Special Programs on WETA Classical This Week

Join us for contemporary music from the 20th and 21st centuries on Front Row Washington, including a world premiere by Mark Kuss! Led by Artistic Director Christopher Kendall, the 21st Century Consort is a celebrated local ensemble that has been encouraging, performing, and commissioning contemporary music. The world premiere (Ares by Mark Kuss) and programming of the first three works were inspired by Mark Bradford's installation "Pickett's Charge."

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Opera Matinee presents Aida. ​Verdi's grand opera is set in ancient Egypt, the backdrop to private conflict of an Ethiopian princess torn between personal love and devotion to country, a forbidden love between members of warring factions. Magnificent choruses and ensembles with grand music make this one of Verdi's most popular and enduring operas.  Featuring Michelle Bradley in the title role, with Marcelo Álvarez, led by Paolo Carignani.

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Music in honor of Mary on Choral Showcase this week, featuring Gregorian Chant, a 14th-century English Ladymass, and a variety of works from John Tavener, Giuseppe Verdi, Igor Stravinsky, Cecilia McDowall, and more.

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On this week's From the Top, we meet an award-winning saxophone quartet from Texas. A teen flutist who is also a talented figure skater performs Faure. An impressive 16-year-old performs a piece by a guitarist/composer who inspires him, and a violinist from Hong Kong studying in Los Angeles tells us about how a letter from a stranger impacted his life.

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From Gabrieli to Gottschalk, we have the perfect pairings for the warm May sunrises on Classical Sunrise this week.

• Monday 6:05AM Handel - Arrival of the Queen of Sheba
• Tuesday 6:05AM Gottschalk - Grande Tarantelle
• Wednesday 6:05AM Bach - Flute Sonata, BWV 1033: II. Allegro
• Thursday 6:05AM Gabrieli - Canzon septimi toni No. 2
• Friday 6:05AM Bach -  Orchestral Suite No. 2: Badinerie

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