Kennedy Center Events: Upcoming Shows

National Symphony Orchestra: Lorin Maazel, conductor/ Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, violin, plays Barber

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 19:00:00 EST

Oct 15 - 17, 2009
Lorin Maazel returns to conduct Barber's Violin Concerto featuring soloist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg. Maazel also conducts Franck's Symphony and his own The Giving Tree narrated by his wife, the actress Dietlinde Turban-Maazel, in her NSO debut.

Bill Frisell Trio featuring Tony Scherr & Kenny Wollesen

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:30:00 EST

Oct 16, 2009
Guitarist Bill Frisell is renowned for his compositions that interpret American music. "Mixing rock, country, jazz, and blues, he's found what connects them: improvisation and a sense of play" (The New York Times).

Ballet 360° - Choreographers: George Balanchine

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST

Oct 17, 2009 at 3:00 PM
The Ballet 360° lecture series continues its in-depth look at ballet with this season's sessions focusing on some of the form's iconic choreographers.

Master Class: KEIGWIN + COMPANY

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:00:00 EST

Oct 21, 2009 at 7:00 PM
This participatory (sorry, no observers allowed) master class for intermediate to advanced dancers is led by KEIGWIN + COMPANY members.

KEIGWIN + COMPANY

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:30:00 EST

Oct 22 - 23, 2009
Known for provocative, witty, and theatrical dances, KEIGWIN + COMPANY performs Elements (Water, Fire, Earth, and Air), each of which "have a deeply satisfying physicality" (Metro New York).

CANCELLED: National Symphony Orchestra: Edo de Waart, conductor/Ben Heppner, tenor

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:00:00 EST

Oct 22, 2009 at 8:00 PM
As of Oct. 13: Due to a viral infection, celebrated tenor Ben Heppner has regrettably had to cancel his Thursday, October 22 concert with the NSO. The concert will not be re-scheduled this season.

KC Jazz Club: Giacomo Gates and Trio

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:30:00 EST

Oct 23, 2009
Baritone Giacomo Gates is "a singer who combines the mellow conversational elegance of a crooner with the hipster outlook of a bebop scat and vocalese singer" (Newark Star-Ledger).

Barrio Grrrl!: A New Musical

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST

Oct 24 - Nov 15, 2009
Spunky 9-year-old Ana and her imaginary friend, Amazing Voice, dedicate their lives to saving the barrio in this Kennedy Center commission by Pulitzer Prize finalist and Tony nominee Quiara Alegría Hudes (In the Heights). Age 9+.

KC Jazz Club: Michael Wolff Trio with special guest Steve Wilson

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 19:30:00 EST

Oct 24, 2009
Pianist/composer Michael Wolff, "one of the most innovative and dynamic pianists of his generation" (JazzTimes), brings his trio--bassist Chip Jackson and drummer Victor Jones--and special guest saxophonist Steve Wilson to the KC Jazz Club.

NSO Pops: An Evening with Chris Botti/Marvin Hamlisch, conductor

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:00:00 EST

Oct 29 - 31, 2009
A master artist and performer, American jazz trumpeter Chris Botti joins Marvin Hamlisch and the NSO Pops for a wide-ranging repertoire of pop, jazz, and classical music.

A Streetcar Named Desire

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:30:00 EST

Oct 29 - Nov 21, 2009
Cate Blanchett stars as Blanche DuBois in the U.S. premiere of Sydney Theatre Company's production of Tennessee Williams's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama A Streetcar Named Desire, directed by Liv Ullmann.

KC Jazz Club: Jon Irabagon

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:30:00 EST

Oct 30, 2009
The winner of the 2008 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition, alto saxophonist Jon Irabagon has played with such musical luminaries as Billy Joel, Wynton Marsalis, Bright Eyes, Frank Wess, and Lou Reed.

NSO Family Concert: Spooky Sounds and Scary Tales

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST

Nov 1, 2009
Conductor Brad Lubman and the NSO play Steven Reineke's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow with narrator Lynda Carter and music from other scary tales in this fun and lively orchestral concert. Age 5+.

In Conversation: Cate Blanchett

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST

Nov 3, 2009 at 12:00 PM
Academy Award--winning actress Cate Blanchett sits down with director/playwright Emily Mann for an intimate conversation.

National Symphony Orchestra: Alexander Vedernikov, conductor/Vadim Repin, violin, plays Brahms

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:00:00 EST

Nov 5 - 7, 2009
Former Bolshoi Theatre Music Director Alexander Vedernikov makes his US orchestra debut, conducting the Brahms Violin Concerto with soloist Vadim Repin, whom the Los Angeles Times praises for his "muscular performances, aggressive and astounding."

McCoy Tyner with the Howard University Jazz Ensemble, Fred Irby III, HUJE Music Director

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:30:00 EST

Nov 6, 2009
McCoy Tyner's blues-based piano style, replete with sophisticated chords and an explosively percussive left hand, has transcended conventional styles to become one of the most identifiable sounds in improvised music.

What to Listen for in Russian Composers I: Stravinsky & Rachmaninoff

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST

Nov 7, 2009 at 3:00 PM
Join National Symphony Orchestra cellist Yvonne Caruthers for an exploration of the works of influential Russian composers Igor Stravinsky and Sergei Rachmaninoff presented during the Kennedy Center's Focus on Russia.

Exploring Ballet with Suzanne Farrell FOR ADULTS - I

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST

Nov 8, 2009 at 1:00 PM
From pliés to pirouettes, discover how it feels to dance as Suzanne Farrell leads this unique and inspirational movement class for non-dancers.

National Symphony Orchestra: Andrew Litton, conductor/Lang Lang, piano, plays Beethoven & Prokofiev

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST

Nov 13, 2009 at 8:00 PM
Andrew Litton conducts the "sparkling and dramatic" (San Francisco Chronicle) Lang Lang in Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 1 and Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 3.

Barbara Cook's Spotlight: An Evening with Christine Ebersole

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 19:30:00 EST

Nov 14, 2009 at 7:30 PM
Two-time Tony Award winner and Broadway star Christine Ebersole (Grey Gardens) performs in this theater cabaret performance series curated by Broadway legend Barbara Cook.

KC Jazz Club: Stefon Harris and Blackout

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 19:30:00 EST

Nov 14, 2009
Grammy Award-nominated vibraphonist-composer Stefon Harris is heralded as "one of the most important young artists in jazz" (Los Angeles Times). He brings his band Blackout back to the KC Jazz Club.

The Kennedy Center Chamber Players play Faur and Tchaikovsky

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST

Nov 15, 2009 at 2:00 PM
The Kennedy Center Chamber Players open their season with Fauré's Piano Quartet and Tchaikovsky's Piano Trio.

Broadway Up Close and Personal: Marvin Hamlisch

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:30:00 EST

Nov 16, 2009 at 7:30 PM
Join ASCAP's Michael Kerker for an intimate interview with the multi-award-winning NSO Principal Pops Conductor Marvin Hamlisch and performances by special guests performing the composer's best.

Zukerman ChamberPlayers

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:30:00 EST

Nov 17, 2009 at 7:30 PM
Led by the great Pinchas Zukerman, the Zukerman ChamberPlayers return accompanied by Canadian pianist Angela Cheng in a program that includes a beloved Brahms Piano Quartet and the "FAE" violin and piano sonata composed by Schumann, Brahms, and Dietrich.

National Symphony Orchestra: Hugh Wolff, conductor/Joshua Bell, violin, plays Lalo

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:00:00 EST

Nov 19 - 22, 2009
An acclaimed American conductor with a global perspective, Hugh Wolff conducts a program featuring Lalo's Symphonie Espagnole with Joshua Bell, whom the Boston Herald calls "the greatest American violinist active today."

Vogler String Quartet

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:30:00 EST

Nov 19, 2009 at 7:30 PM
"Delivering everything we can ask of chamber music" (The Washington Post), Berlin's Vogler String Quartet celebrates 25 years with a program centered around a lost generation of Jewish composers living in Russia.

NSO Kinderkonzert: Making Music with Friends

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST

Nov 21, 2009
The newest concert by the Kennedy String Quartet of Strings and Stories fame is an interactive program for children that explores the connections between the way we feel and act and the way music is composed and performed. Age 4+.

Ballet 360° - Choreographers: Jerome Robbins

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST

Nov 21, 2009 at 3:00 PM
The Ballet 360° lecture series continues its in-depth look at ballet with this season's sessions focusing on some of the form's iconic choreographers.

Lee Konitz Quartet

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:30:00 EST

Nov 21, 2009
Considered one of the driving forces of Cool Jazz, American jazz composer and alto saxophonist Lee Konitz is "able to erase context and preconceptions, and more or less blow your mind" (The New York Times).

August: Osage County

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:30:00 EST

Nov 24 - Dec 20, 2009
Estelle Parsons stars as the matriarch of an extended clan approaching meltdown in August: Osage County, the gripping and darkly funny tale that won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Tony Award for Best Play.

Pennsylvania Ballet: George Balanchine's The Nutcracker�

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:30:00 EST

Nov 24 - 29, 2009
Pennsylvania Ballet presents the D.C. premiere of George Balanchine's The Nutcracker? featuring magnificent new sets and lavish costumes. The Philadelphia Inquirer says this "dressed-up Nutcracker dazzles."

NSO Pops: The Music of The Music Man/Marvin Hamlisch, conductor

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 13:30:00 EST

Nov 27 - 28, 2009
Songs from Meredith Willson's Tony Award--winning blockbuster musical are performed in concert by the NSO Pops, including "Seventy-six Trombones," "Goodnight My Someone," "Till There Was You," and more.

Theater Look-in: August: Osage County

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:00:00 EST

Dec 1, 2009 at 5:00 PM
Join company members from August: Osage County for an insider's look, complete with lively discussion and the opportunity to ask questions of the artists.

National Symphony Orchestra: Andrew Litton, conductor/Yuja Wang, piano, plays Higdon

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:00:00 EST

Dec 3 - 5, 2009
Pianist Yuja Wang premieres Jennifer Higdon's Piano Concerto with Grammy-winning conductor Andrew Litton. Also on the program are Rimsky-Korsakov's Suite from The Snow Maiden and Tchaikovsky's First Symphony.

Trio Solisti

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:30:00 EST

Dec 3, 2009 at 7:30 PM
In commemoration of the 200^th anniversary of Mendelssohn's birth, the "consistently brilliant?dangerous and radical" (The New York Times) Trio Solisti presents one of Mendelssohn's most lauded works, Trio No. 2.

Teddy Roosevelt and the Ghostly Mistletoe

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 11:00:00 EST

Dec 5 - 30, 2009
When President Roosevelt refuses to put a Christmas tree in the White House, his kids don't plan to obey. In this holiday sequel to the 2006 hit Teddy Roosevelt and the Treasure of Ursa Major, a zany plot of comic haunting unfolds. Age 7+.

New York City Ballet

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:30:00 EST

Dec 9 - 13, 2009
New York City Ballet performs two programs of mixed repertory with works by Balanchine, Robbins, Martins, and Wheeldon, including Mozartiana, Les Gentilhommes, Dances at a Gathering, and more.

NSO Pops: Happy Holidays!/Marvin Hamlisch, conductor

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 19:00:00 EST

Dec 10 - 13, 2009
Step out of the cold and allow time-honored holiday classics to warm your heart! The NSO Pops captures the spirit of the holiday season in this Kennedy Center tradition featuring vocal ensemble Afro Blue, a visit from Santa Claus, and other guests.

NPR's A Jazz Piano Christmas

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 19:30:00 EST

Dec 11, 2009
Join the Kennedy Center and National Public Radio for this annual treat when jazz pianists Dr. Billy Taylor, Ramsey Lewis, Patricia Barber, Eldar, and Robert Glasper perform their favorite holiday songs.

What to Listen for in Russian Composers II: Tchaikovsky & Prokofiev

Sat, 12 Dec 2009 15:00:00 EST

Dec 12, 2009 at 3:00 PM
Join National Symphony Orchestra cellist Yvonne Caruthers for an exploration of the works of influential Russian composers Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Sergei Prokofiev presented during the Kennedy Center's Focus on Russia.

Barbara Cook's Spotlight: Karen Akers

Sat, 12 Dec 2009 19:30:00 EST

Dec 12, 2009 at 7:30 PM
Tony Award nominee and nightclub legend Karen Akers (Nine) performs in this theater cabaret performance series curated by Broadway legend Barbara Cook.

Young Frankenstein

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:30:00 EST

Dec 15, 2009 - Jan 10, 2010
The classic Mel Brooks movie Young Frankenstein is ALIVE in a spectacular new musical production direct from Broadway. The Tony-winning trio behind The Producers teams up for this wickedly inspired re-imagining of the Frankenstein legend.

The Waverly Consort

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:30:00 EST

Dec 16, 2009 at 7:30 PM
Returning for another performance of The Christmas Story, The Waverly Consort's eight singers and five instrumentalists recount the events of Christmas with the timeless spirit of medieval church dramas.

National Symphony Orchestra: Handel's Messiah

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:00:00 EST

Dec 17 - 20, 2009
Get in the holiday spirit with the NSO's annual performance of Handel's masterpiece, this year featuring conductor Rossen Milanov, four guest vocal soloists, and The Washington Chorus in the large-scale, epic Beecham/Goossens orchestration.

Christmas Time Is Here: Dianne Reeves

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 19:30:00 EST

Dec 18, 2009
Four-time Grammy Award winner Dianne Reeves, "the only jazz singer with a voice big enough to rival Sarah Vaughan's" (The New York Times), returns to the Center for a special Christmas program.

Why We Love Handel's Messiah

Sat, 19 Dec 2009 15:00:00 EST

Dec 19, 2009 at 3:00 PM
In this discussion, conductor Rossen Milanov, members of The Washington Chorus, and music scholars talk about what makes Handel's Messiah a perennial favorite.

Messiah Sing-along

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 20:00:00 EST

Dec 23, 2009 at 8:00 PM

A Jazz New Year's Eve featuring John Pizzarelli: Dear Mr. Sinatra

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 19:30:00 EST

Dec 31, 2009
Ring in the New Year in style with a sizzling jazz performance by John Pizzarelli as he salutes Ol' Blue Eyes in Dear Mr. Sinatra.

New Year's Eve at the Kennedy Center

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 20:30:00 EST

Dec 31, 2009 at 8:30 PM
Usher in the New Year with a dazzling concert featuring members of the National Symphony Orchestra performing classic favorites followed by the Grand Foyer Party.

Steven Isserlis, cello & Kirill Gerstein, piano

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:30:00 EST

Jan 6, 2010 at 7:30 PM
Cellist Stephen Isserlis performs in recital with pianist Kirill Gerstein in a program that includes Isserlis's own transcription of Schumann's Violin Sonata No. 3.

National Symphony Orchestra: Leonard Slatkin, conductor/Nikolaj Znaider, violin, plays Elgar

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:00:00 EST

Jan 7 - 9, 2010
Former NSO Music Director Leonard Slatkin returns to the Kennedy Center, to lead soloist Nikolaj Znaider in Elgar's Violin Concerto. Znaider will play the same Guarnerius violin with which Fritz Kreisler premiered Elgar's work 100 years ago.

NSO Teddy Bear Concert: Bear, Bears Everywhere

Sat, 09 Jan 2010 11:00:00 EST

Jan 9, 2010
New! NSO musicians Paula Akbar, Lewis Lipnick, and Joe Connell, take a peek at adorable bears and the sounds of their homelands--music that is as unique as they are. Perfect for even the youngest music lovers in your family.

NSO Ensemble Concert: Connections: MORE Science and Music

Sun, 10 Jan 2010 13:30:00 EST

Jan 10, 2010
Endangered species, synapses, neurons, condensation, and precipitation--are these terms from a science course or a music class? Learn the answer in this new fast-paced, multimedia performance by NSO musicians. Age 9+.

The Kennedy Center Chamber Players play Brahms

Sun, 10 Jan 2010 14:00:00 EST

Jan 10, 2010 at 2:00 PM
The Kennedy Center Chamber Players play three of Brahms's greatest sonatas--for violin and piano, viola and piano, and cello and piano.

National Symphony Orchestra: Michael Stern, conductor/Emanuel Ax, piano, plays Beethoven

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 19:00:00 EST

Jan 14 - 16, 2010
Emanuel Ax returns to perform Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 2 led by renowned conductor Michael Stern. The program also features symphonies by Barber and Sibelius.

Grappelli & Reinhardt: Hot JazzMark O'Connor's Hot Swing & Dorado Schmitt's Django 100

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 17:30:00 EST

Jan 16, 2010
Inspired by the 1930s pairing of Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt, Hot Jazz finds fiddler extraordinaire Mark O'Connor and his band Hot Swing joining with popular Washington guitarist Dorado Schmitt of the Django Reinhardt Festival.

National Symphony Orchestra: Ivn Fischer, conductor/Christianne Stotijn, mezzo-soprano & Stig Andersen, tenor

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 19:00:00 EST

Jan 21 - 23, 2010
NSO Principal Conductor Iván Fischer returns with music by a favorite composer, Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde. The performances feature tenor Stig Andersen and the exciting young mezzo-soprano Christianne Stotijn.

Galumpha's The Human Jungle Gym

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 19:30:00 EST

Jan 22 - 23, 2010
Combining stunning acrobatics, striking visual effects, physical comedy, and inventive choreography, Galumpha brings to life a world of imagination, beauty, muscle, and merriment. Age 7+.

Celebrating Ella Fitzgerald: Film & Discussion

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST

Jan 23, 2010 at 3:00 PM
Watch a special screening of concert footage from Ella Fitzgerald's Cote D'Azur performances with Duke Ellington along with other rare footage from her career followed by a discussion with jazz artists.

NSO Children's Concert with Ivn Fischer

Sun, 24 Jan 2010 14:00:00 EST

Jan 24, 2010
NSO Principal Conductor Iván Fischer introduces children to the world of classical music through short, carefully selected works performed by NSO ensembles.

Ella! featuring Dee Dee Bridgewater, Janis Siegel, Al Jarreau, & The Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band, Slide Hampton, Music Director

Sun, 24 Jan 2010 19:00:00 EST

Jan 24, 2010 at 7:00 PM
Grammy-winning vocalists Dee Dee Bridgewater, Janis Siegel, and Al Jarreau are featured in this all-star celebration of the music of Ella Fitzgerald, with the Dizzy Gillespie? All-Star Big Band, Slide Hampton, music director.

Open Rehearsal: American Ballet Theatre

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 13:30:00 EST

Jan 26, 2010 at 1:30 PM
Join dance scholars for an insider's look at American Ballet Theatre as the dancers prepare onstage for performances.

American Ballet Theatre

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:30:00 EST

Jan 26 - 31, 2010
American Ballet Theatre returns with an evening-length production of Kenneth MacMillan's Romeo and Juliet and a program of mixed repertory featuring works by Frederick Ashton, Alexei Ratmansky, and Twyla Tharp.

National Symphony Orchestra: Ivn Fischer, conductor/Mischa Maisky, cello, plays Tchaikovsky

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:00:00 EST

Jan 28 - 30, 2010
NSO Principal Conductor Iván Fischer leads Tchaikovsky's Rococo Variations and Lensky's Aria featuring cellist Mischa Maisky, whose performances are marked by "sentiment and dancing energy" (The New York Times).

Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 20:00:00 EST

Jan 29 - 30, 2010
Taiwan's premier contemporary dance company Cloud Gate Dance Theatre performs the full-length Moon Water, a beautiful, meditative, and magical work that's "one of their very finest pieces" (The Telegraph).

Master Class: Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 11:00:00 EST

Jan 30, 2010 at 11:00 AM
This participatory (sorry, no observers allowed) master class for intermediate to advanced dancers is led by Cloud Gate Dance Theatre members.

NSO Kinderkonzerts: Magical Mozart

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 11:00:00 EST

Jan 30, 2010
Showing all the fun he must have had creating and playing his music, the Unlikely Trio--NSO musicians Carole Bean, flute, Dotian Levalier, harp, and William Wielgus, oboe--performs a wonderful array of Mozart's greatest works. Age 4+.

Ballet 360° - Choreographers: Yuri Grigorovich

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST

Jan 30, 2010 at 3:00 PM
The Ballet 360° lecture series continues its in-depth look at ballet with this season's sessions focusing on some of the form's iconic choreographers.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:00:00 EST

Feb 2 - 7, 2010
America's cultural ambassador to the world, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is dedicated to promoting African American cultural expression and modern American dance.

Mariinsky Ballet

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:30:00 EST

Feb 9 - 14, 2010
Russia's world-renowned Mariinsky Ballet returns to perform Konstantin Sergeyev's 1952 version of the full-length staging of the beloved fairy tale ballet, The Sleeping Beauty.

NSO Pops: And the Winner Is.../Bill Conti, conductor

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:00:00 EST

Feb 11 - 13, 2010
The NSO Pops led by guest conductor and movie music composer Bill Conti presents a thrilling orchestral salute to the Academy Awards.

NSO Family Concert: Peter and the Wolf

Sun, 14 Feb 2010 13:00:00 EST

Feb 14, 2010
In one of its most cherished and acclaimed productions, Magic Circle Mime Company returns to bring Sergei Prokofiev's classic work for children to life as a dazzling theatrical and musical event.

East Coast Chamber Orchestra

Sun, 14 Feb 2010 19:30:00 EST

Feb 14, 2010 at 7:30 PM
The youthful, energetic East Coast Chamber Orchestra's program covers a wide variety of classical music with works by Purcell, Elgar, Britten, Villa-Lobos, and Tchaikovsky.

Bolshoi Ballet

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 19:30:00 EST

Feb 16 - 21, 2010
Bolshoi Ballet performs former director Yuri Grigorovich's Spartacus, a "cinematically paced adventure yarn" (The New York Times) that showcases "a great company at the absolute peak of its form" (The Telegraph).

National Symphony Orchestra: James Gaffigan, conductor/Denis Matsuev, piano, plays Rachmaninoff

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 19:00:00 EST

Feb 18 - 20, 2010
Young, rising star conductor James Gaffigan leads virtuoso Russian pianist Denis Matsuev in Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2. The program also features Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4 and Auerbach's haunting Requiem for Icarus.

NSO Teddy Bear Concert: Fancy That!

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 11:00:00 EST

Feb 20 - 21, 2010
In Fancy That!, NSO violinist Marissa Regni plays a one-woman show about how to decorate music in the form of ornamentation and variations. This concert is perfect for even the youngest music lovers in your family.

What to Listen for in Russian Opera I: Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin & Mussorgsky's Boris Godunov

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 15:00:00 EST

Feb 20, 2010 at 3:00 PM
Join popular music lecturer Saul Lillenstein for an in-depth look at Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin and Mussorgsky's Boris Godunov, two of the operas presented by the Mariinsky Opera and Orchestra.

KC Jazz Club: Jonathan Batiste Quintet

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 19:30:00 EST

Feb 26, 2010
With his unique voice on piano and dapper sense of style, Jonathan Batiste "has already been turning heads as an up-and-coming pianist with an ebullient style" (The New York Times).

KC Jazz Club: Carl AllenRodney Whitaker Project

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 19:30:00 EST

Feb 27, 2010
Drummer Carl Allen and bassist Rodney Whitaker "present straightahead jazz with a great deal of composure?sharp, snappy, and expressive jazz" (DownBeat).

The Mariinsky Opera and Orchestra: Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin in Concert

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 19:30:00 EST

Feb 27, 2010 at 7:30 PM
The world-renowned Mariinsky Opera and Orchestra returns with a concert version of Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin, based on the Pushkin novel, one of the most treasured works of Russian literature.

Exploring Ballet with Suzanne Farrell FOR ADULTS - II

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 13:00:00 EST

Feb 28, 2010 at 1:00 PM
From pliés to pirouettes, discover how it feels to dance as Suzanne Farrell leads this unique and inspirational movement class for non-dancers.

NSO Ensemble Concert: Connections: MORE History and Music

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 13:30:00 EST

Feb 28, 2010
In this multimedia program, Yvonne Caruthers and several of her NSO colleagues integrate many of today's most recognizable musical works alongside landmarks in 19th-century American history.

The Mariinsky Opera and Orchestra: Mussorgsky's Boris Godunov in Concert

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 13:30:00 EST

Feb 28, 2010 at 1:30 PM
The world-renowned Mariinsky Opera and Orchestra returns with a concert version of Mussorgsky's Boris Godunov, which combines one of the great bass roles in the operatic repertory with thunderous choral movements of unprecedented power.

Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 19:30:00 EST

Feb 28, 2010 at 7:30 PM
Enjoy a night of Schubert from the Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio, hailed by the New York Times as "one of the best-blended, most sensitive, and intelligent piano trios in the world today."

Open Rehearsal: The Suzanne Farrell Ballet

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:30:00 EST

Mar 3, 2010 at 1:30 PM
Join dance scholars for an insider's look at The Suzanne Farrell Ballet as the dancers prepare onstage for performances of two mixed repertory programs.

The Mariinsky Opera and Orchestra: Scenes from Rimsky-Korsakov Operas

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 19:30:00 EST

Mar 3, 2010 at 7:30 PM
Led by Valery Gergiev, the Mariinsky Opera and Orchestra presents an evening of scenes in concert from favorite operas by Rimsky-Korsakov, including Ivan the Terrible, Tsar's Bride (or Coq d'Or), and more.

The Suzanne Farrell Ballet

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 19:30:00 EST

Mar 3 - 7, 2010
The Suzanne Farrell Ballet, "one of the most courageous projects in ballet today" (The New York Times), presents two mixed repertory programs, including Balanchine's Haieff Divertimento and Robbins's Afternoon of a Faun.

National Symphony Orchestra: Rafael Frhbeck de Burgos, conductor/Ingrid Fliter, piano, plays Mozart

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:00:00 EST

Mar 4 - 6, 2010
Former NSO Principal Guest Conductor Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos returns to conduct Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 23 with Argentinean pianist Ingrid Fliter, as well as Mozart's Serenata notturna and Strauss's Symphonia Domestica.

The Mariinsky Opera and Orchestra: Scenes from Tchaikovsky Operas

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:30:00 EST

Mar 4, 2010 at 7:30 PM
Led by Valery Gergiev, the Mariinsky Opera and Orchestra presents an evening of scenes in concert devoted to the best-known operas by Tchaikovsky, including Iolanta, Mazeppa, and Pique Dame.

What to Listen for in Russian Opera II: Prokofiev's War and Peace

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST

Mar 6, 2010 at 3:00 PM
As the Kennedy Center continues with its Focus on Russia, join popular music lecturer Saul Lillenstein for an in-depth look at Prokofiev's War & Peace, one of the operas presented by the Mariinsky Opera and Orchestra.

The Mariinsky Opera and Orchestra: Prokofiev's War and Peace

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 19:30:00 EST

Mar 6 - 7, 2010
The Mariinsky Opera and Orchestra returns with a full staging of Prokofiev's War and Peace, based on Tolstoy's epic novel and co-produced in 2000 with the Metropolitan Opera, directed by Andrei Konchalovsky and conducted by Valery Gergiev.

National Symphony Orchestra: Christoph Eschenbach, conductor/Verdi Requiem

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:00:00 EST

Mar 11 - 13, 2010
In his first NSO concert since his appointment as the Music Director of the Kennedy Center and NSO, Christoph Eschenbach conducts Verdi's Requiem with four great singers of today.

KC Jazz Club: An Evening with Delfeayo Marsalis

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:30:00 EST

Mar 12, 2010
A multiple Grammy Award winner as a producer, trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis "solos with authority, inserting musical quotes spontaneously as the mood takes him in different directions" (All About Jazz).

Terrence McNally's Nights at the Opera: Golden Age

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:30:00 EST

Mar 12 - Apr 4, 2010
The Kennedy Center presents the D.C. premiere of Terrence McNally's Golden Age, a backstage drama surrounding the premiere of Bellini's final opera I Puritani. Part of Terrence McNally's Nights at the Opera.

Beyond the Baton: Christoph Eschenbach

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 18:00:00 EST

Mar 13, 2010 at 6:00 PM
Christoph Eschenbach, Music Director Designate of the National Symphony Orchestra, discusses his vision for the future of the NSO and his concert of Verdi's Requiem.

KC Jazz Club: Alison Brown

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 19:30:00 EST

Mar 13, 2010
A musical pioneer, banjo player Alison Brown has pushed beyond bluegrass. "Like James Taylor's voice or B.B. King's guitar, Alison Brown's banjo is an instrument possessed of a unique sonic signature and an inescapable beauty" (Billboard).

In Conversation: Terrence McNally

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:30:00 EST

Mar 15, 2010 at 7:30 PM
Four-time Tony Award winner Terrence McNally gives insight into his multi-faceted career and the upcoming production of his Nights at the Opera trilogy.

KC Jazz Club: Maurice Brown Effect

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 19:30:00 EST

Mar 19, 2010
When Maurice Brown, the first place winner in the 2001 National Miles Davis Trumpet Competition, "blows his trumpet, folks notice. His irrefutable energy, talent, and focus continually surprise audiences" (JazzTimes).

KC Jazz Club: Shelly Berg

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 19:30:00 EST

Mar 20, 2010
The Los Angeles Times says pianist Shelly Berg "burns hard, his fingers flying over the keyboard while his body nearly levitates off the bench, [leaving the] crowd breathless!"

Terrence McNally's Nights at the Opera: The Lisbon Traviata

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 19:30:00 EST

Mar 20 - Apr 11, 2010
Deriving its title from an unauthorized recording of a Maria Callas performance in Lisbon which became a collector's item, The Lisbon Traviata reflects on romantic obsession and diva worship. Part of Terrence McNally's Nights at the Opera.

Masters of McNally

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 19:30:00 EST

Mar 22, 2010 at 7:30 PM
In this special discussion, actors Zoe Caldwell, Audra McDonald, and Richard Thomas reflect on the joys and the challenges in presenting the art of one of the great modern playwrights.

National Symphony Orchestra: Jakub Hrusa, conductor/Daniel Mller-Schott, cello, plays Dvork

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 19:00:00 EST

Mar 25 - 28, 2010
Prague Philharmonia's young Chief Conductor, Jakub Hru?a, leads fellow rising star Daniel Müller-Schott in Dvorák's Cello Concerto. The program also includes Schubert's "Unfinished" and Janácek's Taras Bulba.

Terrence McNally's Nights at the Opera: Master Class

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 19:30:00 EST

Mar 25 - Apr 18, 2010
A Best Play Tony winner, Terrence McNally's Master Class depicts opera diva Maria Callas as she retreats into recollections about the glories, triumphs and tragedies of her own life and career. Part of Terrence McNally's Nights at the Opera.

KC Jazz Club: Toshiko Akiyoshi Trio

Sat, 27 Mar 2010 19:30:00 EST

Mar 27, 2010
Renowned for her bebop mastery and for infusing traditional Japanese music into bold, original arrangements, Toshiko Akiyoshi is a pianist, composer, and bandleader with "unmistakable lyrical gifts" (The New Yorker).

National Symphony Orchestra: Ivn Fischer, conductor/Bach

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 19:00:00 EST

Apr 1 - 3, 2010
NSO Principal Conductor Iván Fischer celebrates Easter week by conducting Bach's Mass in B minor with renowned vocal soloists and the University of Maryland Concert Choir.

Ballet 360° - Choreographers: Frederick Ashton

Sat, 10 Apr 2010 15:00:00 EST

Apr 10, 2010 at 3:00 PM
The Ballet 360° lecture series continues its in-depth look at ballet with this season's sessions focusing on some of the form's iconic choreographers.

George Benson

Sun, 11 Apr 2010 19:00:00 EST

Apr 11, 2010 at 7:00 PM
Ten-time Grammy Award--winning guitarist and vocalist George Benson is "an extraordinary musician by any standard" (JazzTimes).

NSO Pops: Michael Cavanaugh in Concert: The Music of Billy Joel and More/Steven Reineke, conductor

Sat, 17 Apr 2010 20:00:00 EST

Apr 17, 2010 at 8:00 PM
A veteran of the "Piano Man" role from Billy Joel and Twyla Tharp's Tony-winning Broadway production Movin' Out, Michael Cavanaugh brings Joel's music to the Kennedy Center Concert Hall.

Joyful Sounds: Gospel Across America: Signature Opening Concert

Sun, 18 Apr 2010 20:00:00 EST

Apr 18, 2010 at 8:00 PM
To open Gospel Across America, Grammy Award--winning gospel vocalist Richard Smallwood hosts an all-star gospel concert featuring Grammy-winning vocalists Kirk Franklin and Shirley Caesar and a cappella sextet Take 6.

Marietta Simpson, mezzo-soprano

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 19:30:00 EST

Apr 21, 2010 at 7:30 PM
Performing as part of Joyful Sounds: Gospel Across America, mezzo-soprano Marietta Simpson "endows everything she sings with uncommon intelligence" (San Francisco Chronicle).

Beyond Gospel: Music, Spirituality, and the Freedom Struggle

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 19:30:00 EST

Apr 22, 2010 at 7:30 PM
Join performers including Mavis Staples and Dr. Paul Kwame of the Fisk Jubilee Singers, along with Dr. Billy Taylor and other special guests for a discussion on the impact of spirituality on music and society.

Mavis Staples

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 19:30:00 EST

Apr 23, 2010 at 7:30 PM
Soul and gospel legend Mavis Staples is one of the most recognizable and treasured voices in contemporary music. Part of Joyful Sounds: Gospel Across America.

Nubian Gents + Feminine Fire Gospel Step Teams

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 11:00:00 EST

Apr 24 - 25, 2010
The electrifying New York--based gospel step teams Nubian Gents and Feminine Fire perform as part of the Kennedy Center's Gospel Across America celebration. Age 5+.

Harmony and Lead: Gospel Vocal Style

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 14:00:00 EST

Apr 24, 2010 at 2:00 PM
In this lecture and demonstration, performers including The Clark Sisters, Cedric Dent, and Richard Smallwood give a glimpse into the variety of ways vocal gospel music is translated to the world.

National Symphony Orchestra: Gospel Concert

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 20:00:00 EST

Apr 24, 2010 at 8:00 PM

The Kennedy Center Chamber Players play Ravel, Dutilleux k

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 14:00:00 EST

Apr 25, 2010 at 2:00 PM
Dutilleux's Ainsi la nuit for String Quartet is the centerpiece of this Kennedy Center Chamber Players program that also includes Ravel's Introduction and Allegro and Dvo?ák's String Sextet.

Escher String Quartet

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 19:30:00 EST

Apr 26, 2010 at 7:30 PM
The exuberant Escher String Quartet returns for a night of Bartók, Brahms, and Beethoven, demonstrating what the San Francisco Chronicle calls "ripe tonal balances with the kind of heedless intensity that comes with youth."

Master Class: Shen Wei Dance Arts

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 19:00:00 EST

Apr 28, 2010 at 7:00 PM
This participatory (sorry, no observers allowed) master class for intermediate to advanced dancers is led by Shen Wei Dance Arts members.

National Symphony Orchestra: Hans Graf, conductor/Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano, plays Connesson & Ravel

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 19:00:00 EST

Apr 29 - May 1, 2010
The NSO, conducted by Hans Graf, plays a commission by composer Guillaume Connesson and Ravel's Left Hand Concerto, both with celebrated pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet, who plays with "classical refinement and cool beauty" (The New York Times).

Shen Wei Dance Arts

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 20:00:00 EST

Apr 29 - 30, 2010
Known for visually rich compositions, Shen Wei Dance Arts presents Re- (Parts I, II, and III), a choreographic journey through Tibet, Ankgor Wat, and the new Silk Road.

Broadway Up Close and Personal: Frank Loesser

Mon, 03 May 2010 19:30:00 EST

May 3, 2010 at 7:30 PM
Join ASCAP's Michael Kerker, Jo Sullivan Loesser, and special guests for an illumination of the late composer who created such gems for the stage as How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and Guys and Dolls.

NSO Pops: Sondheim at 80/Marvin Hamlisch, conductor

Thu, 06 May 2010 19:00:00 EST

May 6 - 8, 2010
The NSO Pops celebrates the 80th birthday of 16-time Tony Award--winning composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim with a concert of his greatest hits.

Christine Brewer, soprano, with Craig Rutenberg, piano

Fri, 07 May 2010 19:30:00 EST

May 7, 2010 at 7:30 PM
In association with the Vocal Arts Society's America Sings festival, renowned American soprano Christine Brewer and pianist Craig Rutenberg present a recital featuring songs by Wagner, R. Strauss, John Carter, Britten, and others.

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical

Sat, 08 May 2010 11:00:00 EST

May 8 - 23, 2010
With music by Grammy-winning composer Michael Silversher, Emmy-winning author/illustrator Mo Willems adapts his book Knuffle Bunny in this Kennedy Center commission--about family, best friends, baby steps, and memories that last a lifetime. Age 4+.

NSO Family Concert: Lemony Snicket's The Composer is Dead

Sun, 09 May 2010 13:00:00 EST

May 9, 2010
In this gripping whodunit by renowned children's book author Lemony Snicket and composer Nathaniel Stookey, every member of the Orchestra is a suspect in their composer's untimely finale.

Jennifer Koh, violin & Reiko Uchida, piano

Sun, 09 May 2010 19:30:00 EST

May 9, 2010 at 7:30 PM
Virtuoso violinist Jennifer Koh, who plays with "energy and velvety richness" (The New York Times), returns to the Kennedy Center with pianist Reiko Uchida for a performance that is equal parts experimentation and standard repertory.

National Symphony Orchestra: John Adams, conductor/Eric Owens, bass-baritone

Thu, 13 May 2010 19:00:00 EST

May 13 - 15, 2010
The unique and imaginative John Adams conducts his Walt Whitman--inspired composition The Wound Dresser, featuring baritone Eric Owens. Also on the program are works by Barber and Elgar as well as Copland's Suite from Billy the Kid.

Compaía Nacional de Danza

Fri, 14 May 2010 20:00:00 EST

May 14 - 15, 2010
Spain's Compañía Nacional de Danza makes its D.C. debut with Multiplicity: Bach, a choreographic reflection inspired by the music and life of Johann Sebastian Bach.

Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival - 15th Anniversary

Thu, 20 May 2010 19:00:00 EST

May 20 - 22, 2010
The 15th Annual Women in Jazz Festival marks the 100th anniversary year of Williams's birth with three evenings of star-studded performances featuring the world's top female jazz artists.

National Symphony Orchestra: John Adams, conductor/Leila Josefowicz, violin

Thu, 20 May 2010 19:00:00 EST

May 20 - 22, 2010
John Adams returns for a program that includes two of his works, The Dharma at Big Sur, featuring violinist Leila Josefowicz, and his City Noir Symphony. Also on the program are works by Britten and Stravinsky.

Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Emerging Artist Showcase

Sat, 22 May 2010 18:01:00 EST

May 22, 2010 at 6:01 PM
Witness the future of jazz in this concert featuring five exceptional pianists selected as the inaugural class of the "Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Emerging Artist Workshop."

National Symphony Orchestra: National Memorial Day Concert

Sun, 30 May 2010 20:00:00 EST

May 30, 2010 at 8:00 PM

Thurgood starring Laurence Fishburne

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 19:30:00 EST

Jun 1 - 20, 2010
Laurence Fishburne stars in Thurgood, the dramatic retelling of the life of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. Rising from the streets of Baltimore to the highest court in the land, Marshall bravely challenged and proudly served his country.

National Symphony Orchestra: Ivn Fischer, conductor/Stravinsky & Rimsky-Korsakov

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 19:00:00 EST

Jun 3 - 5, 2010
In his final performances of the season, NSO Principal Conductor Iván Fischer takes the podium to lead Stravinsky's once-controversial, now-beloved Le Sacre du Printemps.

Barbara Cook's Spotlight: John Pizzarelli & Jessica Molaskey

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 19:30:00 EST

Jun 4, 2010 at 7:30 PM
Husband and wife duo John Pizzarelli (Dream) and Jessica Molaskey (Parade) perform in this theater cabaret performance series curated by Broadway legend Barbara Cook.

The Kennedy Center Chamber Players play Gieseking, Szymanowski & Schubert

Sun, 06 Jun 2010 14:00:00 EST

Jun 6, 2010 at 2:00 PM
Gieseking's Quintet--for piano, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and horn--opens The Kennedy Center Chamber Players' program, followed by Szymanowski's Mythes for violin and piano. The concert concludes with Schubert's String Quintet in C major.

Theater Look-in: Thurgood

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 17:00:00 EST

Jun 8, 2010 at 5:00 PM
Join company members from Thurgood for an insider's look, complete with lively discussion and the opportunity to ask questions of the artists.

Matt Savage Trio

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 19:30:00 EST

Jun 8, 2010 at 7:30 PM
Seventeen-year-old jazz pianist Matt Savage has been heralded by Dave Brubeck as "amazing" and "another Mozart," and by Chick Corea as "delightful and inspiring."

National Symphony Orchestra: Kristjan Järvi, conductor/Evelyn Glennie, percussion, plays Tuur

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 19:00:00 EST

Jun 10 - 12, 2010
As part of the VSA arts International Festival, the NSO, conductor Kristjan Järvi, and percussionist Evelyn Glennie perform Tüür's "Magma." The uplifting program also features music from Ellington and Bernstein.

Diane Schuur

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 19:30:00 EST

Jun 11, 2010
Last seen at the Center in 2006, two-time Grammy Award winner Diane Schuur brandishes the power to amaze with her supreme vocal versatility and sensational 3-1/2 octave range. Part of the 2010 VSA arts International Festival.

Ballet Across America II

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 19:30:00 EST

Jun 15 - 20, 2010
The successful Ballet Across America returns, featuring Morphoses, Houston Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, The Suzanne Farrell Ballet, Ballet Arizona, Tulsa Ballet, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, The Joffrey Ballet, and North Carolina Dance Theatre.

National Symphony Orchestra: Juraj Valcuha, conductor/Jennifer Koh, violin, plays Szymanowski

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 19:00:00 EST

Jun 17 - 19, 2010
Jennifer Koh returns with her "pure, singing violin" (The New York Times) to perform Szymanowski's Violin Concerto No. 1, led by conductor Juraj Valcuha. Mahler's titanic Symphony No. 1 rounds out the program.

Ballet American-Style

Sat, 19 Jun 2010 15:00:00 EST

Jun 19, 2010 at 3:00 PM
Join us for a panel discussion featuring members of the companies participating in Ballet Across America II. Don't miss this rare opportunity for an inside look at the unique styles that make these companies great.

NSO Pops: Classical Mystery Tour/Martin Herman, conductor

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 19:00:00 EST

Jun 24 - 26, 2010
Imagine The Beatles playing in concert with a symphony orchestra. What would that have sounded like? Find out when Classical Mystery Tour performs live with the NSO Pops, conducted by Martin Herman.

National Symphony Orchestra: Jeffrey Kahane, conductor/Yo-Yo Ma, cello

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 20:00:00 EST

Jun 29, 2010 at 8:00 PM
Known on the global stage for his passion and flawless performances, cellist Yo-Yo Ma returns to the NSO for a concert led by Jeffrey Kahane, whom the Denver Post says possesses "undeniable charisma."

Disney and Cameron Mackintosh present Mary Poppins

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 19:30:00 EST

Jul 1 - Aug 22, 2010
Combining the best of the original Mary Poppins stories by P.L. Travers and the Walt Disney film, this Tony-winning musical tells the delightful story of a nanny who uses her magical touch to change the lives of the Banks children for the better.

A Capitol Fourth

Sun, 04 Jul 2010 20:00:00 EST

Jul 4, 2010 at 8:00 PM

Theater Look-in: Mary Poppins

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 17:00:00 EST

Jul 13, 2010 at 5:00 PM
Join company members from Mary Poppins for an insider's look, complete with lively discussion and the opportunity to ask questions of the artists.

National Symphony Orchestra: Labor Day Capitol Concert

Sun, 05 Sep 2010 20:00:00 EST

Sep 5, 2010 at 8:00 PM