In Wednesday’s (3/5) Washington Post, several arts writers report on the Kennedy Center’s 2014-15 “dance, theater and jazz performances and festivals, as well as the programming for its affiliate organizations, the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera.” Anne Midgette writes that the NSO “is starting a multi-year cycle of Mahler symphonies (with the 5th and 9th), offering a Tchaikovsky festival and joining the Kennedy Center’s Iberia Festival with two programs, one including Falla’s opera ‘La Vida Breve’ (conducted by Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos) and one, far more predictably, of Spanish-themed works by French composers (cue Ravel’s ‘Bolero’).” Music Director Christoph Eschenbach “is continuing to bring contemporary German composers to Washington audiences with the American premiere of a new piano concerto by the German heavyweight Wolfgang Rihm, co-commissioned with the Salzburg festival and performed by Eschenbach pet Tzimon Barto. Composer Matthias Pintscher will conduct his new violin concerto ‘Mar’eh’ in February.” Set for November is the NSO’s first performance since 1943 of Busoni’s Piano Concerto. “This year’s Hechinger commission, of a new American work, has yet to be announced.” On the family concert series is a new commission from NSO Principal Pops Conductor Steven Reineke, “The True Story of the Three Little Pigs.”
Posted March 10, 2014
