Front Row Washington

Mondays at 9:00 pm on Classical WETA 90.9 FM

Tune in on Mondays at 9:00 pm for classical performances by top local musicians and ensembles, recorded at venues throughout the Washington area.

This month we celebrate the National Gallery of Art and their concert series that began in World War 2. Now in their 78th season, they have presented more than 3,000 free concerts featuring some of the most prominent names in classical music in the United States and abroad.

Upcoming Broadcasts

Christian Tetzlaff and Lars Vogt play Beethoven, Shostakovich, and Ravel

Presented by the Phillips Collection

Monday, October 26, 2020 - 9:00pm

Christian Tetzlaff has been one of the most sought-after violinists and most exciting musicians on the classical music scene for many years. “The greatest performance of the work I’ve ever heard,” wrote Tim Ashley (The Guardian, May 2015) of his interpretation of the Beethoven Violin Concerto with the London Symphony Orchestra and conductor Daniel Harding.

Lars Vogt has established himself as one of the leading musicians of his generation. He first came to public attention when he won second prize at the 1990 Leeds International Piano Competition and has enjoyed a varied career for over twenty-five years. His versatility as an artist ranges from the core classical repertoire of Mozart, Beethoven, Schumann and Brahms to the romantics Grieg, Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov through to the dazzling Lutoslawski concerto.

Featured performances:

Beethoven - Sonata for Violin and Piano in A Major, Op. 30, No. 1
Shostakovich - Sonata for Violin and Piano in G Major, Op. 134
Ravel - Violin Sonata No. 2 in G Major

Recent Broadcasts

Formosa Quartet plays Taiwanese and Austrian music

Presented by the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art

Monday, October 19, 2020 - 9:00pm

Winners of both the First Prize and Amadeus Prize at the Wigmore Hall International String Quartet Competition, Formosa Quartet is “one of the very best quartets of their generation” (David Soyer, cellist, Guarneri Quartet). Hailed as “spellbinding” (The Strad) and “remarkably fine” (Gramophone), the Formosa Quartet has given critically acclaimed performances at the Library of Congress, the Da Camera Society of Los Angeles, the Chicago Cultural Center, the Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center, the National Concert Hall in Taipei, Wigmore Hall in London, die Glocke Bremen, and the Kammermusiksaal at the Berliner Philharmonie. Based in Chicago and Los Angeles, the ensemble is deeply committed to exploring new mediums for string quartet, while retaining its founders’ mission of championing Taiwanese music and promoting the arts in Taiwan.

Stephen Robinson at Marlow Guitar Series

Presented by Marlow Guitar Series

Monday, October 12, 2020 - 9:00pm

Heralded by The New York Times for his “effortless virtuosity with intelligence and good taste,” by The Tallahassee Democrat for his “sweet, pure sound, technique to burn and strong sense of musical and poetic phrasing,” and by (Puerto Rico’s) El Nuevo Dia as a “magnificent North American guitarist, full of virtuosity, magnificent technical precision, and a masterfully delivered diverse range of sound,” Stephen Robinson tours extensively as a recitalist, collaborative artist, and orchestral soloist. He has appeared as guest soloist with orchestras including the Cincinnati Symphony and Boston Pops Orchestras and conducts master classes at leading musical institutions and festivals worldwide.

Alexander Kobrin plays Beethoven

Presented by Downtown Piano Works

Monday, October 5, 2020 - 9:00pm

Called the “Van Cliburn of today” by the BBC, pianist Alexander Kobrin has placed himself at the forefront of today's performing musicians. His prize-winning performances have been praised for their brilliant technique, musicality, and emotional engagement with the audience.

He continues his Beethoven project, performing every piano sonata composed by Beethoven.