENNEDY CENTER TERRACE THEATER “Pianist Jenny Lin gave a recital…that was as thoughtfully conceived as it was beautifully executed.” – The Washington Post One of the standout pianists in the Kennedy Center’s tribute to Philip Glass in 2018 (who, as the Washington Post said, “showed everyone how it was done”), Jenny Lin will explore and contrast études by a swath of composers including Debussy, Chopin, Liszt, Ligeti, Kapustin, and, of course, Glass. Selected études by CHOPIN, DEBUSSY, PHILIP GLASS, NIKOLAI KAPUSTIN, LIGETI, and LISZT
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ARGUS QUARTET
LVB
Valley of Wonderment
250
TUE, APR 14, 7:30pm KENNEDY CENTER TERRACE THEATER “The Argus Quartet is finding fresh, thrillingly expressive possibilities and adding bold new colors to a canvas that has their clear signature on it.” – David Harrington, Kronos Quartet One of the hottest quartets on the scene today, the Argus Quartet rose to international prominence after winning the 2017 Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition and the M-Prize. From a residency at Juilliard to collaborations with the Kronos Quartet, Juilliard String Quartet, and JACK Quartet, the Argus Quartet is at the forefront of a generation of chamber ensembles that bring the same fresh curiosity to traditional repertoire as they do to works by living composers. This program juxtaposes selections from J.S. Bach’s The Art of Fugue with Garth Knox’s Satellites and works by contemporary master Christopher Theofanidis and others. Program includes works by BACH, BEETHOVEN, ROLF WALLIN, JURI SEO, CHRISTOPHER THEOFANIDIS, and GARTH KNOX
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Orchestra Series II
THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA
Denève
O’Connor
Stéphane Denève, principal guest conductor Kelly O’Connor, mezzo-soprano
WED, APR 15, 8pm KENNEDY CENTER CONCERT HALL Grammy Award–winning singer Kelly O’Connor joins the Philadelphia Orchestra in a thrilling program of bold musical voices from the past century. The Philadelphia Orchestra returns to the Washington Performing Arts season under the baton of principal guest conductor Stéphane Denève, who this season begins his music directorship of the St. Louis Symphony. The program focuses on the orchestra’s championing of both contemporary music—with English composer Anna Clyne’s This Midnight Hour—and symphonic standards like Prokofiev’s ravishing Romeo and Juliet. Peter Lieberson’s Pulitzer-winning Neruda Songs, which has become a modern classic and powerfully expresses the poetry of Pablo Neruda, showcases Kelly O’Connor’s “breathtaking…rich, beautiful voice” (St. Louis Post-Dispatch). ANNA CLYNE - This Midnight Hour LIEBERSON - Neruda Songs PROKOFIEV - Selections from Romeo and Juliet
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The Orchestral Future
CHINEKE! ORCHESTRA Kevin John Edusei, conductor Sheku Kanneh-Mason, cello
TUE, APR 21, 8pm KENNEDY CENTER CONCERT HALL “Chineke!’s shoots are green, their sap rising…. Chineke! sound fresh, impassioned, [and] full of raw promise.” – The Guardian Though the Chineke! Orchestra is but a few years old (established in 2015), the London-based orchestra has already made waves, performing at Royal Festival Hall, the BBC Proms at Royal Albert Hall, and on tour in Europe and the U.S. Championing change and diversity in the classical music world, the Chineke! Orchestra provides young black and minority ethnic artists performance opportunities around the world. The concert features Sheku Kanneh-Mason, an alum of the orchestra and the star cellist at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding in 2018.
KannehMason
COLERIDGE-TAYLOR - Ballade FAURÉ - Élégie SAINT-SAËNS - Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 33 BRAHMS - Symphony No. 2, in D Major, Op. 73 Co-presented with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Raga Roots
ZAKIR HUSSAIN TRIO Zakir Hussain, tabla Jayanthi Kumaresh, veena Kala Ramnath, violin
FRI, APR 24, 8pm LISNER AUDITORIUM The “indisputable tabla maestro” (Gramophone) returns to the bedrock of his musical foundation. Celebrated as an Indian national treasure for his mastery of tabla playing, the frequent cross-genre collaborator and boundary pusher Zakir Hussain returns to his musical heritage. Performing alongside veena player Jayanthi Kumaresh and violinist Kala Ramnath, Hussain showcases the spectacular improvisatory art of Indian classical music.
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Mars Arts D.C.
A partnership of Mars, Incorporated & Washington Performing Arts with support from Jacqueline Badger Mars
Ensemble-in-Residence
THE STRING QUEENS SAT, APR 25, 8pm SIXTH & I
Soulful sounds from Pachelbel to Ellington to CeeLo Green and beyond A potent and innovative presence on the D.C. music scene, the String Queens are the 2019/20 Mars Arts D.C. Ensemble-in-Residence. The “Queens” are Kendall Isadore, Dawn Johnson, and Élise Cuffy—three genre-defying musicians whose creative impact on D.C. ranges from collaborations with star singer Aloe Blacc and the Kennedy Center to inspirational work as arts educators. The String Queens bring together an eclectic mix of soulful music from the Baroque era through the Jazz Age and today’s Billboard Hot 100 Chart. Mars Arts D.C. is a partnership of Mars, Incorporated, and Washington Performing Arts, with support from Jacqueline Badger Mars.
LIL BUCK & JON BOOGZ
Love Heals All Wounds
FRI, MAY 1, 8pm LISNER AUDITORIUM
Renowned street-dance innovators address social change through movement artistry in a performance that is “alternately loose and uncannily precise” (Time Out, New York). Two of the most eminent and exciting artists in street-dance today—Lil Buck and Jon Boogz—expand upon an acclaimed collaboration in their first-ever eveninglength work, exploring urgent social topics like violence and incarceration while promoting the uniting forces of diversity, inclusion, and empathy. A virtuoso of Memphis jookin’, Lil Buck is best-known to many for the viral video of his duo collaboration with cellist Yo-Yo Ma. A master popper from Miami, Jon Boogz has choreographed for Gloria Estefan, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Cirque du Soleil, and many others.
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Gospel, London-Style
THE KINGDOM CHOIR
Washington Performing Arts Children of the Gospel Choir Michele Fowlin, artistic director
SUN, MAY 3, 5pm LISNER AUDITORIUM
Children of the Gospel Choir
“The Kingdom Choir …captivated audiences from around the world with their performance.” – NPR Long before the Kingdom Choir performed “Stand By Me” at the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, this ensemble, formed in 1994, had already performed for Queen Elizabeth II, Desmond Tutu, Bill Clinton, and Nelson Mandela. Their enthusiastic blend of sacred and secular music, including gospel, spirituals, and pop arrangements, will be perfectly complemented by the exuberant and gifted singers of Washington Performing Arts’ own Children of the Gospel Choir, who will open the concert. Performances by the Children of the Gospel Choir are made possible in part through the generous support of Jacqueline Badger Mars and Mars, Incorporated.
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Solo Piano Mastery II
EMANUEL AX, piano
LVB 250
WED, MAY 6, 8pm THE MUSIC CENTER AT STRATHMORE “Strong on bravura, ravishing in finesse, and flinging himself into the work with glee” – The Guardian Emanuel Ax—the beloved American pianist who has been a fixture of the piano world since his 1974 win at the first Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Competition— is an always welcome and inspiring member of the Washington Performing Arts “family” of artists, having appeared in recent years in collaborative performances with the likes of Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, and others. He returns this season for his first solo Washington Performing Arts recital in 10 years, performing an allBeethoven program showcasing a trademark pianism that is “thoughtful, lyrical, lustrous” (Washington Post). BEETHOVEN - Bagatelle No. 25 in A minor, WoO 59 “Für Elise” BEETHOVEN - Piano Sonata No. 2 in A Major, Op. 2, No. 2 BEETHOVEN - Six variations on an original theme for piano in F Major, Op. 34 BEETHOVEN - Piano Sonata No. 1 in F minor, Op. 2, No. 1 BEETHOVEN - Five variations for piano on “Rule, Britannia!”, WoO 79 BEETHOVEN - Piano Sonata No. 3 in C Major, Op. 2, No. 3
Father & Son Duet
TERRY RILEY & GYAN RILEY SAT, MAY 9, 8pm SIXTH & I
Enjoy a jam across the generations, as two master improvisers explore the intersection of jazz, minimalism, and more Hailed figuratively as the “Father of Minimalism,” the revered composer and multi-instrumentalist Terry Riley is the literal father of electric and acoustic guitarist Gyan, whom the New Yorker has praised as “a one-man American-music machine, amicably ranging across the fields of jazz, world music, and post-minimalism.” In their duo performances, the elder Riley contributes his own robust eclecticism, delving into classical minimalism, jazz, Indian ragas, and other musical currents on acoustic piano, electronic keyboards, and vocals. The result is a “series of joyously ramshackle improvisations…like Bach doing bebop” (Guardian). Terry Riley’s Sun Rings will be performed by the Kronos Quartet this season. See page 22.
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The Spell-Binding Piano
BEATRICE RANA, piano
TUE, MAY 12, 7:30pm KENNEDY CENTER TERRACE THEATER “There’s something of Martha Argerich about the way she combines chunky articulation and sparkling clarity with whimsical touches.” – The Times (London)
Gramophone’s 2017 “Artist of the Year” returns for her first Washington Performing Arts performance since her 2014 Hayes Piano Series debut— following which, the Washington Post wrote, “Her startling technique remains among the most faultless of young pianists today.” The 24-year-old attracted international attention at the 2013 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, where she won the Silver Medal and Audience Award. Of her interpretations of Chopin’s Études in her March 2019 New York recital debut at Carnegie Hall, the New York Times’ Anthony Tommasini wrote, “The best performances convey [the Études’s] musical riches. In that regard, Beatrice Rana set a new standard for me…. She made the pieces sound as poetic and colorful as anything Chopin ever wrote…. From the opening moments…Ms. Rana had the audience rapt.” Program to be announced.
Beethoven Sonatas III
IGOR LEVIT, piano
LVB 250
FRI, MAY 15, 7:30pm KENNEDY CENTER TERRACE THEATER “It is not easy to achieve stardom as a concert pianist these days…. Mr. Levit has managed to break through, thanks to a combination of his playing and his daring.” – The New York Times The brilliant pianist Igor Levit, the 2018 Gilmore Artist and Royal Philharmonic Society’s 2018 “Instrumentalist of the Year,” returns to Washington to commemorate Beethoven’s 250th birthday, following the release of a Sony boxed set of the composer’s complete sonatas, with three sonatas from the Beethoven’s youth and his majestic “Hammerklavier” Sonata, Op. 106. Levit’s inventive interpretations have garnered him a “Recording of the Year” from Gramophone and praise as “one that communicates a wealth of meaning without artifice…a truly gifted artist” (Washington Post). BEETHOVEN - Piano Sonata No. 9 in E Major, Op. 14, No. 1 BEETHOVEN - Piano Sonata No. 10 in G Major, Op. 14, No. 2 BEETHOVEN - Piano Sonata No. 11 in B-flat Major, Op. 22 BEETHOVEN - Piano Sonata No. 29 in B-flat Major, Op. 105 “Hammerklavier”
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Jazz Around the World I
DANILO PÉREZ’S GLOBAL MESSENGERS SAT, MAY 16, 8pm SIXTH & I
“Danilo Pérez is a man with some serious jazz cred. The Panamanian pianist got his start playing with Dizzy Gillespie, and continued with Wayne Shorter. As a composer and bandleader himself, he’s practically peerless.” – NPR Jazz piano master and UNESCO Artist for Peace Danilo Pérez unites his twin passions of music and humanitarianism in this international sextet boasting musicians from Palestine, Greece, Jordan, and Panama—all contributing and combining their respective cultural learnings and personal experiences with the goal of building community through music. Featuring Danilo Pérez, piano; Farayi Malek, vocals; Vasilis Kostas, laouto (Greek lute); Layth Sidiq, violin; Naseem Alatrash, cello; Tareq Rantisi, percussion
Jazz Around the World II
JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER ORCHESTRA with Wynton Marsalis
Jazz Ambassadors: The Music of Duke, Dizzy, Brubeck, and Goodman THU, MAY 21, 8pm KENNEDY CENTER CONCERT HALL Trumpet master Marsalis and the incomparable JLCO perform a swinging tribute to four jazz giants What do Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Dave Brubeck, and Benny Goodman have in common? Beyond their status as jazz legends, they were also global jazz ambassadors, touring extensively internationally and expanding the art form’s worldwide reputation and appeal. Jazz at Lincoln Center will explore these four artists’ music, stories, and motivations with their trademark swing and style.
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World Premiere-FREE
THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE BAND Col Don Schofield, commander & conductor Christopher Tin, conductor Choral Arts Society of Washington Scott Tucker, artistic director
Christopher Tin’s
To Shiver the Sky*
SAT, MAY 30, 8pm THE ANTHEM A musical exploration of space with the world premiere of Christopher Tin’s oratorio To Shiver the Sky, which was commissioned through the highestfunded classical music Kickstarter in history Two-time Grammy-winning composer Christopher Tin is a master of the concert stage, silver screen, and gaming world. Renowned for his excellence as a groundbreaking and compelling creator, Tin is the first composer to receive a Grammy Award for video game music. His works are equally at home in venerable concert halls and the fantastical worlds created in the digital world. Tin’s work was featured on the soundtrack of blockbuster film Crazy Rich Asians, and his original works are beloved by millions through music for the game Civilization IV. To Shiver the Sky, a musical exploration of mankind’s conquest of the sky for orchestra, chorus, and soloists, sets texts from pioneers of flight from Leonard da Vinci to Amelia Earhart. CHRISTOPHER TIN - To Shiver the Sky (World Premiere) Co-presented with The United States Air Force Band *Free, but tickets are required (details TBA). This performance may not be applied toward a Custom Series Subscription.
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
SUN, JUN 7, 7pm 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 2019/20 Season! The Men, Women, and Children of the Gospel also appear this season in Living the Dream… Singing the Dream (page 16). Performances by the Children of the Gospel Choir are made possible in part through the generous support of Jacqueline Badger Mars and Mars, Incorporated.
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Impact through Education
L-R: Students participate in the D.C. Keys program and the Feder Memorial String Competition
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 more than 50,000 participants across greater D.C. 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.
Washington Performing Arts is an integral partner in expanding 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. Washington Performing Arts provides education programs and curricular support to 100 D.C. Public Schools through award-winning programs like the Capital Arts Partnerships, which include in-school instruction, artist interaction, and performance opportunities. Through the Gateway Student Ticket Program, Washington Performing Arts is pleased to offer a limited number of $10 tickets to students of all ages (up to two tickets for each performance with a valid ID) for our main stage performances. (Gateway tickets go on sale along with single tickets in late summer.)
To learn more and find opportunities to participate, visit WashingtonPerformingArts.org/education 36 | WashingtonPerformingArts.org
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Focus on Local Artists
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 (free to participants and fully funded through generous donations). With a storied 25-year 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 highest-quality gospel music to audiences through two main stage performances and more than 15 community performances each year. Performances by the Children of the Gospel Choir are made possible in part through the generous support of Jacqueline Badger Mars and Mars, Incorporated.
Mars Arts D.C. (formerly the Mars Urban Arts Initiative) 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. Reflective of our founder Patrick Hayes’ motto, “Everybody in, out,” Mars Arts D.C. amplifies the role of local artists Mars Arts D.C. nobody throughout Washington Performing Arts’ productions, A partnership of Mars, Incorporated & Washington Performing Arts with support from Jacqueline Badger Mars 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. Full schedule of events to be announced this summer. Learn more at bit.ly/MarsArtsDC For more information, email nbrown@washingtonperformingarts.org. #MarsArtsDC
Cissa Paz at The LINE DC
Mars Arts D.C. is a partnership of Mars, Incorporated and Washington Performing Arts, with support from Jacqueline Badger Mars.
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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 engaging with 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 deeply values its partnerships with local organizations and other arts institutions. Through events in myriad performance venues and neighborhoods, Washington Performing Arts engages international visiting artists in community programs and introduces local artists to wider audiences. We place a premium on establishing artists as a continuing presence in the lives of both young people and adults through residencies and educational programs. Our achievements have been recognized with a National Medal of Arts and with three Mayor’s Arts Awards from the D.C. Government. We have now embarked upon our second half-century, ever-inspired by 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:
search: Washington Performing Arts
@WashPerformArts
@washingtonperformingarts
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2019/20 Main Stage 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)
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)
Sixth & I
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
The Anthem
901 Wharf Street SW, Washington, D.C. 20024 Parking: Wharf Garage on Maine Avenue SW (three entrances via Blair Alley, Sutton Square, and 7th Street Park) Metrorail: L’Enfant Plaza (Blue/Orange/Silver and Green/Yellow Lines), Waterfront Metro (Green Line)
Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Infocus Direct 20187 1400 K Street NW, Suite 500 Washington, D.C. 20005
Complete subscription info inside!
Become a Friend for advance seating privileges and other benefits!
2019/20 Season OCTOBER
FRI, FEB 21, 8pm • Strathmore BUDAPEST FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA
with special guest Meow Meow
Iván Fischer, conductor Gerhild Romberger, contralto
FRI, APR 24, 8pm • Lisner ZAKIR HUSSAIN TRIO
WED, OCT 16, 8pm • KCCH MELBOURNE SYMPHONY
THU, FEB 27, 7:30pm • KCTT MICHAEL BARENBOIM & WEST-EASTERN DIVAN ENSEMBLE
SAT, APR 25, 8pm • SIXTH & I THE STRING QUEENS
SUN, OCT 13, 7pm • KCCH PINK MARTINI
Sir Andrew Davis, chief conductor Garrick Ohlsson, piano
SAT, OCT 19, 2pm • KCTT DREW PETERSEN, piano
SAT, FEB 29, 8pm • SIXTH & I MATTHEW WHITAKER
MARCH
Zakir Hussain, tabla Jayanthi Kumaresh, veena Kala Ramnath, violin
MAY FRI, MAY 1, 8pm • Lisner LIL BUCK & JON BOOGZ
TUE, OCT 29, 7:30pm • KCTT SPEKTRAL QUARTET
WED, MAR 4, 8pm • KCCH DANIIL TRIFONOV, piano
WED, OCT 30, 8pm • Strathmore CHICK COREA TRILOGY
SUN, MAR 8, 7:30pm • KCTT SEONG-JIN CHO, piano
featuring Washington Performing Arts Children of the Gospel Choir Michele Fowlin, artistic director
NOVEMBER
FRI, MAR 13, 8pm • Lisner KRONOS QUARTET
WED, MAY 6, 8pm • Strathmore EMANUEL AX, piano
with Christian McBride & Brian Blade
FRI, NOV 15, 8pm • Strathmore TAIPEI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Jahja Ling, conductor Paul Huang, violin Felix Fan, cello
SAT, NOV 16, 8pm • SIXTH & I AMJAD ALI KHAN
Choral Arts Chamber Singers
FRI, MAR 20, 8pm • Strathmore MURRAY PERAHIA, piano SAT, MAR 21, 8pm • SIXTH & I VERONICA SWIFT
SUN, NOV 17, 2pm • KCTT ZOLTÁN FEJÉRVÁRI, piano
SHIFT: A FESTIVAL OF AMERICAN ORCHESTRAS at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall
DECEMBER
TUE, MAR 24, 8pm JACKSONVILLE SYMPHONY
SAT, DEC 7, 8pm • SIXTH & I DAMIEN SNEED: JOY TO THE WORLD
JANUARY WED, JAN 22, 7:30pm • KCTT KIAN SOLTANI, cello JULIO ELIZALDE, piano SAT, JAN 25, 8pm • Strathmore MIDORI, violin JEAN-YVES THIBAUDET, piano SUN, JAN 26, 7pm • KCCH 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
FEBRUARY SAT, FEB 1, 3pm • KCCH ANNE-SOPHIE MUTTER, violin LAMBERT ORKIS, piano SAT, FEB 8, 8pm • SIXTH & I KINAN AZMEH’S CITYBAND SAT, FEB 15, 8pm • SIXTH & I MELISSA ALDANA TUE, FEB 18, 7:30pm • KCTT PAUL LEWIS & STEVEN OSBORNE, pianos
Courtney Lewis, conductor Anthony McGill, clarinet
WED, MAR 25, 8pm BALTIMORE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Marin Alsop, conductor Cristina Pato, bagpipes Kayhan Kalhor, kamancheh David Krakauer, clarinet Michael Ward-Bergeman, hyper-accordion Washington Performing Arts Men & Women of the Gospel Choir
FRI, MAR 27, 8pm KNOXVILLE SYMPHONY
Aram Demirjian, conductor Julia Bullock, soprano The University of Tennessee Symphony Brass R.B. Morris, Knoxville Poet Laureate, speaker
SAT, MAR 28, 8pm ORPHEUS CHAMBER ORCHESTRA Classical Theatre of Harlem Peter Francis James, director
APRIL SUN, APR 5, 2pm • KCTT JENNY LIN, piano TUE, APR 14, 7:30pm • KCTT ARGUS QUARTET WED, APR 15, 8pm • KCCH THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA
SUN, MAY 3, 5pm • Lisner THE KINGDOM CHOIR
SAT, MAY 9, 8pm • SIXTH & I TERRY RILEY & GYAN RILEY TUE, MAY 12, 7:30pm • KCTT BEATRICE RANA, piano FRI, MAY 15, 7:30pm • KCTT IGOR LEVIT, piano SAT, MAY 16, 8pm • SIXTH & I DANILO PÉREZ’S GLOBAL MESSENGERS THU, MAY 21, 8pm • KCCH JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER ORCHESTRA WITH WYNTON MARSALIS SAT, MAY 30, 8pm • Anthem THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE BAND: TO SHIVER THE SKY Col Don Schofield, commander & conductor Choral Arts Society of Washington Scott Tucker, artistic director
JUNE SUN, JUN 7, 7pm • Strathmore 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
VENUE KEY KCCH: Kennedy Center Concert Hall KCTT: Kennedy Center Terrace Theater Lisner: GW Lisner Auditorium Sixth & I: Sixth & I Synagogue Strathmore: The Music Center at Strathmore Anthem: The Anthem
Stéphane Denève, principal guest conductor Kelly O’Connor, mezzo-soprano
TUE, APR 21, 8pm • KCCH CHINEKE! ORCHESTRA
Kevin John Edusei, conductor Sheku Kanneh-Mason, cello All programs and artists subject to change
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