“To further the appreciation of culture among all the people, to increase respect for the creative individual, to widen participation by all the processes and fulfillments of art—this is one of the fascinating challenges of these days.” John F. Kennedy-- inscribed on the riverside terrace wall of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
“Art knows no national boundaries. Genius can speak at any time, and the entire world will hear it and listen.” JFK—etched in glass at The Reach.
This season, the National Symphony Orchestra moves across boundaries and brings us a world of innovative performances. As Music Director Gianandrea Noseda tells us, the NSO might be “away from our regular home at the Kennedy Center, but this gives us a special opportunity: we will be coming to a neighborhood near you, bringing our music closer to communities across the region.”
In fact, the NSO will be performing in six different venues this season: two each in D.C., Maryland and Virginia. They include:
The Lincoln Theatre, and Lisner Auditorium at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
The Center for the Arts at Strathmore in Bethesda, and The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the University of Maryland College Park.
The Center for the Arts at George Mason University in Fairfax, and The Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center at Northern Virginia Community College in Alexandria.
September 26 at Strathmore: Maestro Noseda kicks off the NSO’s 96th season and his 10th as Music Director with a gala concert featuring Carlos Simon’s eloquent celebration of our hometown: Monuments—Suite for D.C., Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake Suite and Respighi’s La Boutique fantasque.
Each concert this season has a theme, beginning with “Exotic Tales” October 1 at George Mason University and October 2nd at Strathmore. Gianandrea Noseda conducts Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade, Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition and Ravel’s Boléro.
“Triumph”: October 8,9 at Schlesinger Hall, October 10 at Strathmore: Prokofiev’s Symphony No.5, Haydn’s Symphony No.85 “La Reine” (a favorite of Marie Antoinette) and Stravinsky’s Scènes de Ballet.
“Scheherazade Two Point Oh!” October 15-16 at George Mason. Composer and Conductor John Adams leads his groundbreaking Scheherazade2, joined by violinist Leila Josefowicz for whom the work was written. Also on the program are Three Tangos by Astor Piazzolla arranged by John Adams, and Prokofiev’s Lieutenant Kijé Suite.
“Returning Love” October 22, 23 at Schlesinger Hall and October 24 at Strathmore. Leonard Slatkin returns to the NSO to conduct his Schubertiade, Joan Tower’s Love Returns (an NSO co-commission) written for saxophonist Steven Banks, and Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No.3
“Serenades and Simple Songs” Nov. 12-14 at Lisner. Teddy Abrams conducts Stravinsky’s Symphonies of Wind Instruments, the world premiere of Sarah Kirkland Snider’s Urge with bass-baritone Will Liverman (another NSO co-commission), Michael Tilson Thomas’s Street Song, and Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings.
“The Nutcracker and Cinderella” November 20, Schlesinger Hall, Nov 21-22 at Lisner. Marie Jacquot conducts Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite, Prokofiev’s Cinderella Suite and is joined by Jorge Federico Osorio in Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21 nicknamed “Elvira Madigan” after the 1967 movie.
The year comes to a close with the traditional Messiah concerts featuring the renowned Richard Egarr at the helm. Performances are December 16-17 at Lisner and December 18 & 19th at The Clarice and December 20 at Schlesinger Hall.
As you can see, a huge amount of planning went into meeting the challenges of finding not one, but 6 new performance spaces. Kudos to the musicians and staff of the National Symphony Orchestra for persevering and offering us a season that bridges boundaries, and that invites, to quote Maestro Noseda, “discovery and connection through music.”
Be listening to WETA Classical for weekly updates on NSO programs and chats with artists.
For more information, visit NationalSymphony.org
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