Author: letterv13

A program exploring one of the most productive and mutually supportive circles of composers and performers in 19th-century European music, that of Robert and Clara Schumann, Johannes Brahms and Joseph Joachim.

7-9 p.m. EDT
2300-0100 UTC/GMT
WDCE, University of Richmond
90.1 FM
http://wdce.org

Robert Schumann: Introduction and Allegro appassionato in G major, Op. 92
Jan Lisiecki, piano
Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia/Antonio Pappano
(Deutsche Grammophon)

Robert Schumann: “Bunte Blätter,” Op. 99 –
IV: “Albumblätter I” in F sharp minor
Maria-João Pires, piano
(Apex)

Clara Wieck Schumann: “Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann,” Op. 20
Susanne Grützmann, piano
(Hänssler Profil)

Albert Dietrich, Robert Schumann & Johannes Brahms: “F.A.E.” Sonata
Isabelle Faust, violin
Alexander Melnikov, piano
(Harmonia Mundi)

Joseph Joachim: “Hamlet” Overture
Oslo Philharmonic/Mariss Jansons
(Simax)

Brahms: Violin Concerto in D major
Leonidas Kavakos, violin
Gewandhausorchester Leipzig/Riccardo Chailly
(Decca)

Along with classics of Mozart, Beethoven and Prokofiev, “Dark Pastoral,” David Matthews’ adaptation of a fragment of Ralph Vaughan Williams’ never-completed cello concerto, and a hometown premiere: “Rags & Hymns of River City” by the Richmond-bred composer Mason Bates, introduced in 2019 and now recorded by Richmond’s Atlantic Chamber Ensemble.

7-9 p.m. EDT
2300-0100 UTC/GMT
WDCE, University of Richmond
90.1 FM
http://wdce.org

Mozart: Serenade in C minor, K. 388 (“Nacht Musik”)
KlangVerwaltung wind soloists
(Farao Classics)

Mason Bates: “Rags & Hymns of River City”
Atlantic Chamber Ensemble
(Imaginary Animals)

David Matthews: “Dark Pastoral”
(after Ralph Vaughan Williams)
Guy Johnston, cello
Royal Scottish National Orchestra/Martin Yates
(Dutton)

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major
Claudio Arrau, piano
Staatskapelle Dresden/Colin Davis
(Decca)

Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major
Vadim Gluzman, violin
Estonian National Symphony Orchestra/Neeme Järvi
(BIS)

Finland, a nation whose population of 6.5 million is smaller than that of the Washington, DC, metro area, has produced a wildly disproportionate share of the world’s leading conductors. The New York Times’ Joshua Barone profiles the teacher whose studio has produced this constellation of podium stars.

His subject is Jorma Panula, the 93-year-old teacher of generations of the country’s conductors: Osmo Vänskä, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Sakari Oramo, Mikko Franck, Susanna Mälkki, Santtu-Matias Rouvali, Klaus Mäkelä . . . the list goes on and on.

A teacher of few words – “I was in the orchestra, and most musicians, they hate talking” – and a gruff, at times sarcastic, manner, Panula “values close readings of scores, which to him entail more than simply following the notes on the page, Barone writes. ‘I can see in their faces if they know the music or not,’ he said, which means also knowing a composer’s particular style, as well as background. ‘What kind of literature were they reading?’ he added as an example. ‘What opera did they see? What ballet?’ ”

Panula “teaches every student to become his or her own teacher,” says Dalia Stasevka, chief conductor of Finland’s Lahti Symphony Orchestra. “What is so brilliant about his teaching is that it leads to giving space to grow and find your personal style in conducting.”

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

Britain’s Aurora Orchestra made a name for itself by playing works from memory – no music stands or scores; and, in most performances, no seats except for cellists and keyboard players.

The practice, says Nicholas Collon, Aurora’s conductor, produces higher levels of energy and engagement among musicians, and allows players to move, even to choreograph a piece of music or to segue from one piece to the next, giving a program a sense of musical continuity.

Ordinarily, audiences encounter standing orchestras only when a symphony season opens with the national anthem, or in concerts by early-music ensembles. Even then, they almost always play from scores. Standing up to play Beethoven, Brahms or Tchaikovsky from memory? Not a chance. Certainly not Igor Stravinsky’s fiendishly complex “Le sacre du printemps” (“The Rite of Spring”).

“From the exposed high register of the opening bassoon solo, to the mind-bending rhythmic maze of the closing ‘Sacrificial Dance,’ even the most hardened orchestral player[s] will have their eyes on [scores] throughout, carefully navigating these treacherous paths,” Collon writes in an article for The Guardian.

The difficulty of Stravinsky’s score is compounded when it’s played from memory, the conductor writes. “Take as an example the shockingly terrifying ‘Glorification of the Chosen One,’ which comes midway through the second part. This dance changes metre (i.e., time signature) 49 times within its 58 bars, meaning that nearly every bar has a jaggedly different feel to it. Within each single bar, each musician might be playing as many as 15 notes, often unpredictable and chromatic.

“Add to that the dynamics, articulation, listening to the other parts, and a huge amount of brain space is required. . . . [T]here is no time to think – everything needs to be immediately accessible to the fingers, or else you fall off the moving train. But here’s the thing; the ‘Glorification’ clocks in at 95 seconds, so once this is ticked off, there is still a good 10 minutes more of the piece left.”

Aurora took “The Rite” on a tour that wound up on Sept. 2 with two stagings of the piece in the BBC Proms at London’s Royal Albert Hall. (An arena-rock-scale 10,500 tickets to sell – no word yet on how many were bought.) The orchestra opened with “a dramatic and musical exploration” – i.e., listener’s guide – to the work, followed by a complete performance.

You can hear it here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001q14r

Collon asked Aurora’s musicians how hard it was to memorize their parts in “The Rite,” compared with a 19th-century symphony. He got “succinct, and sometimes surprising replies. Amy Harman, principal bassoon (who starts the piece with that iconic solo) told me: ‘Easier. Weirdly.’ Violinists said ‘Harder,’ ‘much harder’ and ‘way way way harder.’ A double-bassist said: ‘Difficult to say. I knew 90 percent of it already and 10 percent was, like, “Holy shit that’s hard!’ ” Violas all stated that Brahms’ First Symphony was the worst.”

As we bid farewell to summer, thumbing through sonic postcards from some of classical music’s most observant tourists.

7-9 p.m. EDT
2300-0100 UTC/GMT
WDCE, University of Richmond
90.1 FM
http://wdce.org

Gershwin: “An American in Paris”
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra/Louis Langrée
(Fanfare Cincinnati)

Dvořák: Quartet in F major, Op. 96 (“American”)
Smetana Quartet
(Testament)

William Grant Still: “Danzas de Panama” (excerpts)
Berlin Symphony Orchestra/Isaiah Jackson
(Koch International Classics)

Mendelssohn: “The Hebrides” Overture
London Symphony Orchestra/Peter Maag
(Decca)

Tchaikovsky: String Sextet in D minor, Op. 70 (“Souvenir de Florence”)
Valeriy Sokolov & Annabelle Meare, violins
Lawrence Power & Yura Lee, violas
Jan Vogler & Christian Poltéra, cellos
(Sony Classical)

Jacques Ibert: “Escales” (“Ports of Call”)
Minnesota Orchestra/Eiji Oue
(Reference Recordings)

Riccardo Muti, the esteemed Italian conductor who last season concluded a 13-year tenure as music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (and was promptly named conductor emeritus), unloads on opera stage directors imposing their ideas on composers’ works – Regieoper, as the Germans call the tendency – in an interview with Bachtrack’s Mark Pullinger.

When Pullinger notes that Muti, who was music director of Milan’s Teatro alla Scala for 19 years and a longtime presence in other major houses, now seems to prefer conducting opera in concert, Muti replies: “I had so many experiences of horrendous productions [in which] I had to fight with this director, that director.

“I come from the old school,” says the 82-year-old conductor, noting that he learned to conduct the operas of Giuseppe Verdi from Antonino Votto, who learned Verdi from Arturo Toscanini, who learned Verdi from Verdi.

“It’s not that I tell the stage director what to do, but I would like to talk with them beforehand. What I see on stage – modern, traditional, avant-garde – I don’t care, but I want something that doesn’t disturb what I am doing through the music.”

Muti cites a comment by Arnold Schoenberg: “If what you see disturbs what you hear, that’s wrong.”

“This was Schoenberg . . . not Giordano or Mascagni! Capisce? So I don’t want to spend the few years in front of me fighting with an idiot.”

http://bachtrack.com/interview-riccardo-muti-salzburg-chicago-vienna-opera-verdi-august-2023

(via http://www.artsjournal.com)

Classical performances in and around Richmond, with selected events elsewhere in Virginia and the Washington area. Program information, provided by presenters, is updated as details become available. Adult ticket prices are listed; senior, student/youth, military, group and other discounts may be offered. Service fees may be added.

Contact presenters or venues for health and safety protocols.

Sept. 2 (7:30 p.m.)
Yorktown Riverwalk, 425 Water St.
Sept. 3 (7:30 p.m.)
Chesapeake City Park, 900 City Park Drive
Sept. 5 (7:30 p.m.)
31st Street Stage, King Neptune’s Park, Atlantic Avenue at 31st Street, Virginia Beach
Virginia Symphony Orchestra
Morihiko Nakahara conducting
John Stafford Smith: “The Star-Spangled Banner”
Tchaikovsky: “Eugène Onegin” – Polonaise
Mozart: Symphony No. 31 in D major, K. 297 (“Paris”) – I: Allegro assai
trad.: “The Girl I Left behind Me” (Leroy Anderson arrangement)
trad.: “The Irish Washerwoman” (Leroy Anderson arrangement)
Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 in A major – IV: Allegro con brio
Pinar Toprak/Vik: “Captain Marvel”
Duke Ellington: “Sophisticated Lady” (Morton Gould arrangement)
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor: “Danse nègre”
Ernesto Lecuona: “La Comparsa” (Morton Gould arrangement)
Lecuona: “Andalucia” (Morton Gould arrangement)
John Williams: “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” – “Scherzo for Motorcycle”
Borodin: “Prince Igor” – “Polovtsian Dances”
free
(757) 892-6366
http://virginiasymphony.org

Sept. 2 (5 p.m.)
Herter Hall, Garth Newel Music Center, 403 Garth Newel Lane, Hot Springs
Garth Newel Piano Quartet
Aaron Berofsky, violin
Haydn: Quartet in D major, Op. 20, No. 2
Schumann: Piano Quintet in E flat major, Op. 44
$25 (concert), $95 (concert & dinner)
(540) 839-5018
http://garthnewel.org

Sept. 3 (3 p.m.)
Herter Hall, Garth Newel Music Center, 403 Garth Newel Lane, Hot Springs
Garth Newel Piano Quartet
Aaron Berofsky, violin
Franck: Piano Quintet in F minor
Dvořák: Piano Quintet in A major, Op. 81
$25 (concert), $55 (concert & picnic)
(540) 839-5018
http://garthnewel.org

Sept. 3 (5 p.m.)
River Pavilion, Kennedy Center, Washington
Sandra Del Cid-Davies, flute & piccolo
Kayla Moffett & Martha Kaufman, violins
Elizabeth Pulju-Owen, viola
Kristen Wojcik, cello
program TBA
free
(800) 444-1324
http://kennedy-center.org

Sept. 3 (8 p.m.)
West Lawn, U.S. Capitol, Washington
National Symphony Orchestra
Enrico Lopez-Yañez conducting
Sharon Isbin, guitar
John Stafford Smith: “The Star-Spangled Banner” (Enrico Lopez-Yañez arrangement)
Peter Boyer: “Celebration” Overture
Florence Price: “Dances in the Canebrakes” – “Nimble Feet” (William Grant Still arrangement)
Duke Ellington: ”Three Black Kings” – “King of the Magi”
Brahms: “Hungarian Dance” No. 5 in G minor
trad.: “La Llorna” (Enrico Lopez-Yañez arrangement)
Karen LeFrak: ”Miami” Concert – “Bailamos”
Eduard Strauss: “Bahn Frei” Polka
Jim Beckel, Jr.: ”Night Visions” – “The American Dream”
Richard Hayman: “Armed Forces Medley”
Mary Howe: “Stars”
John Keltonic: “Our Wings Have Caught the Wind”
John Williams: ”Raiders of the Lost Ark” – “Raiders March”
free
(800) 444-1324
http://kennedy-center.org

Sept. 5 (8 p.m.)
Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Washington
National Symphony Orchestra Pops
James Buckley conducting
Jacob Collier, guest star
“The Orchestral DJESSE Show”
$39-$109
(800) 444-1324
http://kennedy-center.org

Sept. 7 (7:30 p.m.)
Culpeper County High School, 14240 Achievement Drive, Culpeper
Richmond Symphony
Chia-Hsuan Lin conducting
Smetana: “The Bartered Bride” Overture
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor: “Petite Suite de Concert,” Op. 77
Ke-Chia Chen: “Chasing the Sun”
Dvořák: Symphony No. 7 in D minor
$25
(540) 972-7117
http://stagealive.org

Sept. 7 (7:30 p.m.)
Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Charlottesville
Charlottesville Chamber Music Festival:
Stella Chen, Simone Porter & Timothy Summers, violins
Nicholas Cords, viola
Raphael Bell & Mark Kosower, cellos
Benjamin Dieltjens, clarinet
Lukáš Vondráček & Orion Weiss, piano
Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel: Piano Trio in D minor, Op. 11
Brahms: Clarinet Trio in A minor, Op. 114
Schumann: Piano Quintet in E flat major, Op. 44
$22-$30
(434) 295-5395
http://cvillechambermusic.org

Sept. 8 (7:30 p.m.)
Williamsburg Community Chapel, 3899 John Tyler Highway
Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra
Michael Butterman conducting
Mozart: Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K. 550
Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major
Simone Dinnerstein, piano
$65; $30 (live stream access)
(757) 229-9857
http://williamsburgsymphony.org

Sept. 9 (3 p.m.)
Altria Theater, Main & Laurel streets, Richmond
Richmond Symphony
Valentina Peleggi conducting
Gladys Knight, guest star
$25-$120
(800) 514-3849 (ETIX)
http://richmondsymphony.com

Sept. 9 (7 p.m.)
Ryan Recital Hall, St. Christopher’s School, 6010 Fergusson Road, Richmond
Belvedere Series:
Nicholas DiEugenio & Ellen Cockerham Riccio, violins
Fitz Gary & Dana Kelley, violas
James Wilson & Carrie Bean Stute, cellos
J.S. Bach: Violin Partita in B minor, BWV 1002 – I: Allemande
Richard Strauss: “Capriccio” – Sextet
Schoenberg: “Verklärte Nacht” (“Transfigured Night”)
$30-$45
(804) 833-1481
http://belvedereseries.org

Sept. 9 (7 p.m.)
River Road Church, Baptist, River & Ridge roads, Richmond
Rhonda AbouHana, soprano
accompanist TBA
Reynaldo Hahn: “Venezia, 6 Songs in Venetian dialect” (selections)
Schumann: “Frauenliebe und Leben,” Op. 42
Rachmaninoff: Vocalise, Op. 34, No. 14
Richard Strauss: “8 Gedichte aus ‘Letzte Blätter’,” Op. 10
free; tickets required via http://eventbrite.com
(804) 288-1131
http://rrcb.org/e-carl-freeman-concert-series

Sept. 9 (7:30 p.m.)
Second Street Gallery, 115 Second St. SE, Charlottesville
Charlottesville Chamber Music Festival:
Stella Chen & Simone Porter, violins
Steve Reich: “New York Counterpoint”
Andrew Norman: “Sabina”
Reena Esmail: “Drishti”
Bartók: Sonata for solo violin – I: Tempo di ciaconna
Miklós Rózsa: Sonata, Op. 15, for 2 violins
$25
(434) 295-5395
http://cvillechambermusic.org

Sept. 10 (3 p.m.)
Vlahcevic Concert Hall, Singleton Arts Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Park Avenue at Harrison Street, Richmond
Rennolds Chamber Concerts:
Hermitage Piano Trio
Joaquín Turina: Piano Trio No. 2 in B minor, Op. 76
Rachmaninoff: Piano Trio in G minor (“Elégiaque”)
Mariano Perelló: “Tres impresiones”
Dvořák: Piano Trio in E minor, Op. 90 (“Dumky”)
$35
(804) 828-1166
http://www.arts.vcu.edu/academics/departments/music/concerts-and-events/rennolds-series/

Sept. 10 (3 p.m.)
Old Cabell Hall, University of Virginia, Charlottesville
Charlottesville Chamber Music Festival:
Stella Chen, Liana Gourdjia, Blake Pouliot & Timothy Summers, violins
Nicholas Cords & David Quiggle, violas
Raphael Bell & Mark Kosower, cellos
Anthony Manzo, double-bass
Benjanmin Djieltjens, clarinet
James Ferree, French horn
Andrew Armstrong & Lukáš Vondráček, piano
Olli Mustonen: Nonet No. 2 for strings
Krzysztof Penderecki: Sextet
Brahms: Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 34
$22-$30
(434) 295-5395
http://cvillechambermusic.org

Sept. 13 (7:30 p.m.)
Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Charlottesville
Charlottesville Chamber Music Festival:
Liana Gourdjia, violin
David Quiggle, viola
Edward Arron, cello
Demarre McGill, flute
Andrew Armstrong, piano
Jory Vinikour, harpsichord
Rameau: “Pièces de clavecin” (excerpts)
Marin Marais: “5 Old French Dances”
Edgar Varèse: “Density 21.5”
György Ligeti: “Hungarian Rock”
J.S. Bach: “The Musical Offering,” BWV 1079 – Trio Sonata for flute, violin & continuo
Brahms: Piano Quartet in C minor, Op. 60
$22-$30
(434) 295-5395
http://cvillechambermusic.org

Sept. 14 (7:30 p.m.)
Ferguson Arts Center, Christopher Newport University, Newport News
Sept. 15 (7:30 p.m.)
Chrysler Hall, 215 St. Paul’s Boulevard, Norfolk
Virginia Symphony Orchestra
Eric Jacobsen conducting
Beethoven: Triple Concerto in C major
Tessa Lark, violin
Raphael Bell, cello
Orli Shaham, piano
Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 in A major
$25-$119
(757) 892-6366
http://virginiasymphony.org

Sept. 15 (8 p.m.)
Sept. 16 (8 p.m.)
Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Washington
National Symphony Orchestra
Joshua Bell conducting
Mendelssohn: “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” Overture
Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor
Joshua Bell, violin
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 4 in A major (“Italian”)
$39-$139
(800) 444-1324
http://kennedy-center.org

Sept. 16 (7 p.m.)
Heritage Amphitheater, Pocahontas State Park, 10301 State Park Road, Chesterfield
Richmond Symphony
conductor TBA
Joan Tower: “Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman”
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor: “Petite Suite de Concert,” Op. 77
Johann Strauss II: “On the Beautiful Blue Danube”
Mary Howe: “Stars”
Howe: “Sand”
Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges: Symphony No. 1 in G major
Rossini: “William Tell” Overture
free; $10 parking fee
(804) 788-1212
http://richmondsymphony.com

Sept. 16 (7:30 p.m.)
Old Cabell Hall, University of Virginia, Charlottesville
Charlottesville Chamber Music Festival:
Timothy Summers, violin
Edward Arron, cello
Demarre McGill, flute
Andrew Armstrong & Mimi Solomon, piano
Mozart: Sonata in D major, K. 448, for 2 pianos
Debussy: Cello Sonata in D minor
Poulenc: Flute Sonata
Schumann: Piano Trio in D minor, Op. 63
$22-$30
(434) 295-5395
http://cvillechambermusic.org

Sept. 17 (7 p.m.)
Gallery5, 200 W. Marshall St., Richmond
Classical Revolution RVA:
artists TBA
program TBA
donation requested
(804) 678-8863 (Gallery5)
http://classicalrevolutionrva.com/events

Sept. 17 (3 p.m.)
Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Charlottesville
Charlottesville Chamber Music Festival:
Virginia Symphony Orchestra
Eric Jacobsen conducting
Steve Reich: Duo for 2 solo violins & string orchestra
Tessa Lark & Timothy Summers, violins
Beethoven: Triple Concerto in C major
Tessa Lark, violin
Raphael Bell, cello
Orli Shaham, piano
Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 in A major
$39.75-$54.75
(434) 295-5395
http://music.virginia.edu/events

Sept. 18 (7:30 p.m.)
Kaufman Theater, Chrysler Museum of Art, 1 Memorial Place, Norfolk
Feldman Chamber Music Series:
Kleine Kammermusik wind ensemble
François Philidor: March
François Couperin: “La Steinquerque”
Purcell: “The Fairy Queen” Suite
Handel: keyboard suite TBA (wind ensemble arrangement)
Handel: Trio Sonata in C minor
Telemann: “Kleine Kammermusik” – Suite in B flat major
Telemann: Bassoon Sonata in F minor
Johann Friedrich Fasch: Trio Sonata in G minor
$40
(757) 552-1630
http://feldmanchambermusic.org

Sept. 19 (7:30 p.m.)
Perkinson Recital Hall, North Court, University of Richmond
Neumann Lecture:
Huib Schippers, speaker
“Sounds, Communities, and Cultural Ecosystems: Making More Sense of Our Sonic Environments”
free; registration required
(804) 289-8980 (Modlin Center box office)
http://modlin.richmond.edu

Sept. 19 (7:30 p.m.)
Williamsburg Library Theatre, 515 Scotland St.
Chamber Music Society of Williamsburg:
Kleine Kammermusik wind ensemble
François Philidor: March
François Couperin: “La Steinquerque”
Purcell: “The Fairy Queen” Suite
Handel: keyboard suite TBA (wind ensemble arrangement)
Handel: Trio Sonata in C minor
Telemann: “Kleine Kammermusik” – Suite in B flat major
Telemann: Bassoon Sonata in F minor
Johann Friedrich Fasch: Trio Sonata in G minor
$30
(757) 741-3300 (Williamsburg Regional Library)
http://chambermusicwilliamsburg.org

Sept. 20 (8 p.m.)
Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Washington
National Symphony Orchestra Pops
Steven Reineke conducting
Judy Collins & Madeleine Peyroux, guest stars
$29-$99
(800) 444-1324
http://kennedy-center.org

Sept. 21 (7:30 p.m.)
Ferguson Arts Center, Christopher Newport University, Newport News
Sept. 22 (7:30 p.m.)
Sandler Arts Center, 201 S. Market St., Virginia Beach
Virginia Symphony Orchestra
Eric Jacobsen conducting
Duke Ellington: “Sophisticated Lady”
Lili Boulanger: “D’un matin des printemps”
Gershwin: “Rhapsody in Blue” (Béla Fleck arrangement)
Béla Fleck, banjo
Cole Porter: “Within the Quota”
Ravel: “Boléro”
$25-$119
(757) 892-6366
http://virginiasymphony.org

Sept. 21 (7:30 p.m.)
Terrace Theater, Kennedy Center, Washington
Vocal Arts DC:
Anthony Roth Costanzo, countertenor
Bryan Wagorn, piano
works TBA by Vivaldi, Verdi, Gabriela Lena Frank, Joel Thompson, others
$50
(800) 444-1324
http://kennedy-center.org

Sept. 22 (7:30 p.m.)
Sept. 23 (7:30 p.m.)
Historic Academy Theatre, 600 Main St., Lynchburg
Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra
David Glover conducting
Charles Billingsley, guest star
works TBA from “Great American Songbook”
$20-$100
(434) 846-8499
http://lynchburgsymphony.org

Sept. 22 (7:30 p.m.)
Moss Arts Center, Virginia Tech, 190 Alumni Mall, Blacksburg
Brentano String Quartet
Hsin-Yun Huang, viola
Haydn: Quartet in C major, Op. 33, No. 3 (“The Bird”)
James MacMillan: Viola Quintet (“Heart Speaks to Heart”) (premiere)
Brahms: String Quintet in G major, Op. 111
$20-$55
(540) 231-5300
http://artscenter.vt.edu

Sept. 22 (8 p.m.)
Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
Jonathon Heyward conducting
Dance Theatre of Harlem members
“2023 Gala Celebration”
program TBA
$75-$125
(877) 276-1444
http://strathmore.org

Sept. 23 (3 p.m.)
Grace & Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 8 N. Laurel St., Richmond
Kyiv Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
Viktoriia Konchakovska conducting
“Hope for Ukraine Tour”
program TBA
$25 in advance, $30 at door
(804) 359-5628
http://ghtc.org/ukraine

Sept. 23 (7:30 p.m.)
Old Cabell Hall, University of Virginia, Charlottesville
Sept. 24 (3:30 p.m.)
Martin Luther King Jr. Arts Center, Charlottesville High School, 1400 Melbourne Road
Charlottesville Symphony at the University of Virginia
Benjamin Rous conducting
Molly Joyce: “Side by Side”
Vaughan Williams: Oboe Concerto in A minor
Kelly Peral, oboe
Schubert: Symphony No. 8 in B minor (“Unfinished”)
Mussorgsky: “Night on Bald Mountain”
$10-$46
(434) 924-3376
http://music.virginia.edu/events

Sept. 23 (2 p.m.)
Terrace Theater, Kennedy Center, Washington
Yunchan Lim, piano
Tchaikovsky: “The Seasons”
Chopin: Études, Op. 10
$78-$150 (waiting list)
(202) 785-9727 (Washington Performing Arts)
http://washingtonperformingarts.org

Sept. 23 (7:30 p.m.)
Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Washington
National Symphony Orchestra
Gianandrea Noseda conducting
Rossini: “La gazza ladra” (“The Thieving Magpie”) Overture
Elgar: Introduction and Allegro
Ying Fu & Dayna Hepler, violins
Abigail Evans Kreuzer, viola
Glenn Garlick, cello
Carlos Simon: “Fate Now Conquers”
Mussorgsky: “Pictures at an Exhibition” (Maurice Ravel orchestration)
$65-$199
(800) 444-1324
http://kennedy-center.org

Sept. 24 (7 p.m.)
Gallery5, 200 W. Marshall St., Richmond
Classical Revolution RVA:
artists TBA
works TBA by Krystal Folkestad, Ned Haskins, John Winn, Anthony Burnham
dionation requested
(804) 678-8863 (Gallery5)
http://classicalrevolutionrva.com/events

Sept. 27 (7 p.m.)
Vlahcevic Concert Hall, Singleton Arts Center, Park Avenue at Harrison Street, Richmond
Tabatha Easley, flute
Susanna Klein, violin
Molly Sharp, viola
Sheri Oyan, saxophone
Rex Richardson, trumpet
Ross Walter, trombone
Magda Adamek, piano
Justin Alexander, percussion
other artists TBA
program TBA
free
(804) 828-1166
http://arts.vcu.edu/academics/departments/music/concerts-and-events/

Sept. 28 (7:30 p.m.)
Christ Lutheran Church, 2807 N. Augusta St., Staunton
Sept. 30 (7:30 p.m.)
Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 7599 Rockfish Gap, Greenwood
Oct. 1 (4 p.m.)
Grace Episcopal Church, 5607 Gordonsville Road, Keswick
Three Notch’d Road:
Fiona Hughes & Matvey Lapin, violins
Jason Fisher, viola
René Schiffer, cello
Sam Suggs, double-bass
David Ross, flute
Jennifer Streeter, harpsichord
J.S. Bach: “Goldberg Variations,” BWV 988 (string ensemble arrangement)
J.S. Bach: “Brandenburg” Concerto No. 5 in D major, BWV 1050
$10-$30
(434) 409-3424
http://tnrbaroque.org

Sept. 28 (7 p.m.)
Sept. 29 (8 p.m.)
Sept. 30 (8 p.m.)
Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Washington
National Symphony Orchestra
Gianandrea Noseda conducting
Rachmaninoff: “The Rock”
Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 4 in G minor
Denis Kozhukhin, piano
Rachmaninoff: “The Bells”
Elena Stikhina, soprano
Pavel Petrov, tenor
Alexey Markov, bass-baritone
Choral Arts Society of Washington
$15-$112
(800) 444-1324
http://kennedy-center.org

Sept. 29 (7:30 p.m.)
Camp Concert Hall, Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond
UR Schola Cantorum & Women’s Chorale
UR Jazz Ensemble
UR Wind Ensemble
UR Symphony Orchestra
Family Weekend Concert
program TBA
free; registration required
(804) 289-8980
http://modlin.richmond.edu

Sept. 29 (7:30 p.m.)
Oct. 1 (2:30 p.m.)
Harrison Opera House, 160 E. Virginia Beach Boulevard, Norfolk
Virginia Opera
Adam Turner conducting
Wagner: “Siegfried” (Jonathan Dove & Graham Vick adaptation)
Cooper Nolan (Siegfried)
Matthew Peña (Mime)
Kyle Albertson (the Wanderer [Wotan])
Joshua Jeremiah (Alberich)
Ricardo Lugo (Fafner)
Alissa Anderson (Erda)
Alexandra Loutsion (Brünnhilde)
Alicia Russell Tagert (a Woodbird)
Joachim Schamberger, stage director
in German, English captions
$17-$100
(866) 673-7282
http://vaopera.org

Sept. 30 (2 p.m.)
Gellman Room, Richmond Public Library, First & Franklin streets
Chamber Music Society of Central Virginia:
Suliman Tekalli & Njioma Grevious, violins
Caleb Georges, viola
James Wilson, cello
Andrew Sommer, double-bass
Mary Boodell, flute
Lauren Williams, oboe
David Lemelin, clarinet
Thomas Schneider, bassoon
Cody Halquist, French horn
“Our Pictures”
Antonio García: “Maggie Said Walk!”
Zachary Wadsworth: “They Rest Above the River”
Donovan Williams: “Where the Real Battle Takes Place”
Chloe Biggs: “Picture of a Blooming City”
Krystal Folkestad: “Good Black Dirt in Sublime Black Hands”
Benjamin Broening: “Triple Crossing”
Anthony Smith: new work TBA
free
(804) 646-7223
http://cmscva.org

Sept. 30 (8 p.m.)
Oct. 1 (3 p.m.)
Carpenter Theatre, Dominion Energy Center, Sixth & Grace streets, Richmond
Richmond Symphony
Valentina Peleggi conducting
Andrea Portera: “Eudaimonic” Concerto (premiere)
Daisuke Yamamoto, violin
Mahler: Symphony No. 1 in D major
$15-$86
(800) 514-3849 (ETIX)
http://richmondsymphony.com

Sept. 30 (8 p.m.)
Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
Jonathon Heyward conducting
James Lee III: “Amer’ican”
Gershwin: Piano Concerto in F major
Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano
Dvořák: Symphony No. 9 in E minor (“From the New World”)
$19-$95
(877) 276-1444
http://strathmore.org

Oct. 2 (7:30 p.m.)
First Unitarian Universalist Church, 1000 Blanton Ave. at the Carillon, Richmond
Chamber Music Society of Central Virginia:
Suliman Tekalli & Njioma Grevious, violins
Caleb Georges, viola
James Wilson, cello
Andrew Sommer, double-bass
Mary Boodell, flute
Lauren Williams, oboe
David Lemelin, clarinet
Thomas Schneider, bassoon
Cody Halquist, French horn
Dvořák: Nocturne in B major, Op. 40
Jessie Montgomery: “Strum”
Óscar Navarro: “Juego de Ladrones”
Mussorgsky: “Pictures at an Exhibition” (chamber arrangement)
$30
(804) 304-6312
http://cmscva.org

Oct. 5 (7:30 p.m.)
Ferguson Arts Center, Christopher Newport University, Newport News
Oct. 6 (7:30 p.m.)
Chrysler Hall, 215 St. Paul’s Boulevard, Norfolk
Virginia Symphony Pops
Stuart Chafetz conducting
“Totally ’80s”
$25-$119
(757) 892-6366
http://virginiasymphony.org

Oct. 5 (7 p.m.)
Oct. 6 (11:30 a.m.)
Oct. 7 (8 p.m.)
Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Washington
National Symphony Orchestra
Gianandrea Noseda conducting
Respighi: “The Fountains of Rome”
Respighi: “The Pines of Rome”
Respighi: “Roman Festivals”
$15-$112
(800) 444-1324
http://kennedy-center.org

Oct. 6 (8 p.m.)
Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD
Anoushka Shankar, sitar
Arun Ghosh, clarinet
Sarathy Korwar, drums-composer
Pirashanna Thevarajah, Carnatic percussion
Tom Farmer, bass
Shankar: works TBA
$28-$78
(202) 785-9727
http://washingtonperformingarts.org

Oct. 7 (8 p.m.)
Oct. 8 (2 p.m.)
Center for the Arts, George Mason University, Fairfax
Virginia Opera
Adam Turner conducting
Wagner: “Siegfried” (Jonathan Dove & Graham Vick adaptation)
Cooper Nolan (Siegfried)
Matthew Peña (Mime)
Kyle Albertson (the Wanderer [Wotan])
Joshua Jeremiah (Alberich)
Ricardo Lugo (Fafner)
Alissa Anderson (Erda)
Alexandra Loutsion (Brünnhilde)
Alicia Russell Tagert (a Woodbird)
Joachim Schamberger, stage director
in German, English captions
$40-$110
(866) 673-7282
http://vaopera.org

Since I live in Richmond, VA, and write about music, I feel obliged to weigh in on “Rich Men North of Richmond,” the song whose YouTube video quickly went viral (45 million views, as of this posting) and now tops the charts.

Composed and sung by the Virginia-based Oliver Anthony (stage name of Christopher Anthony Lunsford), “Rich Men” is a new example of an old tradition in American music: topical or protest songs, cries for recognition and justice by marginalized people – here, people living in hollowed-out communities and employed in dead-end jobs, “working all day, overtime hours for bullshit pay.”

On the video, Anthony sings and plays his guitar in a forest clearing, with dogs lying at his feet and a hunter’s blind in the background. Visually, the production pushes as many cultural buttons as the song’s lyrics do:

Promoted by a number of influential right-wing online and cable-TV commentators, the song was the opening topic in last week’s Republican presidential primary debate. Most of that chatter was not about Anthony’s lament over long hours and low pay, but about his nods toward rightist and conspiratorial fixations: welfare queens, sexual predators, economic and cultural elites seeking “total control.”

Blowback from the left soon followed. “Since I saw that clip of Oliver Anthony singing his song ‘Rich Men North of Richmond,’ the ghost of Woody Guthrie has been whispering in my ear. ‘Help that guy out,’ Woody keeps telling me. ‘Let him know there’s a way to deal with those problems he’s singing about,’ ” Billy Bragg, a British singer-songwriter known for working-class protest songs, wrote in a preface to his video “Rich Men Earning North of a Million.”

Anthony, who mostly has avoided interviewers, opting instead to communicate in social-media posts and video talks, distances himself from ideologues: “It’s aggravating seeing people on conservative news try to identify with me like I’m one of them . . . like we’re fighting the same struggle here, like that we’re trying to present the same message.”

As for the presidential hopefuls, “that song is written about the people on that stage. And a lot more, too, not just them. But definitely them.”

Anthony also has kept his distance from another “them,” music-industry agents dangling management, recording and touring deals. His live performances to date have been gigs in small towns in Virginia and North Carolina. Becoming a rich man south of Richmond doesn’t seem to be a priority so far.

---

Rather than diving into the ideological dog-pile, I’ll focus on Anthony as a singer and his song as a song.

It’s frequently described as an anthem. It isn’t. Anthems aspire to happy outcomes – “crown thy good with brotherhood,” “we shall overcome some day,” “was blind but now I see.” Their tunes stick readily in the memory, and their refrains are easily sung by a congregation or a crowd at a rally. “Rich Men” doesn’t parse neatly, anthem-style, into verses and chorus or refrain. The song is plaintive, voicing a personal view of what is, not what ought to be. It’s as much blues as country.

It reminds me of the songs (aside from the yodeling) of Jimmie Rodgers, the country/blues singer of the 1920s and ’30s. This one, for example:

Rodgers, a railroad brakeman turned popular entertainer, cast himself as a working-stiff Everyman, not the promoter of a movement. Any political views he might have had were inferred by others. He absorbed the outlook of the people and places around him, and filtered it through his own experiences and sensibilities.

That’s how I hear Anthony’s song and the way he sings it, and how I see the performing persona he has adopted.

The real message of “Rich Men North of Richmond,” I think, comes not from the song’s lyrics but from one of Anthony’s talks: “I don’t know what this country is going to look like in 10 or 20 years if things don’t change. I don’t know what this world’s going to look like.”

That’s a sentiment – an uneasy, unanswered question – that strikes a chord with most of us, whatever our worldview or musical preferences.

The show moves into its new Sunday evening time slot, kicking up its heels in a symphonic dance party.

7-9 p.m. EDT
2300-0100 UTC/GMT
WDCE, University of Richmond
90.1 FM
http://wdce.org

Nielsen: “Maskarade” –
Overture, Act 2 Prelude, “Dance of the Cockerels”
Danish National Symphony Orchestra/Ulf Schirmer
(Decca)

Copland: “Dance Panels”
Detroit Symphony Orchestra/Leonard Slatkin
(Naxos)

Kodály: “Dances of Galanta”
Budapest Festival Orchestra/Iván Fischer
(Philips)

Malcolm Arnold: “Four Scottish Dances”
Boston Pops Orchestra/Keith Lockhart
(RCA)

Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic/Vasily Petrenko
(Avie)

John Adams: “The Chairman Dances”
Hollywood Bowl Orchestra/John Mauceri
(Decca)