National Symphony Orchestra: 2010-2011 Season
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Events
Sep 25, 2010 at 7:00 PM (Classical Concert) Season Opening Ball Concert
Christoph Eschenbach
, conductor
Renée Fleming
, soprano
Lang Lang
, piano
| STRAUSS JR. - Overture to Die Fledermaus | |
| STRAUSS - Four Last Songs | |
| STRAUSS JR. - Emperor Waltzes | |
LISZT - Piano Concerto No. 1 ![]() |
Sep 30 - Oct 2, 2010 (Classical Concert) Christoph Eschenbach, conductor / Beethoven's Symphony No. 9
Christoph Eschenbach
, conductor
Marisol Montalvo
, soprano
Yvonne Naef
, mezzo-soprano
Nikolai Schukoff
, tenor
John Relyea
, bass-baritone
The Choral Arts Society of Washington
,
Norman Scribner
, artistic director
| PINTSCHER - Hérodiade - Fragmente | |
BEETHOVEN - Symphony No. 9 ![]() |
Oct 7 - 9, 2010 (Classical Concert) Christoph Eschenbach, conductor / Christian Tetzlaff, violin, plays Beethoven
Christoph Eschenbach
, conductor
Christian Tetzlaff
, violin
| BEETHOVEN - Concerto in D major for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 61 | |
| BRUCKNER - Symphony No. 6 |
Oct 14 - 16, 2010 (Classical Concert) Christoph Eschenbach, conductor / Nathalie Stutzmann, contralto, all-Mahler Program
Christoph Eschenbach
, conductor
Nathalie Stutzmann
, contralto
| MAHLER - Kindertotenlieder | |
| MAHLER - Symphony No. 5 |
Oct 23, 2010 (Family Concert) NSO Teddy Bear Concert: Tunes 'n' Tales
Back by popular demand! Join two NSO principal musicians--violinist Marissa Regni and harpist Dotian Levalier--as they show how different sounds, melodies, rhythms, and instruments can be used to bring a story to life. Ages 3–5. Come early for "musical playtime." Starting a half hour before each Teddy Bear Concert, enjoy these music and movement activities especially designed for small children.
Oct 28 - 30, 2010 (Pops Concert) A Date with Idina Menzel / Marvin Hamlisch, conductor
Marvin Hamlisch
, conductor
Idina Menzel
, vocalist
Hot on the heels of her sold-out performance with the NSO at Wolf Trap in July, Tony winner Idina Menzel (Wicked) opens the NSO Pops season with Principal Pops Conductor Marvin Hamlisch in a diverse program of classic pop, musical theater favorites (including hits from Wicked and Rent) and her own original stories and songs. A powerhouse of talent, the Glee favorite constantly amazes audiences with her compelling, humorous, and emotional performances.
More with Marvin! Experience more of Marvin Hamlisch's engaging personality, musical talents, and unique humor immediately following the Thu., Oct. 28 performance.
NOTE: Patti LuPone, originally scheduled to perform with the NSO Pops in these concerts, has regrettably withdrawn due to a scheduling conflict.
Oct 31, 2010 (Family Concert) NSO Family Concert: Spooky Sounds and Scary Tales
Spooky Sounds and Scary Tales
Brett Mitchell, conductor
What do vampires, werewolves, and mummies do on Halloween? They try to disguise themselves as orchestra members, hiding behind their instruments on the Concert Hall stage. Come early for pre-concert trick-or-treating dressed in your spookiest get-up and enjoy a musical Halloween costume party with this "spirited" Sunday afternoon concert event. Conductor Brett Mitchell and the NSO will be wearing their own trick-or-treat outfits as they perform Dukas's The Sorcerer's Apprentice, John Williams's Hedwig's Theme from Harry Potter, and music from other scary tales. It's guaranteed to be a ghoulish good time! For age 5 and up.
Come early for pre-concert trick-or-treating and the Musical Instrument "Petting Zoo." An hour before each NSO Family Concert, young concertgoers can get up close and hands-on with the instruments they'll see played on the stage--from violins, trumpets, and oboes to trombones and percussion--in the Kennedy Center Atrium. A project of the Women's Committee for the NSO.
Stay after the 3 p.m. concerts for a Kids' Chat. Following the 3 p.m. concert, young audience members can ask questions and hear engaging stories in an up-close-and-personal talk with the concert artists.
Nov 4 - 7, 2010 (Classical Concert) Xian Zhang, conductor / Gil Shaham, violin, plays Prokofiev
Xian Zhang
, conductor
Gil Shaham
, violin
DEBUSSY - Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun ![]() | |
| PROKOFIEV - Violin Concerto No. 2 | |
| STRAVINSKY - Le Chant du rossignol | |
| BARTÓK - The Miraculous Mandarin |
Nov 18 - 20, 2010 (Classical Concert) Susanna Mälkki, conductor / Garrick Ohlsson, piano, plays Beethoven
Susanna Mälkki
, conductor
Garrick Ohlsson
, piano
| LINDBERG - Parada | |
| MAHLER - Adagio from Symphony No. 10 | |
BEETHOVEN - Piano Concerto No. 5 ![]() |
Nov 26 - 27, 2010 (Pops Concert) Frank Loesser Centenary / Marvin Hamlisch, conductor
Marvin Hamlisch
, conductor
| - Program to be announced |
Dec 2 - 4, 2010 (Classical Concert) Emmanuel Krivine, conductor / Louis Lortie, piano, plays Beethoven
Emmanuel Krivine
, conductor
Louis Lortie
, piano
| BEETHOVEN - Egmont Overture | |
| BEETHOVEN - Piano Concerto No. 2 | |
| LISZT - Les Préludes | |
| STRAUSS - Don Juan |
Dec 9 - 12, 2010 (Pops Concert) Happy Holidays! / Marvin Hamlisch, conductor
Marvin Hamlisch
, conductor
The City Choir of Washington
,
| - Program and additional performers to be announced |
Dec 16 - 19, 2010 (Classical Concert) Handel's Messiah
Rinaldo Alessandrini
, conductor
Klara Ek
, soprano
Alisa Kolosova
, mezzo-soprano
Michele Angelini
, tenor
John Martin Royo
, bass-baritone
The University of Maryland Concert Choir
,
Edward Maclary
, director
HANDEL - Messiah ![]() |
Jan 8, 2011 (Family Concert) NSO Teddy Bear Concert: Fancy That!
Sometimes it's fun to look fancy, but did you know that you can fancy up music? NSO violinist Marissa Regni plays a one-woman show about how to decorate music in the form of ornamentation and variations. To help "illustrate" this idea, the program is presented alongside graphic artist Marie Cheek, who will put children's imaginings of fancy music into images. Music by Bach, Mozart, and Prokofiev is featured in this program that proves that both teddy bears and musicians love to accessorize. For ages 3 to 5. Come early for "musical playtime." Starting a half hour before each Teddy Bear Concert, enjoy these music and movement activities especially designed for small children.
Jan 9, 2011 (Family Concert) NSO Ensemble Concert: Connections: MORE Science and Music
Endangered species, synapses, neurons, condensation, and precipitation--are these terms from a science course or a music class? In this fast-paced, multimedia performance, students hear and see how a melody can be played on a laundry hose (or a tuba); how instrument makers are responding to the near-extinction of their favorite trees; and whether a violinist can break a world speed record. Featuring NSO musicians Yvonne Caruthers, cello, Natasha Bogachek, violin, and Stephen Dumaine, tuba, it's science with excitement! For age 9 and up.
Jan 13 - 15, 2011 (Classical Concert) Kirill Karabits, conductor / Sergey Khachatryan, violin, plays Shostakovich
Kirill Karabits
, conductor
Sergey Khachatryan
, violin
| SILVESTROV - Elegy | |
| SHOSTAKOVICH - Violin Concerto No. 2 | |
| SIBELIUS - Symphony No. 1 |
Jan 15, 2011 (Family Concert) NSO Kinderkonzert: Making Music with Friends
Don't miss the Kennedy String Quartet in this interactive program for children that explores the connections between the way we feel and act and the way music is composed and performed. The musicians of the Kennedy String Quartet (Holly Hamilton and Jane Bowyer Stewart, violins; James Deighan, viola; David Teie, cello) will lead you through music by Haydn, Bartók, and…you! That's right, the audience will help build (or compose) a piece with the quartet. For age 4 and up. Free musical instrument "Petting Zoo" one hour prior to each performance.
Jan 22 - 24, 2011 (Classical Concert) Christoph Eschenbach, conductor / Tzimon Barto, piano, plays Gershwin
Christoph Eschenbach
, conductor
Tzimon Barto
, piano
| BERNSTEIN - Fanfare for the Inauguration of JFK | |
| LIEBERSON - New Work TBA | |
| A commission of the National Symphony Orchestra of Washington, D.C., Christoph Eschenbach, Music Director, through a generous gift from the John and June Hechinger Commissioning Fund for New Orchestral Works. | |
| BERNSTEIN - Symphonic Dances from West Side Story | |
| GERSHWIN - Piano Concerto | |
Jan 27 - 29, 2011 (Classical Concert) Christoph Eschenbach, conductor / Berg & Beethoven
Christoph Eschenbach
, conductor
Nurit Bar-Josef
, violin
David Hardy
, cello
Lambert Orkis
, piano
| BERG - Three Pieces for Orchestra | |
| BEETHOVEN - Triple Concerto | |
| BEETHOVEN - Symphony No. 5 |
Feb 3 - 5, 2011 (Pops Concert) Disney in Concert
Michael Krajewski
, conductor
Enjoy the magic music of Disney in Concert with the NSO Pops and guest conductor Michael Krajewski. Every new generation has a favorite Disney musical, whether it's The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Aladdin, or The Lion King. And then there are the classics, from a Mary Poppins medley to the "Yo ho" of Pirates of the Caribbean. When everyone joins together for memorable moments and melodies that Mouseketeers of all ages know by heart, it feels like a small world, after all.
Feb 10 - 12, 2011 (Classical Concert) Gianandrea Noseda, conductor / Radu Lupu, piano, plays Beethoven
Gianandrea Noseda
, conductor
Radu Lupu
, piano
| SMETANA - Overture to The Kiss | |
| BEETHOVEN - Piano Concerto No. 3 | |
| TCHAIKOVSKY - Manfred, Symphonic Poem after Byron |
Mar 3 - 5, 2011 (Classical Concert) Christoph Eschenbach, conductor / Anoushka Shankar, sitar & Kelley O'Connor, mezzo-soprano
Christoph Eschenbach
, conductor
Anoushka Shankar
, sitar
Kelley O'Connor
, mezzo-soprano
| - Program to include: | |
| SHANKAR - Sitar Concerto No. 3 | |
| ROUSSEL - Padmâvatî (excerpts) |
Mar 10 - 12, 2011 (Classical Concert) Christoph Eschenbach, conductor / Messiaen's Turangalîla-Symphonie
Christoph Eschenbach
, conductor
Cedric Tiberghien
, piano
Tristan Murail
, ondes martenot
| MESSIAEN - Turangalîla-Symphonie | |
| - Additional repertoire and performers to be announced |
Mar 17 - 20, 2011 (Classical Concert) Christoph Eschenbach, conductor / Beethoven & Zemlinsky
Christoph Eschenbach
, conductor
Twyla Robinson
, soprano
Matthias Goerne
, baritone
Additional soloists to be announced
,
| BEETHOVEN - Piano Concerto No. 1 | |
| ZEMLINSKY - Lyric Suite |
Mar 27, 2011 (Family Concert) NSO Family Concert: The Trumpet of the Swan: A Novel Symphony
Back by popular demand!
The Trumpet of the Swan
A Novel Symphony
Based on the book by E.B. White
Book by Marsha Norman
Music by Jason Robert Brown
Jason Robert Brown, conductor
How does a trumpeter swan communicate when he's born without a voice? Louis finds the answer when he learns to play a real brass trumpet he got from his father. Through the friendship of a young boy, Sam, and a determination to pay back his father's debt on the trumpet, Louis overcomes adversity to attain freedom, fame, fortune, and love. An entertaining theatrical adaptation of E.B. White's classic story, The Trumpet of the Swan brings actors together with an onstage orchestra and a trumpet soloist for an experience that the Washington Post calls, "Enchanting! This lushly scored work will send you home with a helpless, contented smile on your face." The production features music by Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown (Parade) and a script adapted by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner Marsha Norman (The Secret Garden). For age 7 and up.
Come early for the Musical Instrument "Petting Zoo." An hour before each NSO Family Concert, young concertgoers can get up close and hands-on with the instruments they'll see played on the stage--from violins, trumpets, and oboes to trombones and percussion--in the Kennedy Center Atrium. A project of the Women's Committee for the NSO.
Stay after the 3 p.m. concerts for a Kids' Chat. Following the 3 p.m. concert, young audience members can ask questions and hear engaging stories in an up-close-and-personal talk with the concert artists.
Mar 31 - Apr 2, 2011 (Classical Concert) Iván Fischer, conductor / Jozsef Lendvay Jr., violin, plays Paganini
Iván Fischer
, conductor
József Lendvay, Jr.
, violin
| ROSSINI - Overture to La gazza ladra | |
| PAGANINI - Violin Concerto No. 1 | |
| SCHUMANN - Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major, Op. 97, "Rhenish" |
Apr 7 - 9, 2011 (Classical Concert) Christoph Eschenbach, conductor / Dawn Upshaw, soprano, sings Golijov & Mahler
Christoph Eschenbach
, conductor
Dawn Upshaw
, soprano
| WEBERN - Im Sommerwind | |
| GOLIJOV - She Was Here | |
| MAHLER - Symphony No. 4 |
Apr 13 - 16, 2011 (Pops Concert) Pink Martini
Pink Martini
,
| - Program to be announced |
Apr 28 - 30, 2011 (Classical Concert) Kurt Masur, conductor / Sarah Chang, violin, plays Bruch
Kurt Masur
, conductor
Sarah Chang
, violin
| MENDELSSOHN - Overture to Ruy Blas | |
| BRUCH - Violin Concerto No. 1 | |
| BRAHMS - Symphony No. 1 |
May 5 - 7, 2011 (Classical Concert) Neeme Järvi, conductor / Yefim Bronfman, piano, plays Tchaikovsky
Neeme Järvi
, conductor
Yefim Bronfman
, piano
| GLAZUNOV - Concert Waltz No. 1 | |
| TCHAIKOVSKY - Piano Concerto No. 1 | |
| PROKOFIEV - Symphony No. 6 |
May 7 - 8, 2011 (Family Concert) NSO Teddy Bear Concert: Bears, Bears Everywhere
It's a big bear world out there, and every sort of bear has its own look and growl. This Teddy Bear Concert takes a peek at these adorable creatures and the sounds of their homelands--music that is as unique as they are. With NSO musicians Elisabeth Adkins and Paula Akbar, violin, Lewis Lipnick, bassoon, and Joe Connell, percussion, as well as narrator Lynne-Jane Forman, this performance assembles a wild combination of instruments in order to create music from around the world. Children will also be introduced to an out-of-this-world instrument, the Theremin, which is used to create the crazy sounds in a lot of classic films. For ages 3 to 5. Come early for "musical playtime." Starting a half hour before each Teddy Bear Concert, enjoy these music and movement activities especially designed for small children.
May 12 - 14, 2011 (Pops Concert) Jon Secada and Tito Puente Jr. / Marvin Hamlisch, conductor
Marvin Hamlisch
, conductor
Jon Secada
,
Tito Puente, Jr.
,
| - Program to be announced |
May 15, 2011 (Family Concert) NSO Family Concert: Beethoven Lives Upstairs
Beethoven Lives Upstairs
Based on the Original Work by Barbara Nichol
Paul Pement, director and producer
Susan Hammond, creator
Natalie Berg and Thad Avery, actors
David Amado, conductor
What to do about the loud neighbor upstairs? When Ludwig van Beethoven moves into his family's Vienna boarding house, young Christoph begins writing letters to his uncle about the "madman" living above him. Through a touching correspondence dramatically underscored with more than twenty-five excerpts from the composer's most beautiful works, Christoph comes to understand the genius of Beethoven, the beauty of his music, and the torment of his deafness. Part history, part drama, all fun, this is an excellent introduction to the master's music, including the Moonlight Sonata, Für Elise, and the great Fifth and Ninth Symphonies. For age 5 and up.
Come early for the Musical Instrument "Petting Zoo." An hour before each NSO Family Concert, young concertgoers can get up close and hands-on with the instruments they'll see played on the stage--from violins, trumpets, and oboes to trombones and percussion--in the Kennedy Center Atrium. A project of the Women's Committee for the NSO.
Stay after the 3 p.m. concerts for a Kids' Chat. Following the 3 p.m. concert, young audience members can ask questions and hear engaging stories in an up-close-and-personal talk with the concert artists.
May 19 - 21, 2011 (Classical Concert) Thomas Dausgaard, conductor / Nikolai Lugansky, piano, plays Beethoven
Thomas Dausgaard
, conductor
Nikolai Lugansky
, piano
| SIBELIUS - En Saga | |
BEETHOVEN - Piano Concerto No. 4 ![]() | |
| NIELSEN - Symphony No. 4, "The Inextinguishable" |
May 22, 2011 (Family Concert) NSO Kinderkonzert: Got Rhythm?
Rhythm is everywhere: it flavors our lives and lives within music. Join Glenn Donnellan, Richard Barber, Edward Cabarga, Adel Sanchez, and Joe Connell for vivid selections by Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Rossini, and more. For ages 4 and up. Free musical instrument "Petting Zoo" one hour prior to each performance.
Jun 2 - 4, 2011 (Classical Concert) John Axelrod, conductor / Samuel Pisar, narrator & Kelley Nassief, soprano, Bernstein's Symphony No. 3 "Kaddish"
John Axelrod
, conductor
Samuel Pisar
, narrator
Kelley Nassief
, soprano
Cathedral Choral Society
,
J. Reilly Lewis
, music director
| KERNIS - Musica Celestis | |
| BERNSTEIN - Symphonic Suite from On the Waterfront | |
| BARBER - Agnus Dei | |
| BERNSTEIN - Symphony No. 3, "Kaddish" |
Jun 9 - 11, 2011 (Classical Concert) Christoph Eschenbach, conductor / Jennifer Koh, violin, plays Augusta Read Thomas
Christoph Eschenbach
, conductor
Jennifer Koh
, violin
| SCHUMANN - Overture to Die Braut von Messina | |
| THOMAS - Violin Concerto No. 3, "Juggler in Paradise" | |
| SCHUMANN - Symphony No. 2 |
Jun 16 - 18, 2011 (Classical Concert) Vladimir Ashkenazy, conductor / Stephen Isserlis, cello, plays Walton
Vladimir Ashkenazy
, conductor
Steven Isserlis
, cello
| WALTON - Portsmouth Point Overture | |
| WALTON - Cello Concerto | |
| SHOSTAKOVICH - Symphony No. 10 |

