skip navigation | text only | accessibility | site map
Share

2009-2010 Season Announcement

Watch & Learn
Michael Kaiser
Watch the Full Season Announcement
Season Introduction VSA arts Festival Theater Focus on Russia Ballet Dance Gospel Across America Theater for Young Audiences
Jazz NSO NSO Pops Fortas Series Chamber Players Additional Performances Season Round Up

NOTE: RealPlayer is required to view the season announcement. Click to download RealPlayer.

Kennedy Center President Michael M. Kaiser held a press conference to describe many of the exciting highlights that will make up the 2009-2010 performance season. View a list of all performances announced below. Programs and artists subject to change.

2009-2010 Season Highlights

Quick Links

click on check boxes below to receive a reminderOnce checked and submitted, you will receive a reminder once the performance goes on sale.

Joyful Sounds: Gospel Across America

Reminder Event Detail Cast & Companies
Joyful Sounds: Gospel Across America: Signature Opening Concert 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.
(On Sale 2/10/2010 ) 		Take 6
Marietta Simpson, mezzo-soprano 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).
(On Sale 2/10/2010 ) 		 
Buy Tickets Beyond Gospel: Music, Spirituality, and the Freedom Struggle 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.
(On Sale Now! ) 		 
Mavis Staples 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.
(On Sale 2/10/2010 ) 		 
Nubian Gents + Feminine Fire Gospel Step Teams 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+.
(On Sale 2/10/2010 ) 		 
Buy Tickets Harmony and Lead: Gospel Vocal Style 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.
(On Sale Now! ) 		 
Gospel Concert Apr 24, 2010 at 8:00 PM

(On Sale 2/10/2010 ) 		 
back to top

Theater

Reminder Event Detail Cast & Companies
Buy Tickets A Streetcar Named Desire 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.
(On Sale Now! ) 		 
Buy Tickets Barbara Cook's Spotlight: An Evening with Christine Ebersole 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.
(On Sale Now! ) 		 
Buy Tickets August: Osage County 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.
(On Sale Now! ) 		 
Buy Tickets Barbara Cook's Spotlight: Karen Akers 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.
(On Sale Now! ) 		Karen Akers
Buy Tickets Young Frankenstein 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.
(On Sale Now! ) 		Susan Stroman Mel Brooks
Buy Tickets Terrence McNally's Nights at the Opera: Golden Age 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.
(On Sale Now! ) 		Terrence McNally
Buy Tickets Terrence McNally's Nights at the Opera: The Lisbon Traviata 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.
(On Sale Now! ) 		Terrence McNally
Buy Tickets Terrence McNally's Nights at the Opera: Master Class Mar 25 - Apr 18, 2010
Award-winning actress Tyne Daly stars as Maria Callas in Terrence McNally's Tony-winning Master Class, which depicts the diva reminiscing on the triumphs and tragedies of her life and career. Part of Terrence McNally's Nights at the Opera.
(On Sale Now! ) 		Terrence McNally
Barbara Cook's Spotlight: Laura Benanti Apr 30, 2010 at 7:30 PM
Tony Award winner Laura Benanti (Gypsy) performs in this theater cabaret performance series curated by Broadway legend Barbara Cook.
(On Sale 2/10/2010 ) 		 
Thurgood starring Laurence Fishburne 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.
(On Sale 3/10/2010 ) 		 
Barbara Cook's Spotlight: John Pizzarelli & Jessica Molaskey 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.
(On Sale 4/7/2010 ) 		John Pizzarelli, Jr. Jessica Molaskey
Reduced Shakespeare Company: Completely Hollywood (abridged) Jun 22 - Jul 11, 2010
America's "Bad Boys of Abridgement" are back, taking on 175 movies in 100 minutes with hilarious results. It's summer's biggest blockbuster with no stars, no budget, and no popcorn--but plenty of laughs!
(On Sale 4/7/2010 ) 		 
Disney and Cameron Mackintosh present Mary Poppins 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.
(On Sale 3/14/2010 ) 		 
back to top

NSO Classical Concerts

Reminder Event Detail Cast & Companies
Buy Tickets Alexander Vedernikov, conductor/Vadim Repin, violin, plays Brahms 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."
(On Sale Now! ) 		Vadim Repin Alexander Vedernikov
Buy Tickets Andrew Litton, conductor/Lang Lang, piano, plays Beethoven & Prokofiev 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.
(On Sale Now! ) 		Lang Lang Andrew Litton
Buy Tickets Hugh Wolff, conductor/Joshua Bell, violin, plays Lalo 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."
(On Sale Now! ) 		Hugh Wolff Joshua Bell
Buy Tickets Andrew Litton, conductor/Yuja Wang, piano, plays Higdon 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.
(On Sale Now! ) 		Yuja Wang Andrew Litton
Buy Tickets Handel's Messiah 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.
(On Sale Now! ) 		 
Buy Tickets Leonard Slatkin, conductor/Nikolaj Znaider, violin, plays Elgar 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.
(On Sale Now! ) 		Nikolaj Znaider Leonard Slatkin
Buy Tickets Michael Stern, conductor/Emanuel Ax, piano, plays Beethoven 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.
(On Sale Now! ) 		Emanuel Ax
Buy Tickets Iván Fischer, conductor/Christianne Stotijn, mezzo-soprano & Stig Andersen, tenor 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.
(On Sale Now! ) 		Ivan Fischer
Buy Tickets Iván Fischer, conductor/Mischa Maisky, cello, plays Tchaikovsky 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).
(On Sale Now! ) 		Ivan Fischer Mischa Maisky
James Gaffigan, conductor/Denis Matsuev, piano, plays Rachmaninoff 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.
(On Sale 12/9/2009 ) 		 
Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, conductor/Ingrid Fliter, piano, plays Mozart 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.
(On Sale 12/9/2009 ) 		Ingrid Fliter
Christoph Eschenbach, conductor/Verdi Requiem 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.
(On Sale 12/9/2009 ) 		Christoph Eschenbach
Jakub Hrusa, conductor/Daniel Müller-Schott, cello, plays Dvorák Mar 25 - 28, 2010
Prague Philharmonia's young Chief Conductor, Jakub Hruša, leads fellow rising star Daniel Müller-Schott in Dvorák's Cello Concerto. The program also includes Schubert's "Unfinished" and Janácek's Taras Bulba.
(On Sale 12/9/2009 ) 		 
Iván Fischer, conductor/Bach 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.
(On Sale 2/10/2010 ) 		Ivan Fischer The University of Maryland Concert Choir
Gospel Concert Apr 24, 2010 at 8:00 PM

(On Sale 2/10/2010 ) 		 
Hans Graf, conductor/Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano, plays Connesson & Ravel 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).
(On Sale 2/10/2010 ) 		Hans Graf Jean-Yves Thibaudet
John Adams, conductor/Eric Owens, bass-baritone 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.
(On Sale 2/10/2010 ) 		 
John Adams, conductor/Leila Josefowicz, violin 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.
(On Sale 2/10/2010 ) 		Leila Josefowicz
Iván Fischer, conductor/Stravinsky & Rimsky-Korsakov 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.
(On Sale 4/7/2010 ) 		Ivan Fischer
Kristjan Järvi, conductor/Evelyn Glennie, percussion, plays Tuur 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.
(On Sale 4/7/2010 ) 		 
Juraj Valcuha, conductor/Jennifer Koh, violin, plays Szymanowski 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.
(On Sale 4/7/2010 ) 		Jennifer Koh
Jeffrey Kahane, conductor/Yo-Yo Ma, cello 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."
(On Sale 4/7/2010 ) 		Yo-Yo Ma Jeffrey Kahane
back to top

NSO Pops Concerts

Reminder Event Detail Cast & Companies
Buy Tickets An Evening with Chris Botti/Marvin Hamlisch, conductor 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.
(On Sale Now! ) 		Marvin Hamlisch Chris Botti
Buy Tickets The Music of The Music Man/Marvin Hamlisch, conductor 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.
(On Sale Now! ) 		Marvin Hamlisch Rebecca Luker
Buy Tickets Happy Holidays!/Marvin Hamlisch, conductor 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.
(On Sale Now! ) 		Marvin Hamlisch
And the Winner Is.../Bill Conti, conductor 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.
(On Sale 12/9/2009 ) 		 
Michael Cavanaugh in Concert: The Music of Billy Joel and More/Steven Reineke, conductor 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.
(On Sale 2/10/2010 ) 		 
Sondheim at 80/Marvin Hamlisch, conductor 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.
(On Sale 2/10/2010 ) 		Marvin Hamlisch Stephen Sondheim
Classical Mystery Tour/Martin Herman, conductor 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.
(On Sale 4/7/2010 ) 		 
back to top

Fortas Chamber Music Concerts

Reminder Event Detail Cast & Companies
Buy Tickets Zukerman ChamberPlayers 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.
(On Sale Now! ) 		Angela Cheng Zukerman ChamberPlayers Jethro Marks Amanda Forsyth Pinchas Zukerman
Buy Tickets Vogler String Quartet 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.
(On Sale Now! ) 		Alexander Fiterstein Jascha Nemtsov Vogler String Quartet
Buy Tickets Trio Solisti Dec 3, 2009 at 7:30 PM
In commemoration of the 200th 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.
(On Sale Now! ) 		Trio Solisti
Buy Tickets The Waverly Consort 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.
(On Sale Now! ) 		 
Buy Tickets Steven Isserlis, cello & Kirill Gerstein, piano 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.
(On Sale Now! ) 		Steven Isserlis Steven Isserlis
East Coast Chamber Orchestra 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.
(On Sale 12/9/2009 ) 		 
Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio 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."
(On Sale 12/9/2009 ) 		Joseph Kalichstein
Marietta Simpson, mezzo-soprano 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).
(On Sale 2/10/2010 ) 		 
Escher String Quartet 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."
(On Sale 2/10/2010 ) 		 
Christine Brewer, soprano, with Craig Rutenberg, piano 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 Richard Strauss, Joseph Marx, Richard Hundley, and others.
(On Sale 2/10/2010 ) 		 
Jennifer Koh, violin & Reiko Uchida, piano 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.

(On Sale 2/10/2010 ) 		Jennifer Koh
back to top

The Kennedy Center Chamber Players

Reminder Event Detail Cast & Companies
Buy Tickets The Kennedy Center Chamber Players play Fauré and Tchaikovsky 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.
(On Sale Now! ) 		Lambert Orkis David Hardy Daniel Foster Nurit Bar-Josef
Buy Tickets The Kennedy Center Chamber Players play Brahms 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.
(On Sale Now! ) 		Lambert Orkis David Hardy Daniel Foster Nurit Bar-Josef
The Kennedy Center Chamber Players play Ravel, Dutilleux & Dvorák 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.
(On Sale 2/10/2010 ) 		Loren Kitt Lambert Orkis Rachel Young David Hardy Dotian Levalier Daniel Foster Toshiko Kohno Nurit Bar-Josef
The Kennedy Center Chamber Players play Gieseking, Szymanowski & Schubert 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.
(On Sale 4/7/2010 ) 		Sue Heineman Loren Kitt Lambert Orkis David Hardy Marissa Regni Daniel Foster Nicholas Stovall Martin Hackleman Nurit Bar-Josef
back to top

Ballet

Reminder Event Detail Cast & Companies
Buy Tickets Pennsylvania Ballet: George Balanchine's The Nutcracker™ 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."
(On Sale Now! ) 		George Balanchine Pennsylvania Ballet Pyotr Tchaikovsky George Balanchine
Buy Tickets New York City Ballet 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.
(On Sale Now! ) 		Christopher Wheeldon Pyotr Tchaikovsky George Balanchine Jerome Robbins Christopher Wheeldon New York City Ballet George Balanchine Jerome Robbins Peter Martins
Buy Tickets American Ballet Theatre 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.
(On Sale Now! ) 		Christopher Wheeldon Kevin McKenzie Twyla Tharp Kenneth MacMillan American Ballet Theatre Kenneth MacMillan Kevin McKenzie
Mariinsky Ballet 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.
(On Sale 12/9/2009 ) 		Pyotr Tchaikovsky Marius Petipa Pyotr Tchaikovsky Mariinsky Ballet Marius Petipa
Bolshoi Ballet 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).
(On Sale 12/9/2009 ) 		Yuri Grigorovich Bolshoi Ballet Yuri Grigorovich
The Suzanne Farrell Ballet 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.
(On Sale 12/9/2009 ) 		George Balanchine Suzanne Farrell Jerome Robbins The Suzanne Farrell Ballet George Balanchine Suzanne Farrell Maurice Bejart Jerome Robbins
Ballet Across America II 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.
(On Sale 4/7/2010 ) 		George Balanchine Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Christopher Wheeldon Houston Ballet The Joffrey Ballet North Carolina Dance Theatre Pacific Northwest Ballet Ballet Arizona Morphoses Tulsa Ballet Aspen Santa Fe Ballet
back to top

Contemporary Dance

Reminder Event Detail Cast & Companies
Buy Tickets Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan 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).
(On Sale Now! ) 		Lo Man-fei Lin Hwai-min Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 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.
(On Sale 12/9/2009 ) 		Masazumi Chaya Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Alvin Ailey Judith Jamison
Shen Wei Dance Arts 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.
(On Sale 2/10/2010 ) 		Shen Wei Dance Arts Shen Xiu Wei
Compañía Nacional de Danza 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.
(On Sale 2/10/2010 ) 		Nacho Duato Compañía Nacional de Danza
back to top

Opera

Reminder Event Detail Cast & Companies
The Mariinsky Opera and Orchestra: Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin in Concert 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.
(On Sale 12/9/2009 ) 		 
The Mariinsky Opera and Orchestra: Mussorgsky's Boris Godunov in Concert 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.
(On Sale 12/9/2009 ) 		 
The Mariinsky Opera and Orchestra: An Evening of Rimsky-Korsakov, Mussorgsky, & Borodin in Concert Mar 3, 2010 at 7:30 PM
Led by Valery Gergiev, the Mariinsky Opera and Orchestra presents an evening of scenes in concert from operas by Rimsky-Korsakov, Mussorgsky, and Borodin.
(On Sale 12/9/2009 ) 		 
The Mariinsky Opera and Orchestra: An Evening of Tchaikovsky Operas in Concert 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 The Queen of Spades, Mazeppa, and Iolanta.
(On Sale 12/9/2009 ) 		 
The Mariinsky Opera and Orchestra: Prokofiev's War and Peace 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.
(On Sale 12/9/2009 ) 		 
back to top

Jazz

Reminder Event Detail Cast & Companies
Buy Tickets KC Jazz Club: Jon Irabagon Group featuring Victor Lewis 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.
(On Sale Now! ) 		 
Buy Tickets McCoy Tyner with the Howard University Jazz Ensemble, Fred Irby III, HUJE Music Director 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.
(On Sale Now! ) 		McCoy Tyner
Buy Tickets KC Jazz Club: Stefon Harris and Blackout 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.
(On Sale Now! ) 		Stefon Harris
Buy Tickets Lee Konitz Quartet 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).
(On Sale Now! ) 		 
Buy Tickets NPR's A Jazz Piano Christmas 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.
(On Sale Now! ) 		 
Buy Tickets Christmas Time Is Here: Dianne Reeves 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.
(On Sale Now! ) 		Dianne Reeves
Buy Tickets A Jazz New Year's Eve featuring John Pizzarelli: Dear Mr. Sinatra 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.
(On Sale Now! ) 		John Pizzarelli, Jr.
Buy Tickets Grappelli & Reinhardt: Hot Jazz
Mark O'Connor's Hot Swing & Dorado Schmitt's Django 100 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.
(On Sale Now! ) 		 
Buy Tickets Ella! featuring Dee Dee Bridgewater, Janis Siegel, Al Jarreau, & The Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band, Slide Hampton, Music Director 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.
(On Sale Now! ) 		Dee Dee Bridgewater
KC Jazz Club: Jonathan Batiste Quintet 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).
(On Sale 12/9/2009 ) 		 
KC Jazz Club: Carl Allen–Rodney Whitaker Project 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).
(On Sale 12/9/2009 ) 		 
KC Jazz Club: An Evening with Delfeayo Marsalis 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).
(On Sale 12/9/2009 ) 		 
KC Jazz Club: Alison Brown 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).
(On Sale 12/9/2009 ) 		 
KC Jazz Club: Maurice Brown Effect 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).
(On Sale 12/9/2009 ) 		 
KC Jazz Club: Shelly Berg 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!"
(On Sale 12/9/2009 ) 		 
KC Jazz Club: Toshiko Akiyoshi Trio 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).
(On Sale 12/9/2009 ) 		 
George Benson 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).
(On Sale 2/10/2010 ) 		 
Mavis Staples 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.
(On Sale 2/10/2010 ) 		 
Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival - 15th Anniversary 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.
(On Sale 2/10/2010 ) 		 
Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Emerging Artist Showcase 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."
 
Matt Savage Trio 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."
(On Sale 4/7/2010 ) 		 
Diane Schuur 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.
(On Sale 4/7/2010 ) 		 
back to top

Performances for Young Audiences

Reminder Event Detail Cast & Companies
Buy Tickets Barrio Grrrl!: A New Musical 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+.
(On Sale Now! ) 		 
Buy Tickets NSO Family Concert: Spooky Sounds and Scary Tales 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+.
(On Sale Now! ) 		 
Buy Tickets NSO Kinderkonzert: Making Music with Friends 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+.
(On Sale Now! ) 		 
Buy Tickets Teddy Roosevelt and the Ghostly Mistletoe 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+.
(On Sale Now! ) 		 
Buy Tickets NSO Teddy Bear Concert: Bears, Bears Everywhere 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.
(On Sale Now! ) 		 
Buy Tickets NSO Ensemble Concert: Connections: MORE Science and Music 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+.
(On Sale Now! ) 		 
Buy Tickets Galumpha's The Human Jungle Gym 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+.
(On Sale Now! ) 		 
Buy Tickets NSO Children's Concert with Iván Fischer 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.
(On Sale Now! ) 		 
Buy Tickets NSO Kinderkonzerts: Magical Mozart 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+.
(On Sale Now! ) 		 
NSO Family Concert: Peter and the Wolf 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.
(On Sale 12/9/2009 ) 		 
NSO Teddy Bear Concert: Fancy That! 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.
(On Sale 12/9/2009 ) 		 
NSO Ensemble Concert: Connections: MORE History and Music 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.
(On Sale 12/9/2009 ) 		 
Nubian Gents + Feminine Fire Gospel Step Teams 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+.
(On Sale 2/10/2010 ) 		 
Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical 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+.
(On Sale 2/10/2010 ) 		 
NSO Family Concert: Lemony Snicket's The Composer is Dead 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.
(On Sale 2/10/2010 ) 		 
back to top

NSO Family

Reminder Event Detail Cast & Companies
Buy Tickets NSO Family Concert: Spooky Sounds and Scary Tales 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+.
(On Sale Now! ) 		 
Buy Tickets NSO Kinderkonzert: Making Music with Friends 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+.
(On Sale Now! ) 		 
Buy Tickets NSO Teddy Bear Concert: Bears, Bears Everywhere 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.
(On Sale Now! ) 		 
Buy Tickets NSO Ensemble Concert: Connections: MORE Science and Music 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+.
(On Sale Now! ) 		 
Buy Tickets NSO Children's Concert with Iván Fischer 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.
(On Sale Now! ) 		 
Buy Tickets NSO Kinderkonzerts: Magical Mozart 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+.
(On Sale Now! ) 		 
NSO Family Concert: Peter and the Wolf 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.
(On Sale 12/9/2009 ) 		 
NSO Teddy Bear Concert: Fancy That! 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.
(On Sale 12/9/2009 ) 		 
NSO Ensemble Concert: Connections: MORE History and Music 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.
(On Sale 12/9/2009 ) 		 
NSO Family Concert: Lemony Snicket's The Composer is Dead 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.
(On Sale 2/10/2010 ) 		 
back to top

VSA arts

Reminder Event Detail Cast & Companies
Kristjan Järvi, conductor/Evelyn Glennie, percussion, plays Tuur 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.
(On Sale 4/7/2010 ) 		 
Diane Schuur 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.
(On Sale 4/7/2010 ) 		 
back to top