Music

Review: Joshua Bell Plays Tchaikovsky at The BSO at Strathmore

Having the privilege to witness Joshua Bell play is an honor, but to see him play in celebration of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s (BSO’s) centennial is a once in a lifetime experience. Growing up...

A Valentine’s Day Treat: ‘Lovers and Lotharios’ at the Cultural Arts Center of Montgomery College

If you’re looking for a romantic date this Valentine’s Day, then check out the ‘Symphony of the Potomac’—Washington’s own community-based orchestra—which will be celebrating the art of love with a...

An Interview With Isabelle Époque and Bella La Blanc on ‘Bowie and Burlesque’

And the stars look very different today. David Bowie left us poor, mere earthlings behind last month but there are two burlesque shows in his honor happening next week! Philanthrotease is presenting...

Review: ‘Alice’s Restaurant 50th Anniversary Concert with Arlo Guthrie’ at Strathmore

Fifty years later, audiences can still get anything they want – but Alice is still not part of the package. Alice’s Restaurant 50th Anniversary Concert with Arlo Guthrie played to a packed house...

J. Ernest Green on Musical Directing and Conducting ‘Finian’s Rainbow’ for Live Arts Maryland on 2/12&13

J. Ernest Green is musical directing Finian’s Rainbow at Live Arts Maryland on Friday and Saturday, February 12th and 13th. He talks here about the decision to mount the recent Broadway revival and...

An Interview with Local DC Musician Kate Moran on The Rainbow Rock Band

Alexandria, Virginia native and musician Kate Moran is a renaissance woman! She started the Del Ray Music Festival, has a Ph.D in Special Education, formed the Kate Moran Band in 2006 and then the...

Review: ‘Holy Holy’ at The Birchmere

The best way to celebrate artist David Bowie’s life is to attend a Holy Holy concert. Even David Bowie would have approved. The show played The Man Who Sold the World album with the drumhead featuring...

Pianist Brian Ganz and Mezzo-Soprano Magdalena Wór in Their All-Chopin Performance at Strathmore

Songs you’ve never heard of in a foreign language you rarely hear, performed by two artists who started rehearsing them two days earlier. What kind of a formula for success is that? This kind: When it...

Review: ‘A Jazz New Year’s Eve: Diane Schuur and Strings’ at The Kennedy Center

Having been a fan of Diane Schuur’s since college, I was excited to have the opportunity finally to see her in concert. In fact, the sense of excitement was palpable throughout the audience. I met...

The National Philharmonic’s ‘Messiah’ at Strathmore

There is a legend about the London premiere of George Frideric Handel’s Messiah involving King George II. The story says that he was so moved by the ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ in Part Two that he stood and...

‘Javon Jackson and Sax Appeal’ at the KC Jazz Club at the Kennedy Center

With Sax Appeal, no other “appeal” is necessary. The soul is satisfied. What happens when you bring four world-class saxophone players, a phenomenal pianist, a fingers-flying bass player, and a young...

Vienna Boys Choir: ‘Christmas in Vienna’ at GMU’s Center for the Arts

On December 18, 2015, GMU Center for the Arts hosted the Vienna Boys Choir and their concert Christmas in Vienna. Acclaimed Conductor Bomi Kim leads twenty-three young boys; all between the ages of 10...

‘A Broadway Christmas’ with Elaine Paige, Matt Doyle, and Julia Goodwin’ at The American Pops

What a gorgeous, festive evening The American Pops, under the direction and the quietly flowing baton of Luke S. Frazier, gave the Lisner audience last night with their entertaining and joyful A...

‘American Festival Pops Orchestra: Holiday Pops: Songs of the Season’ at GMU’s Center for the Arts

On December 12, 2015, American Festival Pops Orchestra presented Holiday Pops: Songs of the Season at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts’ concert hall. Founder and Artistic Director Anthony...

China National Traditional Orchestra’s ‘Rediscover Chinese Music’ at The Kennedy Center

Having just returned from China—where one of the highlights of the trip was hearing traditional music performed casually in teahouses and parks—I was curious to see how these simple melodies would...

‘Michael Feinstein: Sinatra Centennial with Big Band’ at Strathmore

Michael Feinstein is as warm, relaxed, and personable a musician as you’ll ever find. Last night, he worked every seat in the big house, making sure the folks in the nosebleed balconies in back felt...

NSO Pops: ‘The von Trapps and Stephanie J. Block Family Holiday’ at The Kennedy Center

With their annual holiday concert at The Kennedy Center on Thursday, December 10, 2016, the NSO Pops, joined by special guests Stephanie J. Block and The von Trapps, as well as the Washington Chorus,...

‘Tribute to Dmitri Shostakovich’ at the Russian Chamber Art Society

The thematic music of Dmitri Shostakovich echoed the halls of the Embassy of Austria from the multi-talented artists of the Russian Chamber Art Society. Seven classically trained musicians and...

Calmus at The Barns at Wolf Trap

I had the pleasure of hearing the entrancing a capella vocals of the German quintet, Calmus, at the Barns of Wolf Trap last night. Anja Poche, soprano, Sebastian Krause, countertenor, Tobias Poche,...

Fantasia at ‘An Elegant Evening of Giving’ at Strathmore

Queen of Rock Soul and American Idol winner, Fantasia brought the house down at An Elegant Evening of Giving benefit concert presented by Talking Hands Incorporated at the Music Center at Strathmore...

‘The Christmas Revels: A Medieval Celebration of the Winter Solstice in Music, Dance, and Drama’

A melody of memories whirled through my seat during The Christmas Revels, a collaboration of artistic ventures through A Medieval Celebration of the Winter Solstice in Music, Dance and Drama. Directed...

‘ReWrapped’ at the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC

The annual Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC (GMCW) holiday concert entitled ReWrapped was a lively holiday treat that combined cutting-edge musical arrangements with a light, breezy, and...

‘An Acoustic Evening with Over the Rhine’ at The Barns at Wolf Trap

An Acoustic Evening with Over the Rhine is the equivalent of a big, warm musical hug. Everything, from their chords to their consonants, was soft and rounded with nothing even resembling a pointed...

‘Declassified: In Motion featuring Ben Folds’ by The National Symphony Orchestra at The Kennedy Center

The National Symphony Orchestra/The Kennedy Center Declassified series, launched on Saturday with its performance of In Motion featuring Ben Folds, is a bold initiative to counter the fundamental...

‘An Acoustic Evening with Eric Hutchinson’ at The Barns at Wolf Trap with Anya Marina

Last night, American singer/songwriter Eric Hutchinson performed live at The Barns at Wolf Trap, a beautifully rustic venue that I’ve come to love. In fact, I’ll admit I was not too familiar with...

In the Moment: Liel Leibovitz, Author of ‘A Broken Hallelujah: Rock and Roll, Redemption and the Life of Leonard Cohen’ to Appear at JCCNV on December 5th at 8 PM

The man with the famous blue raincoat who wrote many a reflective, if not prophetic song over the past decades will be arriving at the Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia Northern Virginia....

‘By George, By Ira, By Gershwin’ at The In Series

The In Series brings to life some of the funnest and iconic music of the 20th century by George Gershwin with most song lyrics by his brother Ira. They started out on Broadway before making it big on...

An Interview with Antony Walker, Artistic Director of Washington Concert Opera

The operas of early 19th century master Gioachino Rossini play a big part in the life of Maestro Antony Walker. The artistic director of Washington Concert Opera is preparing for the company’s...

Madeleine Peyroux at The Barns at Wolf Trap

Last night, jazz virtuoso Madeleine Peyroux shared her enormous talent with an appreciative crowd that held onto her every note. Peyroux’ witty comedic chops were also on display between and even...

‘The S* Show’ at Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC (GMCW) at Atlas

As the days get shorter and the weather gets chillier, my favorite antidote to the encroaching winter is a strong dose of theatrical comfort food. Luckily for me, this is exactly what the Gay Men’s...

Dorado Schmitt and the Django Festival All-Stars at The Kennedy Center

Dorado Schmitt and the Django Festival All-Stars came to The Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theater last night. And for a beautiful 80 minutes, the terror of the day vanished, syncopated out of existence by...

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s ‘Off the Cuff: A Season of Vivaldi’

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra has some fun as they tackle Vivaldi as part of their Off the Cuff series. The series includes a smaller gathering of strings, about 35 in all, and an informal...

Barbara Cook’s Spotlight: Michele Lee: ‘Nobody Does It Like Me, The Music of Cy Coleman’

Broadway, Television, Film and Concert artist Michele Lee beguiled at the Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theater with a disarming and engaging set of songs written by the prolific Broadway composer Cy...

Violinist Ji Young Lim at the Phillips Collection

Somebody must have rung a bell and instructed judges at all international music competitions to start awarding prizes to young classical musicians who already demonstrate daring and panache, even at...

Live Arts Maryland Presents ‘Music for a New World’ on November 7th at Maryland Hall

No one appreciates a great live music experience more than Live Arts Maryland Music Director J. Ernest Green. One of the area’s most visible and enthusiastic cheerleaders for music of all kinds, if he...

Bowen McCauley Dance 20th Anniversary Celebration at Dance Place

Bowen McCauley Dance is currently celebrating its 20th anniversary season with a four-piece retrospective. All choreographed by Lucy Bowen McCauley, the opening number takes the audience back to the...

‘Northern Lights’ at Columbia Pro Cantare

On Saturday October 24, 2015 the Columbia Pro Cantare Choral group, lead by Conductor Frances Motyca Dawson, opened their 39th Season with Northern Lights, performed at the Jim Rouse Theatre for the...

NSO Pops: ‘Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers’ at The Kennedy Center

It was an evening of American classics – from the pops program the National Symphony Orchestra played under the sure baton of Steve Reineke to the guest of honor himself, Steve Martin, winner of the...

‘Mozart and Friends’ at The National Chamber Ensemble by J.M. Greig

The National Chamber Ensemble opened its ninth season in style at the Rosslyn Spectrum Theatre on Saturday with a program entitled Mozart and Friends. After introductory remarks by guest host and...

‘The American Pops Orchestra Presents Stairway to Paradise: A Gershwin Spectacular’ at Lisner Auditorium

The American Pops Orchestra presented Stairway to Paradise: A Gershwin Spectacular, starring Christine Ebersole, directed by Nathan Brewer, at George Washington University’s Lisner Auditorium on...

In the Moment: Aaron Copland’s ‘The Tender Land’ by The In Series

How fortunate we are to have The In Series. Over the decades it has taken artistic risks for audiences to extend their knowledge and experiences with a creative artist’s more rarely produced works, or...

An Interview with Broadway Music Director Ted Sperling on ‘An Evening with the Music of Marvin Hamlisch’ at the Library of Congress on 10/19

What better place to celebrate the life and work of Marvin Hamlisch than right here in Washington? But the reasons for An Evening with the Music of Marvin Hamlisch on Monday, October 19, 2015 with...

Jackie Evancho: ‘Awakening’ at Strathmore

As Jackie Evancho walked onstage on Saturday, October 10, 2015 at the Music Center at Strathmore to perform her “Awakening” concert, the excitement among the packed crowd was palpable, and only...

The University of Maryland Wind Orchestra and Concert Choir Perform Anton Bruckner’s ‘Mass in E Minor’ at The Clarice

When you think of a 19th century Mass, you might imagine a grandiose piece of music, featuring a large orchestra, lengthy solos and dynamic percussion. Anton Bruckner’s Mass in E Minor, composed in...

Violinist Aleksey Semenenko at the Embassy of Ukraine in the Embassy Series

Hearing the rising Ukrainian violinist Aleksey Semenenko perform is like a visit to a musical laboratory. At age 25, the monstrously talented Mr. Semenenko is still exploring various approaches to...

Use Code ‘pops15’ and Save $15 for Christine Ebersole, Paige Faure & Nick Ziobro At The Amercan Pops on 10/16@8 pm at Lisner for ‘Stairway to Paradise: A Gershwin Spectacular’

LUKE FRAZIER CONDUCTS THE AMERICAN POPS IN ‘STAIRWAY TO PARADISE: A GERSHWIN SPECTACULAR’ With Tony® Award Winner Christine Ebersole, Broadway’s Paige Faure, Great American Songbook Ambassador Nick...

The Russian Chamber Art Society Hosts Its 10th Anniversary Concert at the Austrian Embassy

Mainstream classical music commentary in Washington often complains about an over-reliance on the symphonies and concertos of Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff for the programming at the area’s major...

The National Philharmonic’s ‘Rienzi, A Concert Opera’ at Strathmore

Artistic risk-taking in Washington extends across many genres to numerous performing groups. The region’s vocal music scene certainly got a flavor of that on Saturday night in a one-time concert...

La-Ti-Do! Begins Performances at Bistro Bistro Tonight at 8 PM with Chris Sizemore and National Broadway Chorus & American Pops Orchestra

Come see La-Ti-Do’ new venue at Bistro Bistro 1727 Connecticut Ave, in NW Washington, DC TONIGHT AT 8 PM La-Ti-Do presents Helen Hayes Award winner Chris Sizemore and members of The National Broadway...

Big Changes at La-Ti-Do! New Venue and Partnering with Arena Stage & Shakespeare Theatre Company

La-Ti-Do’s Fall 2015 Season & Special Events Announcement Produced by La-Ti-Do DC A part of the weekly La-Ti-Do series from October – December 2015 FALL for some of Washington, DC’s best and brightest...