The Music Center at Strathmore will present a potpourri of entertainment excellence this season.
Variety, that “something for everyone” niche, is the hallmark for this season’s roster, not only in the district, but in the great halls of area venues.
The Music Center at Strathmore, a 1,976 seat concert hall, is home to the National Philharmonic, selected Baltimore Symphony concerts, Washington Performing Arts concerts, as well as special guest performances and international programs of the highest magnitude.
NATIONAL PHILHARMONIC
The National Philharmonic often hosts free, pre-concert lectures one hour before the performance and children ages 7 to 17 are admitted into the concert free of charge.
The National Philharmonic’s schedule at the Music Center at Strathmore:
Russian Evening with Leon Fleisher: Piotr Gajewski, conductor; Leon Fleisher, piano. Featuring Mussorgsky’s “Night on Bald Mountain,” Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 4, Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6, “Pathetique.” Details: 8 p.m. Jan. 30, 3 p.m. Jan. 31; tickets from $29.
All Brahms: Chee-Yun, violin; Piotr Gajewski, conductor. Featuring Hungarian Dance No. 5, Violin Concerto, Symphony No. 2. Details: 8 p.m. March 20, 3 p.m. March 21; tickets from $29.
Brahms’ Requiem: Audrey Elizabeth Luna, soprano; Christopheren Nomura, baritone; Michael Emery Crotty, boy soprano; Stan Engebretson, conductor. Featuring Makris Alleluia, Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, Brahms’ “A German Requiem.” Details: 8 p.m. March 27; tickets from $29.
BALTIMORE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, now in its fifth performance season at Strathmore, presents passion, energy and innovation in their scheduled concerts:
BSO SuperPops — Linda Eder’s Judy Garland Songbook: Jack Everly and the BSO SuperPops welcome Broadway star Linda Eder for a tribute to the legendary Judy Garland. With all the emotion of Garland’s voice, Eder makes these songs her own, dazzling audiences with favorites including “By Myself,” “It Never Was You” “Almost Like Being in Love” and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” Details: 8 p.m. Jan. 28; tickets from $25.
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra –Rusty Musicians with the BSO: To celebrate the BSO at Strathmore’s fifth anniversary, Music Director Marin Alsop and the BSO invite members of the community to dust off their instruments and perform with the BSO at the Music Center at Strathmore. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, led by Alsop, features excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4. Details: 6 p.m. Feb. 4; $10; bsomusic.org/rust.
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra –Pictures of Music: Marin Alsop, conductor. Featuring Dave and Chris Brubeck “Ansel Adams: America,” Hindemith “Symphony Mathis der Maler,” Mussorgsky/Orch. Ravel “Pictures at an Exhibition.” In this East Coast premiere and BSO co-commission American jazz pianist Dave Brubeck and his son, composer Chris Brubeck, create a multimedia celebration of nature photographer Ansel Adams, combining the symphony orchestra with stunning photography of the American West. Details: 8 p.m. Feb. 11, free pre-concert lecture hosted by WETA’s David Ginder at 7 p.m.; tickets from $25.
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra –Itzhak Perlman: Itzhak Perlman, conductor and violin; Katherine Needleman, oboe. Featuring J.S. Bach’s Concerto for Violin and Oboe, Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5. Details: Feb. 20; tickets from $25.
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra –Beethoven and Mozart with a Twist: Nicholas McGegan, conductor; Robert Levin, piano. Featuring Mozart’s Overture to “The Marriage of Figaro,” Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1, Robert Levin Improvisation in the Style of Beethoven, Mozart’s Symphony No. 41, “Jupiter.” Pianist Robert Levin takes the solo role in Beethoven’s First Piano Concerto, a magnificent and zest-filled work infused with youthful energy and brilliance. Levin then presents his own classically inspired improvisation on the piano, just as Mozart or Beethoven might have done for their audiences. Details: 8 p.m. Feb. 27; tickets from $25.
Superpops Concert Series — Mysterioso: Music, Magic, Mayhem & Mirth: Jack Everly,conductor; Joseph Gabriel, illusionist. The BSO Superpops and Jack Everly join in on the fun of the Circus Festival with a concert of music, magic and comedy you won’t want to miss — and won’t soon forget. You’ll be wowed by quick-change artists, David and Dania, who mystify audiences with their stunning costume changes. Anything can happen with the comedic magic act of Les Arnold and Dazzle that will keep you laughing and asking, “How did they do that?” This musical and magical roller-coaster ride is sure to amaze and captivate. Details: 8 p.m. March 4; call for ticket prices.
Cirque de la Symphonie: Marin Alsop, conductor. Featuring Poulenc Les Biches Suite, Bartok’s “The Miraculous Mandarin Suite,” Satie Parade, Copland’s “Billy the Kid Suite.” Fun, frightening and fabulous. The BSO’s four-week midseason music carnival opens by bringing the circus to town — performed under the big top. This program of brilliant music and spectacular performance features Cirque de la Symphonie performers on and above the stage, presenting a feast for your eyes and ears. Alsop leads a magnificent lineup of music from across the continents, from Poulenc’s charming portrayal of Louis XIV to Aaron Copland’s “ride tough, let’s dance, and shoot-’em-up” depiction of Billy the Kid.
Circus Maximus: Marin Alsop, conductor; members of the United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own”; members of the University of Maryland Wind Orchestra. Featuring Little “Screamer,” Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf,” Corigliano’s Symphony No. 3, “Circus Maximus.” Our four-week carnival goes to the center ring with musical giants and tigers and wolves, oh my. We open with a quick work by David Little, who imagines a circus very nearly out of control — in laughter, music and mayhem. Prokofiev’s classic and triumphal tale of a heroic boy and threatening wolf takes center stage, only to be followed by a crazy and gargantuan musical portrayal of the Circus Maximus from ancient Rome. Here, bigger-than-life entertainments stand as humorous commentary on our own busy and bustling lives. Details: 8 p.m. March 8; call for ticket prices.
WASHINGTON PERFORMING ARTS SOCIETY
When Patrick Hayes founded the Washington performing Arts Society (WPAS) more than 40 years ago, he was committed to “… showcasing the complete spectrum of the arts in performances of the highest quality, including classical music, jazz, gospel, contemporary dance, international music and art forms and works that bend genres in provocative ways.”
The commitment lives on in 2010 with the offerings presented at the Music Center at Strathmore.
Radu Lupu, piano: Featuring Janavek’s “In the Mist”; Beethoven’s Sonata No. 23 in F minor; Op. 57, “Appassionata”; Schubert’s Sonata in A Major, D.959. Acclaimed for his interpretations of Beethoven and Schubert, Van Cliburn winner Radu returns to Washington after a 16-year absence. Details: 8 p.m. Jan. 27; tickets from $27.
Joshua Bell, violin and Jeremy Denk, piano: Equally at home as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestra leader, Joshua Bell’s restless curiosity and multifaceted musical interests have taken him in exciting new directions that have earned him the rare title of “classical music superstar.” Details: 8 p.m. Feb. 9; $47 to $110.
STRATHMORE PRESENTS
Strathmore’s hosted events are always greatly anticipated by audiences and are as follows:
Suzanne Vega and Marc Cohn: The smartest sounds of the 1980s and following singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega (“Luka” and “Tom’s Diner”) brings her most recent compositions and your favorites to this concert, paired with soulful singer-songwriter Marc Cohn, whose “Walking in Memphis” won millions of fans. Details: 8 p.m. Feb. 12; $25 to $48.
Discover Strathmore: Discover the magic of Strathmore at this free, open house family festival, celebrating the fifth anniversary of the Music Center. Musical and magical acts perform throughout the mansion and music center. Headlining the festival are The Spencers in their production “Theatre of Illusion,” called “a new take on magic [that] borrows the kind of lights, music and drama of a Broadway production meshed with a rock concert” (Monterey Herald). Paul Carr’s Jazz Academy Orchestra will perform a magic-themed concert. Plus performances, classes, interactive workshops, demonstrations, arts and crafts and more. Details: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 15; free.
Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour: Featuring the Kenny Barron Trio, Regina Carter, Kurt Elling and Russell Malone. Hear “one of the top jazz pianists in the world” (Los Angeles Times), Kenny Barron; “wonderfully listenable” (Time magazine) violinist Regina Carter; “flamboyantly creative” (San Francisco Chronicle) vocalist Kurt Elling; and one of DownBeat’s all-time “great guitarists,” Russell Malone. Details: 8 p.m. Feb. 19; $28 to $62; post-concert discussion with Kurt, Regina and Russell.
The Pink Floyd Experience: The Pink Floyd Experience recreates everything that made Pink Floyd one of rock and roll’s greatest icons, from the unforgettable hits (“Money,” “Another Brick in the Wall”) to the 200,000 watt light show, full quadraphonic sound and special effects. Details: 8 p.m. Feb. 25; $48.
The Peking Acrobats: Juggling, balancing, leaping, tumbling, seemingly effortlessly from one jaw-dropping stunt to the next, this internationally acclaimed troupe is “amazing … 90 minutes of family fun” (New York Times). Details: 8 p.m. Feb. 26; $25 to $48.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo: “It isn’t merely the grace and power of their dancing or the beauty of their singing that rivets the attention, but the sheer joy and love that emanates from their being” (Paul Simon). Celebrate the power of music in this joyous concert by the Grammy-winning South African ensemble. Details: 8 p.m. March 5; $18 to $55.
The Celtic Tenors: With top-selling albums and sold-out international tours, these three operatic tenors are the toast of Ireland and beyond, singing classical favorites, folk, pop and traditional Irish tunes. “Crystalline vocals …laced with laughs … a world-class show” (News Leader, British Columbia). Details: 8 p.m. March 12; $28 to $65.
A Year with Frog and Toad: The New York hit returns. You’ll want to tag along as tried and true friends Frog and Toad navigate through an adventure-filled year, joined by colorful companions along the way. Set to a jazzy score, this charming musical lovingly captures the spirit of Arnold Lobel’s award-winning, whimsical stories as this unlikely friendship blossoms and grows. “Delightful beautifully, zanily theatrical” (TheaterMania.com). Details: 1 p.m. March 14; $18 to $38.
Tom Wopat: The handsome star of the TV hit “The Dukes of Hazzard” has conquered Broadway (“Annie Get Your Gun,” “Chicago”) and won a new world of fans with his concerts and cabaret appearances. His newest show, “Love Swings,” has drawn rave reviews. Details: 2 p.m. March 28; $26 to $66.
The Music Center at Strathmore is located at 5301 Tuckerman Lane in North Bethesda. For further information or tickets, call 301-581-5100 or visit strathmore.org.
