Music World

Washington Performing Arts Society

By vera tilson

MAY 2008

Looking ahead towards the beginning of next season, the classical music scene as developed by Washington Performing Arts Society looks as exciting as ever. The performing venues are not confined to just the Kennedy Center though the Concert Hall is the centerpiece with The Music Center at Strathmore running a close second.

The New York Philharmonic, conducted in his farewell season by Lorin Maazel, will present an all Tchaikovsky program on October 4 in the Concert Hall. Almost as exciting will be conductor Gustavo Dudamel’s debut here November 14 with the Israel Philharmonic. Twenty seven year old Dudamel is the product of Venezuela’s El Sistema, the classical music program that has changed the lives of thousands of poor children in Venezuela. Hooray for classical music!

Two violinists will star in the fall--Anne-Sophie Mutter with Camerata Salzburg, a chamber music group on October 11, and Vadim Repin, Russian violinist in recital with pianist Nikolai Lugansky both in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall.

On the track for significant careers will be young pianists Anna Vinnitskaya on September 27, and Daria Rabotkina on November 15 in the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater both at 2:00 pm.

The Music Center at Strathmore opens on October 10 with pianist Andras Schiff and legendary pianist Maurizio Pollini on October 29. Violinist Midori will perform on the 2nd of November.

WPAS sponsors Jazz with Cassandra Wilson in the Warner Theatre on November 8 with more Jazz programs in February and March.