Archive: Washington
National Opera Week
The first National Opera Week begins today; some other free opera-related events this weekend.
By Anne Midgette | November 13, 2009; 06:30 AM ET | Comments (2)
Classical music has its White House day
Thoughts on the White House's celebration of classical music.
By Anne Midgette | November 5, 2009; 06:00 AM ET | Comments (3)
Halloween planner
Music events in Washington on Halloween night: InCite, InSeries, and Elizabeth Joy Roe
By Anne Midgette | October 30, 2009; 12:10 PM ET | Comments (2)
Mr. Bell goes to Washington (again)
The White House opens up to classical music next week.
By Anne Midgette | October 30, 2009; 11:45 AM ET | Comments (1)
Ariadne in Washington
"Ariadne auf Naxos" opens in Washington this weekend: video previews of this Chris Alexander production and of a Robert Carsen production from Munich/Berlin. Post your own thoughts.
By Anne Midgette | October 23, 2009; 04:06 PM ET | Comments (5)
Coming out of Haydn
An unpublished symphony by Haydn gets a rare hearing from a community and student orchestra in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Plus: a preview of a few upcoming weekend events.
By Anne Midgette | October 23, 2009; 07:01 AM ET | Comments (1)
Maazel reaches out
A link to Emma Brown's article in the Washington Post about Lorin Maazel leading a rehearsal with the D.C. Youth Orchestra.
By Anne Midgette | October 22, 2009; 11:21 AM ET | Comments (0)
Steinway rolls in
Steinway opens its first exclusive branches in the Washington area.
By Anne Midgette | October 22, 2009; 06:30 AM ET | Comments (10)
Halls, re-sounding
Of concert halls and acoustics: raising an age-old question once again, with particular reference to the National Symphony Orchestra.
By Anne Midgette | October 20, 2009; 06:34 AM ET | Comments (9)
Go for baroque
Two different programs of French baroque opera are taking place tonight.
By Anne Midgette | October 19, 2009; 06:30 AM ET | Comments (1)
Costumes For a Song
A plug for the Washington National Opera's costume sale this weekend.
By Anne Midgette | October 16, 2009; 06:38 AM ET | Comments (1)
Saturday Night Fever
Three things to do on Saturday: hear Yuliya Gorenman play five Beethoven sonatas; hear a concert of chamber music by a Catholic University professor; or stay home and watch Gustavo Dudamel on a live webcast (what, again?).
By Anne Midgette | October 2, 2009; 06:28 AM ET | Comments (0)
Music Directors: A New Wind
A link to an article in the Post about new music directors: the hopes, the fears, the actual results.
By Anne Midgette | September 27, 2009; 11:08 AM ET | Comments (0)
Short Circuits
The Sonic Circuits festival starts tonight, showcasing experimental and avant-garde music from around the world in concerts all over the Washington area, from clubs to concert halls.
By Anne Midgette | September 22, 2009; 06:30 AM ET | Comments (1)
The New Orchestra Tour
Orchestral simulcasts this weekend: the Washington Conservatory will pick up the Philadelphia Orchestra's live broadcasts (in a theater), while Dudamel conducts the Berlin Philharmonic live on the Philharmonic's digital concert hall (on your computer).
By Anne Midgette | September 18, 2009; 06:30 AM ET | Comments (0)
Eschenbach's Energy
Christoph Eschenbach, the NSO's music director designate, is offering a punishing range of concerts this season, leading one to wonder how one man can possibly keep so much music straight - and yet this is par for the course for a conductor on his level.
By Anne Midgette | September 16, 2009; 06:30 AM ET | Comments (3)
Fall Arts Preview: Big and Small
A link to the forecast for classical music in the Fall Arts Preview of the Washington Post.
By Anne Midgette | September 13, 2009; 10:47 AM ET | Comments (0)
DC News/Olds
Heinz Fricke pulls out of "Ariadne" and "Götterdämmerung" at the Washington National Opera this fall; the Sonic Circuits Festival (September) announces its program, showing another side of contemporary music in Washington.
By Anne Midgette | August 12, 2009; 06:30 AM ET | Comments (2)
Funds Dry Up For DC's New Music
Aaron Grad weighs in on the loss of funding to the Washington, DC chapter of the American Composers Forum, which may force this branch of the service organization to suspend operations altogether.
By Anne Midgette | August 10, 2009; 07:30 AM ET | Comments (3)
Beethoven Tweets
The National Symphony Orchestra Twitters Beethoven (link to my article in today's Post); what are your views on so-called new technology in classical music?
By Anne Midgette | July 30, 2009; 06:35 AM ET | Comments (10)
Classical Radio: "A Nice Safe Haven"
An interview with Dan DeVany, the Vice President and General Manager of WETA, Washington's all-classical radio station.
By Anne Midgette | July 24, 2009; 06:30 AM ET | Comments (13)
Estival Festivals: Song of the South
A look at festival events this coming weekend in the DC area.
By Anne Midgette | July 17, 2009; 01:00 PM ET | Comments (1)
In Performance: Beyond the Fringe
Belated link to yesterday's review of opera at the Capital Fringe Festival. It turns out both these pieces are products of the MM program in stage composition at Catholic University.
By Anne Midgette | July 15, 2009; 07:30 AM ET | Comments (0)
In Performance: Bach Festival Finale
Joe Banno reviews a reconstruction of a Bach organ program played by Mendelssohn in 1840, the final concert of the Grace Church Bach Festival.
By Anne Midgette | July 15, 2009; 06:30 AM ET | Comments (0)
In Performance: Bach Festival opens
Joan Reinthaler reviews the opening of the Grace Church Bach Festival, a concert that included the "Coffee Cantata."
By Anne Midgette | July 7, 2009; 06:30 AM ET | Comments (0)
Glorious Fourth(s)
Link to the article and the video about the NSO violinist who made a violin out of a baseball bat.
By Anne Midgette | July 4, 2009; 12:46 PM ET | Comments (0)
This Weekend in Washington: Highlights
Highlights of the musical offerings of the upcoming weekend.
By Anne Midgette | June 26, 2009; 07:00 AM ET | Comments (1)
China Syndrome
A link to my conversation about the China trip on the Website of the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer.
By Anne Midgette | June 24, 2009; 05:24 PM ET | Comments (13)
DC's Opera for the Young
The Washington National Opera holds its annual summer institute for teenaged opera hopefuls.
By Anne Midgette | June 23, 2009; 06:30 AM ET | Comments (3)
Thoughts on China's Audience
After the Tour: Some thoughts on China's classical-music audience, which was not quite as eager as reports had led me to believe. Was it them, or was it the NSO?
By Anne Midgette | June 22, 2009; 07:00 AM ET | Comments (2)
NSO Tour: Beijing, Days 3-6
Notes from Beijing, the second stop on the National Symphony Orchestra's Asia tour.
By Anne Midgette | June 15, 2009; 06:30 AM ET | Comments (0)
Taking Debate
Making what is probably the fatal mistake of mixing it up with an ongoing flame war in the blog comments, I say why I like debate - mostly because it means someone is listening.
By Anne Midgette | June 11, 2009; 06:30 AM ET | Comments (4)
The NSO in Macau
Notes from Macau: the National Symphony Orchestra's second day out.
By Anne Midgette | June 10, 2009; 11:15 AM ET | Comments (0)
China Bound: NSO Tour, Day One
Link to my first article on the National Symphony Orchestra's Asia tour (June 6-20); Day One report from the road.
By Anne Midgette | June 8, 2009; 12:45 PM ET | Comments (1)
Weekend Spotlights
Stanley Drucker, 80, retires as principal clarinetist of the New York Philharmonic; the Manassas Community Chorale waves the flag for the Washington choral scene at Carnegie Hall; the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington sings about crystal meth addiction.
By Anne Midgette | June 5, 2009; 06:30 AM ET | Comments (0)
#operaplot Delivers to DC Teacher
The #operaplot contest on Twitter has a surprise happy ending for a Washington, DC music teacher.
By Anne Midgette | May 20, 2009; 08:05 AM ET | Comments (0)
In Performance: Master Chorale's Fond Farewell
The Master Chorale's music-thanatology, ushering in its own death through song; what are your views of the effect of its demise on Washington's choral landscape? Charles T. Downey reviews a program of trio sonatas at the Smithsonian.
By Anne Midgette | May 19, 2009; 06:29 AM ET | Comments (0)
Weekend Roundup
Links to reviews of WNO's "Siegfried" (with the originally scheduled tenor) and the Crosscurrents festival, as well as ENO's "Peter Grimes"
By Anne Midgette | May 11, 2009; 06:30 AM ET | Comments (2)
In Performance: Local Reviews
Joan Reinthaler reviews Ellen Taaffe Zwilich's new septet at the Crosscurrents festival.
By Anne Midgette | May 7, 2009; 06:30 AM ET | Comments (0)
In Performance: Local Reviews
Links to reviews by Philip Kennicott, Rebecca J. Ritzel, and Mark J. Estren; Tom Huizenga reviews Ludwig Semerjian's fortepiano recital at the Library of Congress.
By Anne Midgette | May 4, 2009; 12:45 AM ET | Comments (0)
In Performance: Local Reviews
Aaron Grad writes: For the second night of its CrossCurrents Contemporary Music Week, the Kennedy Center presented two masterful chamber music concerts hailing from opposite ends of New York's musical landscape.
By Anne Midgette | May 4, 2009; 12:30 AM ET | Comments (0)
Countdown to Siegfried: 1, Liftoff
"Siegfried" opens tonight at the Washington National Opera: post your reviews here.
By Anne Midgette | May 2, 2009; 12:00 PM ET | Comments (4)
Blythe Spirits: Washington Weekend in Voice
Upcoming weekend concerts in Washington: Stephanie Blythe, Placido Domingo, et al.
By Anne Midgette | May 1, 2009; 02:06 PM ET | Comments (0)
In Performance: Local News and Reviews
Last night at the NSO; the start of the Crosscurrents festival. From today's Washington Post.
By Anne Midgette | May 1, 2009; 06:30 AM ET | Comments (4)
Opera Notes: New Opera for Baltimore?
Since the demise of the Baltimore Opera, other companies have been springing up to fill the gap. Now, Giorgio Lalov, who has for 20+ years run the touring outfit Teatro Lirico d'Europa, is attempting to create a permanent home for cut-rate opera in Baltimore.
By Anne Midgette | April 28, 2009; 06:30 AM ET | Comments (3)
Weekend Roundup
News and reviews from the weekend, in the Washington Post and around the world.
By Anne Midgette | April 27, 2009; 06:25 AM ET | Comments (0)
News and Reviews: 2009-10 Season's Greetings
Local news and reviews: Strathmore announces its 2009-10 season; Joan Reinthaler reviews David Grimal and Georges Pludermacher.
By Anne Midgette | April 22, 2009; 01:17 AM ET | Comments (1)
In Performance: Local Reviews
The NSO offers a preview of its China tour in June, by Anne Midgette....
By Anne Midgette | April 17, 2009; 10:21 AM ET | Comments (1)
Competitive Instincts: the Cliburn's Composers
The Cliburn Competition, for all its faded glory, has found a nifty way to include classical music in the mix without forcing a new work down people's throats.
By Anne Midgette | April 15, 2009; 05:50 AM ET | Comments (5)
A Salute to Marian Anderson
Celebrating Marian Anderson.
By Anne Midgette | April 12, 2009; 09:38 AM ET | Comments (0)
In Performance: Local News and Reviews
The DC Philharmonic cancels its maiden concert tonight.
By Anne Midgette | April 9, 2009; 06:00 AM ET | Comments (2)
Weekend Roundup
A roundup of the Washington Post's classical music reviews from the weekend past, plus a few other noteworthy events.
By Anne Midgette | April 6, 2009; 06:00 AM ET | Comments (7)
"Grimes" Has People Exercised
"Peter Grimes" is one of the best things I've seen at the Washington National Opera. But I'm curious about the fact that some people still really hate this opera.
By Anne Midgette | April 3, 2009; 06:04 AM ET | Comments (24)
In Performance: Local Reviews
Chamber music doesn’t get much sparer than works for two violas. But most of the time at their duo recital at the Museum of Women in the Arts on Wednesday, Kim Kashkashian and Dimitri Murrath sounded uncannily like a full string quartet.
By Anne Midgette | April 2, 2009; 04:30 PM ET | Comments (2)
News, Notes, and the NYCO
The New York City announced its 2009-10 season last night. The real news is that the company has a season to announce.
By Anne Midgette | April 2, 2009; 05:10 AM ET | Comments (2)
April Free: Five Things to do in D.C.
Five free April concerts in Washington, D.C.
By Anne Midgette | April 1, 2009; 05:30 AM ET | Comments (4)
Little Match Point
More thoughts on Bang on a Can, with sound clips. Some people find their music shallow or lightweight or, well, bangy. But they represent an important current in contemporary music - something visceral, accessible, vibrant.
By Anne Midgette | March 31, 2009; 11:50 AM ET | Comments (1)
In Performance: Reviews
Performance reviews of classical music events in the Washington Post.
By Anne Midgette | March 31, 2009; 07:45 AM ET | Comments (7)
