By now, most of Richmond’s 2023-24 classical events have been announced. Exceptions, as this is written, are choral concerts (especially around Christmas and other holy days), faculty and ensemble performances at Virginia Commonwealth University, and some concert series at churches.
As events are clustered on weekends, scheduling conflicts are inevitable; but, for all the clustering, there are relatively few conflicting dates this season. Several, alas, are one-night stands by prominent touring artists.
As usual, a number of artists’ programs remain to be announced. Those programs will be listed in Letter V’s monthly calendars as the season progresses.
The following thumbnail calendar lists all the season’s ticketed events and many performances open free of charge (often with donations requested). Freebies are marked with an asterisk (*), those requiring advance registration with two (**).
Contact information and venue addresses can be found after the monthly listings.
Here’s the 2023-24 lineup to date:
SEPTEMBER
9 – Richmond Symphony, Valentina Peleggi conducting; Gladys Knight, vocals (Altria Theater).
9 – Belvedere Series ensemble (Ryan Recital Hall, St. Christopher’s School).
**9 – Rhonda AbouHana, soprano (River Road Church, Baptist).
10 – Rennolds Chamber Concerts: Hermitage Piano Trio (Singleton Arts Center, Virginia Commonwealth University).
*16 – Richmond Symphony, conductor TBA (Heritage Amphitheater, Pocahontas State Park).
23 – Kyiv Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Viktoriia Konchakovska conducting (Grace & Holy Trinity Episcopal Church).
*27 – Tabatha Easley, flute; other artists TBA (Singleton Arts Center, Virginia Commonwealth University).
*30 – Chamber Music of Central Virginia ensemble (Gellman Room, Richmond Public Library main branch).
30 – Richmond Symphony, Valentina Peleggi conducting; Daisuke Yamamoto, violin (Carpenter Theatre, Dominion Energy Center).
OCTOBER
1 – Richmond Symphony, Valentina Peleggi conducting; Daisuke Yamamoto, violin (Carpenter Theatre, Dominion Energy Center).
2 – Chamber Music Society of Central Virginia ensemble (First Unitarian Universalist Church).
5 – Richmond Symphony, Chia-Hsuan Lin conducting (Hardywood Park Craft Brewery).
*8 – Second Sunday South of the James: Tam Trio (Bon Air Presbyterian Church).
**13 – Michael Hey, organ (Cathedral of the Sacred Heart).
13/15 – Virginia Opera: “Siegfried” (Carpenter Theatre, Dominion Energy Center).
15 – Rennolds Chamber Concerts: Isidore String Quartet (Singleton Arts Center, Virginia Commonwealth University).
**15 – Vox Humana, William Bradley Roberts directing (River Road Church, Baptist).
*21 – Anamarie Diaz, flute; Hope Armstrong Erb, piano (Gellman Room, Richmond Public Library main branch).
21-22 – Richmond Symphony, Valentina Peleggi conducting; Paul Neubauer, viola (Carpenter Theatre, Dominion Energy Center).
27 – Modlin Arts Presents: Inon Barnatan, piano; James Ehnes, violin; Alisa Weilerstein, cello (Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond).
27 – Paley Music Festival: Alexander Paley & Peiwen Chen, piano 4-hands (St. Luke Lutheran Church).
28 – Paley Music Festival: Alexander Paley, piano (St. Luke Lutheran Church).
29 – Chamber Music Society of Central Virginia: Carsten Schmidt, harpsichord (Church of the Holy Comforter, Episcopal).
*29 – University of Richmond Schola Cantorum & Women’s Chorale (Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond).
NOVEMBER
*4 – Commonwealth Concert Opera (Gellman Room, Richmond Public Library main branch).
*5 – Richmond Philharmonic, Peter Wilson conducting (Ryan Recital Hall, St. Christopher’s School).
*5 – Stefan Palm, organ (River Road Church, Baptist).
9 – Modlin Arts Presents: J’Nai Bridges, mezzo-soprano (Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond).
10 – Richmond chapter, American Guild of Organists Repertoire Recital Series: Anne Laver, organ (St. Benedict Catholic Church).
11-12 – Richmond Symphony, Valentina Peleggi & Chia-Hsuan Lin conducting; Lara Downes, piano; Richmond Symphony Chorus (Carpenter Theatre, Dominion Energy Center).
11-12 – Belvedere Series ensemble (Marburg House).
12 – Modlin Arts Presents: Terence Blanchard, trumpet & composer; ensemble (“Fire Shut Up in My Bones”) (Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond).
16 – Richmond Symphony, Chia-Hsuan Lin conducting (Hardywood Park Craft Brewery).
**17 – Cathedral Choir; soloists TBA; Three Notch’d Road, Daniel Sañez conducting (Mozart Requiem) (Cathedral of the Sacred Heart).
*17 – Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra, conductor TBA (Carpenter Theatre, Dominion Energy Center).
17/19 – Virginia Opera: “The Barber of Seville” (Carpenter Theatre, Dominion Energy Center).
*18 – Sigma Alpha Iota musicians (Gellman Room, Richmond Public Library main branch).
*20 – University of Richmond Wind Ensemble (Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond).
25-26 – Richmond Symphony Pops, Chia-Hsuan Lin conducting (“Let It Snow”) (Carpenter Theatre, Dominion Energy Center).
27 – Richmond Symphony, conductor TBA; other artists TBA (“Holiday Festival of Music”) (Cathedral of the Sacred Heart).
29 – Modlin Arts Presents: Canadian Brass (Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond).
DECEMBER
1 – Richmond Symphony Brass Ensemble (Perkinson Arts Center, Chester).
**1 – Trio Mediaeval (Cathedral of the Sacred Heart).
2 – Richmond Symphony Brass Ensemble (Ryan Recital Hall, St. Christopher’s School).
**3 – River Road Chancel Choir & orchestra, Robert Gallagher conducting; soloists TBA (Handel “Messiah” Advent/Christmas portion (River Road Church, Baptist).
3 – Richmond Symphony Brass Ensemble (Blackwell Auditorium, Randolph-Macon College, Ashland).
*3 – University of Richmond Schola Cantorum & Women’s Chorale (Festival of Lessons and Carols) (Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond).
**4 – Three Notch’d Road; Anne Timberlake, flute; Cameron Welke, lute (“Sacred Harp”) (Cathedral of the Sacred Heart).
*4 – University of Richmond chamber ensembles (Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond).
*6 – University of Richmond Symphony Orchestra; Ben Nguyen, piano (Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond).
**15 – Cathedral musicians (Advent Lessons and Carols) (Cathedral of the Sacred Heart).
18 – Chamber Music Society of Central Virginia ensemble (Church of the Holy Comforter, Episcopal).
JANUARY
12 – Belvedere Series: Diderot String Quartet (St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church).
*13 – Thomas Pandolfi, piano (Gellman Room, Richmond Public Library main branch).
13 – Richmond Symphony, Henry Panion conducting; choruses TBA (“Tribute to Richard Smallwood”) (Carpenter Theatre, Dominion Energy Center).
14 – Richmond Symphony, Henry Panion conducting (“Celebrate MLK”) (Carpenter Theatre, Dominion Energy Center).
20-21 – Richmond Symphony, Valentina Peleggi conducting; Francesca Dego, violin (Carpenter Theatre, Dominion Energy Center).
**26 – Allen Bean, organ (Cathedral of the Sacred Heart).
26 – Richmond Symphony, Valentina Peleggi conducting; Keila Wakao, violin (Perkinson Arts Center, Chester).
27 – Richmond Symphony, Valentina Peleggi conducting; Keila Wakao, violin (Ryan Recital Hall, St. Christopher’s School).
28 – Richmond Symphony, Valentina Peleggi conducting; Keila Wakao, violin (Blackwell Auditorium, Randolph-Macon College, Ashland).
*31 – Richard Becker, piano (Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond).
FEBRUARY
*3 – Virginia State University Choir, Craig L. Robertson directing (Gellman Room, Richmond Public Library main branch).
3 – Richmond Symphony Pops, Steve Hackman conducting (“The Resurrection Mixtape”) (Carpenter Theatre, Dominion Energy Center).
4 – Richmond Symphony, conductor TBA; Shannon Gibson Brown, vocalist (“The Music of Patsy Cline”) (Cultural Arts Center of Glen Allen).
*4 – Paul Hanson, piano (Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond).
8 – Richmond Symphony, Chia-Hsuan Lin conducting (Hardywood Park Craft Brewery).
**9 – Carina Brackin, organ (Cathedral of the Sacred Heart).
9/11 – Virginia Opera: “Sanctuary Road” (Carpenter Theatre, Dominion Energy Center).
10-11 – Belvedere Series ensemble (Marburg House).
*17 – Chamber Music Society of Central Virginia ensemble (Gellman Room, Richmond Public Library main branch).
18 – Rennolds Chamber Concerts: Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Wind Ensemble (Singleton Arts Center, Virginia Commonwealth University).
24 – Modlin Arts Presents: Zuill Bailey, cello; Natasha Pasremski, piano (Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond).
24-25 – Richmond Symphony, Valentina Peleggi conducting; Dinara Klinton, piano; Richmond Symphony Chorus (Carpenter Theatre, Dominion Energy Center).
**25 – William & Mary Choir, Daniel Parks directing (River Road Church, Baptist).
MARCH
*2 – RVA Baroque (Gellman Room, Richmond Public Library main branch).
**2 – Furman Singers, Stephen Gusukuma directing (River Road Church, Baptist).
*2 – Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra, conductor TBA (Carpenter Theatre, Dominion Energy Center).
3 – Chamber Music Society of Central Virginia ensemble (St. Mary’s Episcopal Church).
*3 – Doris Wylee-Becker, piano (Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond).
*4 – Richmond Piano Trio (Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond).
8 – Richmond chapter, American Guild of Organists Repertoire Recital Series: Ken Cowan, organ (St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church).
14 – Richmond Symphony, Chia-Hsuan Lin conducting (Hardywood Park Craft Brewery).
*16 – Greater Richmond Children’s Choir, Crystal Jonkman directing (Gellman Room, Richmond Public Library main branch).
*17 – Richmond Philharmonic, Peter Wilson conducting; Daisuke Yamamoto, violin (Ryan Recital Hall, St. Christopher’s School).
20 – Richmond Symphony Pops, Chia-Hsuan Lin conducting (Carpenter Theatre, Dominion Energy Center).
22/24 – Virginia Opera: “Madame Butterfly” (Carpenter Theatre, Dominion Energy Center).
24 – Rennolds Chamber Concerts: Diana Adamyan, violin (Singleton Arts Center, Virginia Commonwealth University).
**24 – Vox Humana, William Bradley Roberts directing (River Road Church, Baptist).
APRIL
5 – Modlin Arts Presents: Emanuel Ax, piano (Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond).
6-7 – Richmond Symphony, Carlos Miguel Prieto conducting (Carpenter Theatre, Dominion Energy Center).
*8 – University of Richmond Wind Ensemble (Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond).
10 – Tallis Scholars, Peter Phillips directing (River Road Church, Baptist).
12 – Richmond chapter, American Guild of Organists Repertoire Recital Series: Raúl Prieto Ramírez, organ (First Presbyterian Church).
*13 – Victor Haskins, multiple instruments (Gellman Room, Richmond Public Library main branch).
13-14 – Belvedere Series ensemble (Marburg House).
*14 – University of Richmond Schola Cantorum & Women’s Chorale (Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond).
*17 – University of Richmond Symphony Orchestra; Joanne Kong, piano; Anyango Yarbo-Davenport, violin; Christoph Wagner, cello (Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond).
20 – Modlin Arts Presents: Danish String Quartet (Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond).
21 – Chamber Music Society of Central Virginia ensemble (Second Presbyterian Church).
*22 – University of Richmond chamber ensembles (Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond).
26 – Richmond Symphony, Chia-Hsuan Lin conducting; Victoria Chung, oboe (Perkinson Arts Center, Chester).
*27 – Marina Andeuza & Itzel Hamill, pianos (Gellman Room, Richmond Public Library main branch).
27 – Richmond Symphony, Chia-Hsuan Lin conducting; Victoria Chung, oboe (Ryan Recital Hall, St. Christopher’s School).
28 – Richmond Symphony, Chia-Hsuan Lin conducting; Victoria Chung, oboe (Blackwell Auditorium, Randolph-Macon College, Ashland).
MAY
4-5 – Richmond Symphony, Anthony Parnther conducting; Dominic Rotella, French horn (Carpenter Theatre, Dominion Energy Center).
*11 – Chamber Music Society of Central Virginia ensemble (Gellman Room, Richmond Public Library main branch).
*11 – Richmond Philharmonic, Peter Wilson conducting; Matt Stevens & Jack Price, trumpets (Ryan Recital Hall, St. Christopher’ School).
11 – Richmond Symphony Pops, Chia-Hsuan Lin conducting; Russell Wilson, piano (Carpenter Theatre, Dominion Energy Center).
*13 – Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program ensembles, conductors TBA (Carpenter Theatre, Dominion Energy Center).
*14 – Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra, conductor TBA (Carpenter Theatre, Dominion Energy Center).
18 – Richmond Symphony, Chia-Hsuan Lin conducting; Daniel Stipe, piano (Ryan Recital Hall, St. Christopher’s School).
19 – Richmond Symphony, Chia-Hsuan Lin conducting; Daniel Stipe, piano (Blackwell Auditorium, Randolph-Macon College, Ashland).
JUNE
1-2 – Richmond Symphony, Valentina Peleggi conducting; Jennifer Rowley, soprano; Guadalupe Barrientos, mezzo-soprano; Rodrick Dixon, tenor; David Leigh, bass; Richmond Symphony Chorus (Verdi Requiem) (Carpenter Theatre, Dominion Energy Center).
PRESENTERS
Richmond Symphony: (804) 788-1212; http://richmondsymphony.com
Virginia Opera: (804) 644-8168; http://vaopera.org
Richmond Philharmonic: (804) 556-1039; http://richmondphilharmonic.org
Chamber Music Society of Central Virginia: (804) 304-6312; http://cmscva.org
Belvedere Series: http://belvedereseries.org
Alexander Paley Music Festival: (804) 665-9516; http://paleymusicfestival.org
Richmond chapter, American Guild of Organists’ Repertoire Recital Series: http://richmondago.org
VENUES (all in Richmond unless listed otherwise)
Carpenter Theatre, Dominion Energy Center, Sixth and Grace streets:
(804) 592-3330; http://www.dominionenenergycenter.com
Altria Theater, Main and Laurel streets:
(804) 592-3384; http://www.altriatheater.com
Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond, 453 Westhampton Way:
(804) 289-8980; http://modlin.richmond.edu
Singleton Arts Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Park Avenue at Harrison Street:
(804) 828-1166; http://arts.vcu.edu/events
Blackwell Auditorium, Randolph-Macon College, 205 Henry St., Ashland:
(804) 752-7200; http://rmc.edu
Perkinson Arts Center, 11810 Centre St., Chester:
(804) 748-5555; http://www.perkinsoncenter.org
Ryan Recital Hall, St. Christopher’s School, 6010 Fergusson Road:
(804) 282-3185; http://www.stchristophers.com
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, Overbrook Road at Ownby Lane:
(804) 420-2420; http://hardywood.com
Marburg House, 3102 Bute Lane:
(804) 604-0689
Gellman Room, Richmond Public Library, First and Franklin streets:
(804) 646-7223; http://rvalibrary.org
Pocahontas State Park, 10301 State Park Road, Chesterfield County:
(804) 796-4255; http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/pocahontas
Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Laurel Street at Floyd Avenue:
(804) 359-5651; http://richmondcathedral.org
River Road Church, Baptist, River and Ridge roads:
(804) 288-1131; http://rrcb.org
Grace & Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 8 N. Laurel St.:
(804) 359-5628; http://ghtc.org
St. Luke Lutheran Church, 7757 Chippenham Parkway:
(804) 272-0486; http://stlukerichmond.org
St. Benedict Catholic Church, 300 N. Sheppard St.:
(804) 254-0887; http://saintbenedictparish.org
St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 12291 River Road, Goochland County:
(804) 784-5678; http://stmarysgoochland.org
Church of the Holy Comforter, Episcopal, Monument Avenue at Staples Mill Road:
(804) 355-3251; http://www.hoco.org
First Unitarian Universalist Church, 1000 Blanton Ave. at the Carillon:
(804) 355-0777; http://richmonduu.org
Second Presbyterian Church, 5 N. Fifth St.:
(804) 649-9148; http://www.2presrichmond.org
Bon Air Presbyterian Church, 9201 W. Huguenot Road:
(804) 272-7514; http://bonairpc.org
Letter V 