NSO Classical: 2011-2012 Season

Upcoming Events

• Christoph Eschenbach, conductor / Beethoven

  May 31 - Jun. 2, 2012 | Buy Now
  Christoph Eschenbach returns with more breathtaking Beethoven, conducting Symphony No. 7. The Orchestra also premieres a new work under the auspices of the Hechinger Commissioning Fund and the Suite from Richard Strauss's Der Rosenkavalier.

• Christoph Eschenbach, conductor / Claudio Bohórquez, cello, plays Lalo

  Jun. 7 - 9, 2012 | Buy Now
  Claudio Bohórquez, "an elegant artist who places his emphasis on song" (The Washington Post), brings that elegance to Lalo's Cello Concerto, conducted by Christoph Eschenbach. The program also features works by Berlioz and Tchaikovsky.

Past Events

• Season Opening Ball Concert

  Sun., Sep. 25, 2011, 7:00 PM
  The NSO marks its 80th anniversary with a gala event led by Music Director Christoph Eschenbach with violinist Joshua Bell and baritone Thomas Hampson, and works by Dvorák, Bruch, Copland, and Ravel as well as a film celebrating this milestone.

• Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, conductor / Beethoven & Orff

  Sep. 29 - Oct. 1, 2011
  Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos conducts Beethoven's spry and brilliant Symphony No. 8. Also on the program is Carl Orff's towering cantata Carmina Burana with soprano Laura Claycomb, tenor Nicholas Phan, and baritone Hugh Russell.

• John Storgårds, conductor / Gidon Kremer, violin, plays Sibelius

  Oct. 6 - 9, 2011
  Maestro John Storgårds makes his NSO debut bringing acclaimed violinist Gidon Kremer's "great interpretive strength" (The New York Times) to bear on Sibelius's Violin Concerto. Also on the program are works by Mussorgsky, Liadov, and Nielsen.

• Lorin Maazel, conductor / Simon Trpčeski, piano, plays Grieg

  Oct. 27 - 29, 2011
  Lorin Maazel conducts Grieg's Piano Concerto featuring the NSO debut of Simon Trpceski, praised for "the virtuosity he unquestionably has at his fingertips" (New York Times). Also on the program are works by Berlioz and Mussorgsky.

• Oliver Knussen, conductor / Peter Serkin, piano, plays Messiaen & Benjamin

  Nov. 3 - 5, 2011
  Pianist Peter Serkin has been called "utterly modern and thoroughly engrossing" (The Washington Post). Oliver Knussen conducts the NSO premiere of Messiaen's Le Réveil des oiseaux on a program with Stravinsky's Firebird Suite.

• Leonard Slatkin, conductor / Gautier Capuçon, cello, plays Saint-Saëns

  Nov. 10 - 12, 2011
  Former NSO Music Director Leonard Slatkin returns to conduct Gautier Capuçon playing Saint-Saëns's Cello Concerto No. 1. Also on the program are Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 3 and Anna Clyne's << rewind <<.

• Christoph Eschenbach, conductor / Leonidas Kavakos, violin, plays Brahms

  Nov. 17 - 19, 2011
  Christoph Eschenbach continues the NSO's exploration of Beethoven with the verdant Symphony No. 6 "Pastoral." Also on the program, Leonidas Kavakos plays another work of German genius, Brahms's Violin Concerto.

• Christoph Eschenbach, conductor / Midori, violin, plays Britten

  Dec. 1 - 3, 2011
  Often partnered on stage and on critically acclaimed recordings, renowned violinist Midori and Christoph Eschenbach reunite for Britten's Violin Concerto. Also on the program, a co-commissioned work from Osvaldo Golijov and Shostakovich's Symphony No. 1.

• Handel's Messiah

  Dec. 15 - 18, 2011
  Continue a Christmas tradition with Handel's epic masterpiece, Messiah, conducted by Matthew Halls and performed with holiday spirit by the NSO, acclaimed guest singers, and the University of Maryland Concert Choir.

• New Year's Eve at the Kennedy Center

  Sat., Dec. 31, 2011, 8:30 PM
  Usher in the New Year with a dazzling classical concert featuring guest conductor Murry Sidlin, members of the National Symphony Orchestra, and guest guitarist Pepe Romero.

• Hannu Lintu, conductor / Leila Josefowicz, violin, plays Mackey

  Jan. 12 - 14, 2012
  Leila Josefowicz, a violinist of "exceptional technical aplomb and nuance" (Baltimore Sun), plays Mackey's Beautiful Passing conducted by Hannu Lintu. Also on the program are 5 orchestrations of Debussy's Préludes by Matthews.

• James Gaffigan, conductor / Ingrid Fliter, piano, plays Schumann

  Jan. 19 - 21, 2012
  Ingrid Fliter brings the lyrical romanticism of Schumann's Piano Concerto to life under the baton of James Gaffigan on a program that also includes works by Mozart and the US premiere of a NSO co-commissioned piece by Detlev Glanert.

• Christoph Eschenbach, conductor / Widmann, Mozart & Schubert

  Jan. 26 - 29, 2012
  Christoph Eschenbach conducts a program of classical and contemporary genius with Mozart's Clarinet Concerto featuring soloist Jörg Widmann. Widmann's own Armonica features the affecting tones of Christa Schönfeldinger's glass harmonica.

• Christoph Eschenbach, conductor / Strauss & Beethoven

  Feb. 2 - 4, 2012
  The NSO continues its exploration of Beethoven with his immense and emotional Symphony No. 3 "Eroica." With Christoph Eschenbach on the podium, the Orchestra also plays Richard Strauss's masterpiece for 23 strings, Metamorphosen.

• Christoph Eschenbach, conductor / Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, violin, plays Shostakovich

  Feb. 9 - 11, 2012
  Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg has been called "a breathtakingly daring and original artist" by the Washington Post. Now the violinist "who must be experienced in person" plays Shostakovich's Violin Concerto No. 1 conducted by Christoph Eschenbach.

• Herbert Blomstedt, conductor / Beethoven & Strauss

  Feb. 16 - 19, 2012
  Herbert Blomstedt conducts as the NSO continues to explore the genius of Beethoven through his breathtaking Fourth Symphony. Also on the program is Richard Strauss's symphonic tale of heroics, Ein Heldenleben.

• Christoph Eschenbach, conductor / Matthias Goerne, bass-baritone & Michelle DeYoung, mezzo-soprano / Music of Bartók

  Mar. 8 - 10, 2012
  Christoph Eschenbach continues The Music of Budapest, Prague, and Vienna with works by Budapest's Bartók. Matthias Goerne and Michelle DeYoung lend their voices to Bluebeard's Castle on a program with The Miraculous Mandarin.

• Christoph Eschenbach, conductor / Hungarian Dances

  Fri., Mar. 9, 2012, 8:00 PM
  The Music of Budapest, Prague, and Vienna continues with Christoph Eschenbach conducting the NSO in "Hungarian Dances," a collection of works by composers Bartók, Kodály, Liszt, and Brahms.

• Christoph Eschenbach, conductor / Beethoven: Fidelio

  Mar. 15 - 17, 2012
  Christoph Eschenbach continues The Music of Budapest, Prague, and Vienna with NSO performances of Fidelio, Beethoven's only opera, in concert with singers and chorus.

• Christoph Eschenbach, conductor / Music by the Strauss Family

  Fri., Mar. 16, 2012, 1:30 PM
  As part of The Music of Budapest, Prague, and Vienna, Christoph Eschenbach conducts the NSO in works by Johann Strauss Jr. and brother Josef, including the overture to Die Fledermaus, in celebration of their beloved Vienna.

• Christoph Eschenbach, conductor / Dvorák: Stabat Mater

  Mar. 22 - 24, 2012
  Hear the genius of Dvorák as The Music of Budapest, Prague, and Vienna continues with Maestro Eschenbach conducting the NSO in Stabat Mater, with singers Anne Schwanewilms, Nathalie Stutzmann, Steve Davislim, and Burak Bilgili.

• Christoph Eschenbach, conductor / Music of Dvorák & Janácek

  Fri., Mar. 23, 2012, 8:00 PM
  The Music of Budapest, Prague, and Vienna stops in Prague with Christoph Eschenbach conducting  the National Symphony Orchestra in works by Dvorák and Janácek.

• Helmuth Rilling, conductor / Mendelssohn: Elijah

  Apr. 5 - 7, 2012
  Helmuth Rilling conducts Mendelssohn's stirring Elijah featuring NSO debut performances from soprano Marlis Petersen, mezzo-soprano Anke Vondung, tenor Bruce Sledge, and baritone Russell Braun, with the University of Maryland Concert Choir.

• Sweet Honey In The Rock: Affirmations for a New World

  Apr. 13 - 14, 2012
  Sweet Honey In The Rock and the NSO join forces for a world premiere of Bill Banfield's Affirmations. The Grammy Award–nominated a cappella group brings its renowned African American vocal styles to this important NSO co-commission.

• Andrew Litton, conductor / Stephen Hough, piano, plays Rachmaninoff

  Apr. 19 - 21, 2012
  Pianist Stephen Hough's talent is "tremendous, balancing muscle with intelligence, stamina with wit" (The Guardian). Conducted by Andrew Litton, he plays Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 1. Also on the program are works by Frank Bridge and Elgar.

• Andreas Delfs, conductor / Nelson Freire, piano, plays Brahms

  May 17 - 19, 2012
  "An extraordinary pianist" (The New York Times), Nelson Freire makes his much-anticipated NSO debut, playing Brahms's Piano Concerto No. 2 conducted by Andreas Delfs. Also on the program are Haydn's Symphony No. 83 and Weill's Symphony No. 2.

All programs are subject to change.