Review: Emancipation tribute Letter V Richmond Symphony chorus, soloists & dancers April 13, Richmond CenterStage Willis L. Barnett, the Virginia Union University music professor and choral director, has composed a number of works on African-American themes for the Richmond Symphony and other ensembles. None of those, I’ll bet, was as challenging as Barnett’s “Emancipation Overture,” written for this past weekend’s commemorative program marking the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. The proclamation, issued on Jan. 1, 1863 by President Abraham Lincoln, is the work of Lincoln the lawyer, not Lincoln the orator. The proclamation’s wording is dry and legalistic; even its most ringing declaration, that the formerly enslaved “shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free,” is surrounded by cumbersome language. Much of the document is devoted to the legal rationale for its issuance, and to listing the states and localities “this day in rebellion against the United States” in which the proclamation applies. (Emancipation of all the slaves had to wait until ratification of the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, adopted on Dec. 6, 1865.) Barnett sets the proclamation’s lengthy text for narrator, sometimes joined by speaking choristers, within a moodily expressive tone poem whose tone is set early on by two soloists singing in the style of a wistfully mournful spiritual. The solo voices, soprano Lisa Edwards-Burrs and alto Charmaine Sims McGilvary, sang with solemn lyricism. The narrator, Moses Braxton Jr., made the proclamation sound like a judgment from on high, about the best a speaker could do with such a non-oratorical text. Braxton also narrated Aaron Copland’s “A Lincoln Portrait,” a much more triumphal musical setting of some of the great oratory of the Civil War president. The standards for “Lincoln Portrait” narration, to my ears, were set by Henry Fonda, who spoke conversationally, and James  Earl Jones, who made the text sound like Scripture. Braxton, a Richmond-bred singer and actor, spoke with Jones-like bassy sonority but with a bit more edge to enhance projection. These musical narrations were the climax of a program that ranged across African-American musical tradition, showcasing several generations of leading black composers – William Grant Still, in two movements of his “Afro-American” Symphony (No. 1); Duke Ellington, in the Martin Luther King Jr. portrait from his “Three Black Kings” Suite; Adolphus Hailstork, the contemporary Virginia composer, in an instrumental setting of three spirituals; Nkeiru Okoye, a New York-based composer, in two excerpts from her folk opera “Harriet Tubman: When I Crossed That Line to Freedom” (sung with great character by Edwards-Burrs) – alongside renditions of freedom songs and anthems. Those songs – “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” “Battle Cry of Freedom,” “Amazing Grace,” “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing” (long known as the “Negro national anthem”) – featured a combined chorus of students from 22 Virginia colleges and members of the Richmond Symphony Chorus and Richmond’s One Voice chorus, sounding considerably more polished than most such one-off event gatherings. The symphony’s music director, Steven Smith, also obtained more refined performances from the orchestra than might have been expected from an ensemble in the midst of a statewide round of performances with Virginia Opera in Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro.” The Elegba Folklore Society, a Richmond-based African dance ensemble, gave a brief sampler of West African ceremonial dances bracketing a wrenching narrative of the breakup of a family at a slave auction. The program, a co-production of the symphony and the Virginia General Assembly’s Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Commission, launched a series of events on the sesquicentennial of the Emancipation Proclamation, which will continue through the year. A taped production of the event will be aired by WVCE-TV and its radio affiliates at 9 p.m. April 25. 1 month ago | Comment | Tag | Read Full Story

Chorus seeks director Letter V The Central VA Masterworks Chorale, a 40-member ensemble based in Ashland, is seeking a new conductor and artistic director. The chorus gives two performances a year, in December and May, and rehearses on Monday nights at Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church in Ashland. It is seeking a director with knowledge of SATB masterworks, and preferably with orchestral conducting experience. To apply for the job or obtain more information, call (804) 677-4755 or e-mail atjmw@aol.com 1 month ago | Comment | Tag | Read Full Story

April calendar Letter V Classical performances in and around Richmond, with selected events elsewhere in Virginia and the Washington area. Program information, provided by presenters, is updated as details become available. Adult single-ticket prices are listed; senior, student/youth, group and other discounts may be offered. SCOUTING REPORT * In and around Richmond: The Takács Quartet plays the six quartets of Bartók on two successive nights, April 7-8, at the University of Richmond’s Modlin Arts Center. . . . Pianist Charles Staples joins Alexander Kordzaia and the UR Orchestra in Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue,” April 10 at the Modlin Center. . . . The Ebène Quartet visits the Modlin Center for a program on April 18. (The ensemble also performs on April 23 at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.) . . . The Richmond Symphony’s April 20 Masterworks program with mezzo-soprano Kathryn Leemhuis is tucked into a month’s worth of other gigs: Music Director Steven Smith and the orchestra join Virginia Opera in Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro,” eight performances from April 6 to 28 in Norfolk, Fairfax and Richmond; plus two anniversary programs, commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation on April 13 at Richmond CenterStage and the 65th birthday of Israel on April 16 at the Weinstein JCC. . . . Ninety-nine percussionists from all over gather on the University of Richmond campus on April 21 for an outdoor Earth Day performance of John Luther Adams’ “Inuksuit.” . . . Erin R. Freeman directs the Richmond Symphony Chorus in a program with brass and organ, April 25 and 27 at two area churches. . . .  Opera VCU stages Mozart’s “The Magic Flute,” April 27-28 at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Singleton Arts Center. * Noteworthy elsewhere: Soprano Jessye Norman sings favorites from American musical theater, April 4 at the Paramount Theater in Charlottesville. . . . Emanuel Ax plays Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with Hugh Wolff and the National Symphony, April 4-6 at the Kennedy Center in Washington. . . . Pianist András Schiff plays the complete “French” suites of Bach, April 7 at Strathmore in the Maryland suburbs of DC. . . . The Roanoke Symphony marks its 60th anniversary with an all-Beethoven program featuring David Stewart Wiley doubling as conductor and piano soloist, April 8 at the Roanoke Performing Arts Theatre. . . . Organ sensation Cameron Carpenter performs on April 12 at Strathmore. . . . Harpsichordist Christophe Rousset plays Couperin and Rameau, April 13 at the Library of Congress in Washington. . . . Pianist Maurizio Pollini plays Chopin and Debussy, April 14 at Strathmore. . . . Violinist Lisa Batiashvili joins Christian Thielemann and the Staatskapelle Dresden in an all-Brahms program, April 16 at Strathmore. . . . Pianist Evgeny Kissin performs on April 24 at the Kennedy Center. . . . Opera Roanoke stages the Gilbert & Sullivan favorite “The Pirates of Penzance,” April 26 and 28 at the Jefferson Center. . . . The Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio plays Brahms, Beethoven and more, April 29 at the Kennedy Center. April 4 (8 p.m.) Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Charlottesville Jessye Norman, soprano Mark Markham, piano “A Celebration of American Musical Theater” works by Gershwin, Ellington, Rodgers & Hammerstein, others $44.50-$64.50 (434) 979-1333 www.theparamount.net April 4 (8 p.m.) Old Cabell Hall, University of Virginia, Charlottesville UVa New Music Ensemble I-Jen Fang directing Louis Andriessen: “Worker’s Union” Cornelius Cardew: “Octet ’61” works by Boulez, Satie, Kristina Warren, Chris Perk, Kevin Davis free (434) 924-3376 http://artsandsciences.virginia.edu/music/concertsevents/index.html April 4 (7 p.m.) April 5 (8 p.m.) April 6 (8 p.m.) Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Washington National Symphony Orchestra Hugh Wolff conducting Stephen Albert: “Rivering Waters” from Symphony No. 1 (“Riverrun”) Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 2 Emanuel Ax, piano Dvorák: Symphony No. 5 $10-$85 (800) 444-1324 www.kennedy-center.org April 5 (8 p.m.) Old Cabell Hall, University of Virginia, Charlottesville The Fourth Wall contemporary music program TBA free (434) 924-3376 http://artsandsciences.virginia.edu/music/concertsevents/index.html April 5 (8 p.m.) The Barns at Wolf Trap, Trap Road, Vienna Peter Kolkay, bassoon Alexandra Nguyen, piano Deidre Chadwick, oboe Saint-Saëns: Bassoon Sonata, Op. 168 Barber-Kolkay: Cello Sonata, Op. 6 (bassoon adaptation) Poulenc: Trio for oboe, bassoon and piano Dutilleux: “Sarabande et cortège” Paul Moravec: “Andy Warhol Sez” for bassoon and piano Lalliet: Terzetto, Op. 22, for oboe, bassoon and piano $35 (800) 945-2468 (Tickets.com) www.wolftrap.org April 5 (8 p.m.) Coolidge Auditorium, Library of Congress, First Street at Independence Avenue S.E., Washington Jeffrey Kahane, singer-songwriter Timothy Andres, piano songs by Kahane, Andres, Ives, Britten, Hans Eisler, Thomas Adès  free; tickets required (703) 573-7328 (Ticketmaster) http://www.loc.gov/rr/perform/concert/1213-schedule.html April 6 (8 p.m.) April 10 (7:30 p.m.) April 12 (8 p.m.) April 14 (2:30 p.m.) Harrison Opera House, 160 E. Virginia Beach Boulevard, Norfolk Virginia Opera Steven Smith conducting Mozart: “The Marriage of Figaro” Ann-Carolyn Bird (Susanna) Matthew Burns (Figaro) Karin Mushegain (Cherubino) Kathryn White (Countess Almaviva) Aaron St. Clair Nicholson (Count Almaviva) Jeffrey Tucker (Bartolo) Margaret Gawrysiak (Marcellina) Drew Duncan (Don Basilio) Patrick O’Halloran (Don Curzio) Lillian Groag, stage director in Italian, English captions $25-$114 (866) 673-7282 www.vaopera.org April 6 (8 p.m.) First Presbyterian Church, 500 Park St., Charlottesville Oratorio Society of Virginia Michael Slon directing Christopher Jacobson, organ Duruflé: Requiem Britten: “Festival Te Deum” $22 (434) 295-4385 www.oratoriosociety.org April 6 (8 p.m.) Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD National Philharmonic Piotr Gajewski conducting Bach: “Brandenburg” Concerto No. 1 Bach: “Brandenburg” Concerto No. 5 Bach: Cantata 140, “Wachet auf” (“Sleepers Awake”) Rosa Lamoureaux, soprano Matthew Smith, tenor Kevin Deas, bass National Philharmonic Chorus $28-$84 (301) 581-5100 www.strathmore.org April 7 (7:30 p.m.) Camp Concert Hall, Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond Takács Quartet Bartók: Quartet No. 1 Bartók: Quartet No. 3 Bartók: Quartet No. 5 $38 (804) 289-8980 www.modlin.richmond.edu April 7 (7 p.m.) Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD András Schiff, piano Bach: “French” suites $23-$95 (202) 785-9727 (Washington Performing Arts Society) www.wpas.org April 8 (7:30 p.m.) Camp Concert Hall, Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond Takács Quartet Bartók: Quartet No. 2 Bartók: Quartet No. 4 Bartók: Quartet No. 6 $38 (804) 289-8980 www.modlin.richmond.edu April 8 (8 p.m.) Roanoke Performing Arts Theatre, Orange Avenue at Williamson Road Roanoke Symphony David Stewart Wiley conducting Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 Beethoven: “Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage” Beethoven: “Choral Fantasy” David Stewart Wiley, piano Roanoke Symphony Chorus $22-$52 (540) 343-9127 www.rso.com April 8 (8 p.m.) Eisenhower Theater, Kennedy Center, Washington Washington National Opera Celebrity Concert Series: Diana Damrau, soprano Xavier de Maistre, harp program TBA $40-$180 (800) 444-1324 www.kennedy-center.org April 9 (8 p.m.) Williamsburg Library Theatre, 515 Scotland St. Chamber Music Society of Williamsburg: Stradivari Quartett Schubert: Quartet in D minor, D. 173 Turina: “La Oración del Torero” Bartók: Quartet No. 4 Brahms: Quartet in A minor, Op. 51, No. 2 $15 (waiting list) (757) 258-4814 www.chambermusicwilliamsburg.org April 9 (8 p.m.) Old Cabell Hall, University of Virginia, Charlottesville Tuesday Evening Concerts: Keller Quartet Bartók: Quartet No. 3 Shostakovich: Quartet No. 8 Tchaikovsky: Quartet No. 1 $12-$33 (434) 924-3376 www.tecs.org April 10 (7 p.m.) Vlahcevic Concert Hall, Singleton Arts Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Park Avenue at Harrison Street, Richmond VCU Symphonic Wind Ensemble & University Band Terry Austin directing David Bobrowitz: Elegy Mike Mower: “Sonata Latino” Madison Bunch, flute works by Wagner, Philip Sparke $7 in advance, $10 day of event (804) 828-6776 www.vcumusic.org April 10 (7:30 p.m.) Camp Concert Hall, Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond UR Orchestra Alexander Kordzaia conducting Bernstein: “Candide” Overture Gershwin: “Rhapsody in Blue” Charles Staples, piano other works TBA free  (804) 289-8980 www.modlin.richmond.edu April 12 (5 p.m.) Black Music Center (old church), Virginia Commonwealth University, Grove Avenue at Harrison Street, Richmond VCU String Orchestra Daniel Myssyk conducting Tchaikovsky: Serenade for strings free (804) 828-6776 www.vcumusic.org April 12 (7:30 p.m.) Vlahcevic Concert Hall, Singleton Arts Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Park Avenue at Harrison Street, Richmond Commonwealth Singers & Women’s Choir Rebecca Tyree directing Choral Arts Society Jay BeVille directing works by Eric Whitacre, Dan Forrest, Irving Fine, Duke Ellington, Moses Hogan, others $7 in advance, $10 day of event (804) 828-6776 www.vcumusic.org April 12 (8 p.m.) Ferguson Arts Center, Christopher Newport University, Newport News April 13 (8 p.m.) Harrison Opera House, 160 E. Virginia Beach Boulevard, Norfolk April 14 (2:30 p.m.) Sandler Arts Center, 201 S. Market St., Virginia Beach Virginia Symphony JoAnn Falletta conducting Mozart: “Don Giovanni” Overture Mozart: Clarinet Concerto Robert Plane, clarinet Mozart: Requiem Janice Chandler Eteme, soprano Susan Platts, mezzo-soprano Charles Reid, tenor Darren K. Stokes, bass Virginia Symphony Chorus $20-$113.50 (757) 892-6366 www.virginiasymphony.org April 12 (8 p.m.) American Theater, 125 E. Mellen St., Hampton Philippe Bianconi, piano works by Beethoven, Chopin, Debussy $25-$30 (757) 722-2787 http://www.hamptonarts.net/american-theatre/purchase-tickets April 12 (8 p.m.) Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD Cameron Carpenter, organ program TBA $20-$40 (301) 581-5100 www.strathmore.org April 13 (8 p.m.) Carpenter Theatre, Richmond CenterStage, Sixth and Grace streets Richmond Symphony Steven Smith conducting mass choir from Virginia colleges and universities Elegba Folklore Society performers “A Musical Tribute to Commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation” Copland: “A Lincoln Portrait” narrator TBA other works TBA co-sponsored by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Commission of the Virginia General Assembly and Richmond Symphony  ALL TICKETS DISTRIBUTED (804) 788-1212 www.richmondsymphony.com April 13 (8 p.m.) Vlahcevic Concert Hall, Singleton Arts Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Park Avenue at Harrison Street, Richmond Yin Zheng, piano other pianists TBA works TBA for 2, 4, 8, 10 hands $7 in advance, $10 day of event (804) 828-6776 www.vcumusic.org April 13 (7 p.m.) Old Cabell Hall, University of Virginia, Charlottesville University Singers & Chamber Singers Michael Slon directing “American Voices” works by Eric Whitacre, Judith Shatin, Matthew Burtner, Libby Larsen, Stephen Paulus, Steven Stucky, Frank Ticheli $15 (434) 924-3376 http://artsandsciences.virginia.edu/music/concertsevents/index.html April 13 (8 p.m.) Center for the Arts, George Mason University, Fairfax American Festival Pops Orchestra Anthony Maiello conducting Joe Robinson, oboe “Cinema Magic” works by John Williams, Hans Zimmer, James Horner, Danny Elfman $24-$48 (800) 945-2468 (Tickets.com) http://cfa.gmu.edu/calendar/ April 13 (2 p.m.) Coolidge Auditorium, Library of Congress, First Street at Independence Avenue S.E., Washington Christophe Rousset, harpsichord works by Couperin, Rameau free; tickets required (703) 573-7328 (Ticketmaster) http://www.loc.gov/rr/perform/concert/1213-schedule.html April 14 (3 p.m.) Camp Concert Hall, Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond UR Schola Cantorum & Women’s Chorale Jeffrey Riehl & David Pedersen directing program TBA free (804) 289-8980 www.modlin.richmond.edu April 14 (3 p.m.) Carpenter Theatre, Richmond CenterStage, Sixth and Grace streets Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra’s Camerata Strings & String Sinfonietta conductors TBA program TBA free (804) 788-4717 www.richmondsymphony.com April 14 (4 p.m.) Bon Air Presbyterian Church, 9201 W. Huguenot Road, Richmond Second Sunday South of the James: Lisa Edwards-Burrs, soprano Russell Wilson, piano Naima Burrs, violin works by Bach, Handel, Fauré, Richard Strauss, Liszt, Hale Smith, others donation requested (804) 272-7514 April 14 (7 p.m.) Carpenter Theatre, Richmond CenterStage, Sixth and Grace streets Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra conductor TBA program TBA free (804) 788-4717 www.richmondsymphony.com April 14 (3:30 p.m.) Old Cabell Hall, University of Virginia, Charlottesville UVa Baroque Orchestra David Sarti directing works by Bertali, Handel, Geminiani, others free (434) 924-3376 http://artsandsciences.virginia.edu/music/concertsevents/index.html April 14 (7 p.m.) Center for the Arts, George Mason University, Fairfax Jeffrey Siegel, piano “Keyboard Conversations: Listen to the Dance” works by Weber, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Chopin, others $19-$38 (800) 945-2468 (Tickets.com) http://cfa.gmu.edu/calendar/ April 14 (4 p.m.) Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD Maurizio Pollini, piano Chopin: Prelude in C sharp minor Chopin: Ballade No. 2 in F major Chopin: Ballade No. 3 in A flat major Chopin: 4 mazurkas Chopin: Scherzo No. 3 in C sharp minor Debussy: Preludes, Book 1 $38-$78 (301) 581-5100 www.strathmore.org April 16 (7:30 p.m.) Weinstein JCC, 5403 Monument Ave., Richmond Richmond Symphony Steven Smith conducting “A Tribute to Israel’s 65th Birthday” Robert Wendel: “Fantasia on ‘Yeroushalaim shel zahav’ ” Ravel: “Three Hebrew Songs” Gilad Harel, clarinet Prokofiev: “Overture on Hebrew Themes” trad.: “Hava Nagila” (David Bobrowitz arr.) Lucas Richman: “Overture to Israel” trad.: “Hatikvah” Sergei Abir: “Klezmer’s Smile” Gilad Harel, clarinet $18 (804) 285-6500 www.weinsteinjcc.org April 16 (8 p.m.) Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD Staatskapelle Dresden Christian Thielemann conducting Brahms: “Academic Festival” Overture Brahms: Violin Concerto Lisa Batiashvili, violin Brahms: Symphony No. 4 $35-$100 (202) 785-9727 (Washington Performing Arts Society) www.wpas.org April 17 (7:30 p.m.) Camp Concert Hall, Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond UR Wind Ensemble David Niethamer directing program TBA free (804) 289-8980 www.modlin.richmond.edu April 17 (8 p.m.) Coolidge Auditorium, Library of Congress, First Street at Independence Avenue S.E., Washington Stile Antico works by Victoria, Lassus, Byrd, Palestrina, others free; tickets required (703) 573-7328 (Ticketmaster) http://www.loc.gov/rr/perform/concert/1213-schedule.html April 18 (7:30 p.m.) Camp Concert Hall, Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond Ebène Quartet Mozart: Quartet in C major, K. 465 Schubert: Quartet in A minor, D. 804 Tchaikovsky: Quartet in D major, Op. 11 $34 (804) 289-8980 www.modlin.richmond.edu April 18 (7 p.m.) April 19 (8 p.m.) April 20 (8 p.m.) Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Washington National Symphony Orchestra Pops Steven Reinecke conducting Chris Botti, trumpet program TBA $20-$85 (800) 444-21324 www.kennedy-center.org April 18 (8 p.m.) Coolidge Auditorium, Library of Congress, First Street at Independence Avenue S.E., Washington Keller Quartet Schnittke: Quartet No. 3 Shostakovich: Quartet No. 8 Tchaikovsky: Quartet No. 1 free; tickets required (703) 573-7328 (Ticketmaster) http://www.loc.gov/rr/perform/concert/1213-schedule.html April 19 (8 p.m.) Williamsburg Presbyterian Church, 215 Richmond Road April 20 (8 p.m.) First Presbyterian Church, 300 36th St., Virginia Beach April 21 (4 p.m.) Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 520 Graydon Ave., Norfolk Virginia Chorale Charles Woodward directing Britten: “Hymn to Saint Cecilia” Bob Chilcott: “Weather Report” Robert Parson: “Ave Maria” works by Tallis, John Rutter, Percy Grainger $25 (757) 627-8375 www.vachorale.org April 19 (8 p.m.) April 21 (2 p.m.) Center for the Arts, George Mason University, Fairfax Virginia Opera Steven Smith conducting Mozart: “The Marriage of Figaro” Ann-Carolyn Bird (Susanna) Matthew Burns (Figaro) Karin Mushegain (Cherubino) Kathryn White (Countess Almaviva) Aaron St. Clair Nicholson (Count Almaviva) Jeffrey Tucker (Bartolo) Margaret Gawrysiak (Marcellina) Drew Duncan (Don Basilio) Patrick O’Halloran (Don Curzio) Lillian Groag, stage director in Italian, English captions $44-$98 (800) 945-2468 (Tickets.com) www.vaopera.org April 19 (8:15 p.m.) Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Marin Alsop conducting Didi Balle, narrator “Off the Cuff: Wagner, a Composer Fit for a King” Wagner: “Der Ring des Nibelungen” (orchestral excerpts) $29-$62 (877) 276-1444 (Baltimore Symphony box office) www.strathmore.org April 20 (8 p.m.) Carpenter Theatre, Richmond CenterStage, Sixth and Grace streets Richmond Symphony Steven Smith conducting Berlioz: “Béatrice et Bénédict” Overture Berlioz: “Les nuits d’été” Kathryn Leemhuis, mezzo-soprano Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 $10-$73 (800) 514-3849 (ETIX) www.richmondsymphony.com April 20 (8 p.m.) Room 402, Chemistry Building, University of Virginia, Charlottesville Rajeev Taranath, sarod Adhiman Kauyshal, tabla Indian classical works TBA free (434) 924-3376 http://artsandsciences.virginia.edu/music/concertsevents/index.html April 20 (8 p.m.) Old Cabell Hall, University of Virginia, Charlottesville April 21 (3:30 p.m.) Monticello High School, 1400 Independence Way, Charlottesville Charlottesville & University Symphony Orchestra Kate Tamarkin conducting John Adams: “The Chairman Dances” Copland: Clarinet Concerto Rob Patterson, clarinet Bernstein: “West Side Story” Symphonic Dances Ginastera: “Malambo” from “Estancia: Four Dances” $20-$38 (434) 924-3376 http://artsandsciences.virginia.edu/music/concertsevents/index.html April 20 (8 p.m.) Coolidge Auditorium, Library of Congress, First Street at Independence Avenue S.E., Washington Left Bank Concert Society Dina Koston: “In Two Parts” for violin and piano George Walker: String Quartet No. 1 Walker: “The Hollow Men,” poem for soprano and chamber ensemble Patricia Green, soprano Brahms: String Quintet No. 2 in G major, Op. 111  free; tickets required (703) 573-7328 (Ticketmaster) http://www.loc.gov/rr/perform/concert/1213-schedule.html April 21 (4 p.m.) University of Richmond campus performers from UR music, theater & dance, art & art history departments performers from Virginia Commonwealth University, other area schools John Luther Adams: “Inuksuit” for 99 percussionists free (804) 289-8980 www.modlin.richmond.edu April 22 (7:30 p.m.) Camp Concert Hall, Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond UR chamber ensembles program TBA free (804) 289-8980 www.modlin.richmond.edu April 23 (8 p.m.) Old Cabell Hall, University of Virginia, Charlottesville Tuesday Evening Concerts: Ebène Quartet Mozart: Quartet in C major, K. 465 (“Dissonant”) Schubert: Quartet in A minor, D. 804 (“Rosamunde”) Mendelssohn: Quartet in F minor, Op. 80 $12-$33 (434) 924-3376 www.tecs.org April 24 (8 p.m.) Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Washington Evgeny Kissin, piano Haydn: Sonata in E flat major Beethoven: Sonata in C minor, Op. 111 Schubert: impromptus in F minor, D. 935, No. 1; G flat major, D. 899, No. 3; B flat major, D. 935, No. 3; A flat major, D. 899, No. 4 Liszt-Wolf: “Hungarian Rhapsody” No. 12 in C sharp minor $45-$125 (202) 785-9727 (Washington Performing Arts Society) www.wpas.org April 25 (7 p.m.) River Road Church, Baptist, River and Ridge roads, Richmond April 27 (7 p.m.) Chester Presbyterian Church, 3424 W. Hundred Road, Chesterfield Richmond Symphony Chorus Erin R. Freeman directing with brass & organ program TBA $10 (800) 514-3849 (ETIX) www.richmondsymphony.com April 25 (7 p.m.) April 27 (8 p.m.) Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Washington National Symphony Orchestra Jaap van Zweden conducting Wagenaar: “Cyrano de Bergerac” Overture Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 1 Andreas Haefliger, piano Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4 $10-$85 (800) 444-1324 www.kennedy-center.org April 25 (7:30 p.m.) Terrace Theater, Kennedy Center, Washington Vocal Arrts DC: Christine Brewer, soprano Craig Rutenberg, piano works by Copland, Barber, William Bolcom, others $45 (800) 444-1324 www.kennedy-center.org April 26 (8 p.m.) April 28 (2:30 p.m.) Carpenter Theatre, Richmond CenterStage, Sixth and Grace streets Virginia Opera Steven Smith conducting Mozart: “The Marriage of Figaro” Ann-Carolyn Bird (Susanna) Matthew Burns (Figaro) Karin Mushegain (Cherubino) Kathryn White (Countess Almaviva) Aaron St. Clair Nicholson (Count Almaviva) Jeffrey Tucker (Bartolo) Margaret Gawrysiak (Marcellina) Drew Duncan (Don Basilio) Patrick O’Halloran (Don Curzio) Lillian Groag, stage director in Italian, English captions $31-$119 (800) 514-3849 (ETIX) www.vaopera.org April 26 (8 p.m.) April 28 (2:30 p.m.) Shaftman Performance Hall, Jefferson Center, 541 Luck Ave., Roanoke Opera Roanoke Scott Williamson conducting Gilbert & Sullivan: “The Pirates of Penzance” John Dooley (Major General) Bradley Smoak (Pirate King) Adam McAllister (Samuel) John Tiranno (Frederick) Andrew Potter (Sergeant) Ariana Wyatt (Mabel) Chelsea Bonagura (Edith) Tara Sperry (Kate) Michael Shell, stage director in English $20-$110 (540) 345-2550 www.operaroanoke.org April 26 (8 p.m.) Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Washington National Symphony Orchestra Jaap van Zweden conducting & speaking “Beyond the Score: Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4 – Pure Melodrama?” $10-$50 (800) 444-1324 www.kennedy-center.org April 27 (7:30 p.m.) April 28 (7:30 p.m.) Vlahcevic Concert Hall, Singleton Arts Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Park Avenue at Harrison Street, Richmond VCU Opera VCU Symphony Daniel Myssyk conducting Mozart: “The Magic Flute” Gianna Barone (Pamina) other cast TBA Melanie Kohn Day & Kenneth Wood, co-directors in German, English captions $10 in advance, $15 day of event  (804) 828-6776 www.vcumusic.org April 27 (7:30 p.m.) Terrace Theater, Kennedy Center, Washington Rafal Blechacz, piano Bach: Partita No. 3 in A minor, BWV 827 Beethoven: Sonata in D major, Op. 10, No. 3 Chopin: Polonaises, Op. 40 Chopin: Scherzo No. 3 in C sharp minor, Op. 39 Szymanowski: Sonata No. 1 in C minor, Op. 8 $55 (202) 785-9727 (Washington Performing Arts Society) www.wpas.org April 27 (8 p.m.) Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Gilbert Varga conducting Bartók: Violin Concerto No. 2 Midori, violin Brahms: Symphony No. 1 $45-$105 (877) 276-1444 (Baltimore Symphony box office) www.strathmore.org April 29 (7:30 p.m.) Terrace Theater, Kennedy Center, Washington Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio Beethoven: Allegretto for Piano Trio in B flat major, WoO. 39 Stanley Silverman: Piano Trio No. 2 (“Reveille”) Brahms: Piano Trio No. 1 in B major, Op. 8 $45 (800) 444-12324 www.kennedy-center.org April 30 (7:30 p.m.) Terrace Theater, Kennedy Center, Washington Young Concert Artists: Andrew Tyson, piano Bach: Partita No. 1 in B flat major, BWV 8 Scriabin: Sonata No. 3 in C sharp minor, Op. 23 Chopin: 24 preludes, Op. 28 $35 (800) 444-1324 www.kennedy-center.org 1 month ago | Comment | Tag | Read Full Story

Review: Jeremy Denk Letter V March 23, Virginia Commonwealth University Jeremy Denk has performed in Richmond and environs six times in the past nine years, exploring most every corner of the piano’s solo, chamber and concerto repertory. His first solo recital, in 2010 at the University of Richmond, memorably paired Charles Ives’ First Piano Sonata with Bach’s “Goldberg Variations.” His second solo date, in VCU’s Rennolds Chamber Concerts series, looked to be another such cultural collision, with Bartók’s Piano Sonata abutting a selection of pieces by Liszt, followed by Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in B minor and Beethoven’s last piano sonata, the C minor, Op. 111. The performance turned out to be less about disparate musics than about Denk’s engagement with each selection. Each piece offered, in very different ways, an opportunity for the pianist to dive in to the music – rhythmically, expresssively, colorfully, as an intellectual or a tactile experience. Even understatement in these pieces requires an active interpreter to pull off. Denk dove in from the start, driving the already intense rhythmic figures of the outer movements of the Bartók sonata, and rarely let up through the program. Even the relatively serene encore, the 13th variation from the “Goldbergs,” conveyed the energy and tension of music being made up on the spot. Denk’s energy and spontaneity sold the Bartók to listeners, many of whom had probably dreaded hearing it. Phrasing and deft application of color were the prime attractions of the Liszt set, which used the composer’s piano arrangements of the Bach Prelude “Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen” and the “Liebestod” from Wagner’s “Tristan und Isolde” to bracket two pieces from the Italian book of Liszt’s “Années de pèlerinage,” Petrarch’s Sonata 123 and “Après une lecture du Dante.” The second half of the program, Beethoven bracketed by Bach, was introduced verbally, then played, by Denk as a study in contrasts of the dissimilar – notably in the long set of variations that conclude the Beethoven. Temperament occasionally overcame technique in the Beethoven, especially in the more densely scored variations. 1 month ago | Comment | Tag | Read Full Story

Risë Stevens (1913-2013) Letter V Risë Stevens, a fixture at the Metropolitan Opera in Carmen and other mezzo-soprano roles in the 1940s and ’50s, and a popular singer in Hollywood films (notably, co-starring with Bing Crosby in “Going My Way”), has died at 99. An obituary by Margalit Fox in The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/22/arts/music/rise-stevens-opera-singer-dies-at-99.html?hpw&_r=0 1 month ago | Comment | Tag | Read Full Story

Tallis Scholars reviewed Letter V While I was attending the eighth blackbird-Nico Muhly show at the University of Richmond, The Tallis Scholars were performing at St. James’s Episcopal Church. Here’s Gene Harris’ review for the Richmond Times-Dispatch: http://www.timesdispatch.com/entertainment-life/music-movies-tv/music/music-review-the-tallis-scholars/article_461e0e98-7d78-56d0-afcb-892c0bc46da8.html 1 month ago | Comment | Tag | Read Full Story

Review: eighth blackbird Letter V with Nico Muhly, composer & keyboards March 20, University of Richmond Has any American composer risen as far as fast as Nico Muhly? Nine years ago, Muhly was studying at the Juilliard School. Since then, he has written an opera, “Two Boys,” for the Metropolitan Opera and English National Opera; orchestral works for the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Seattle Symphony and St. Paul Chamber Orchestra; a film score, for “The Reader,” nominated for an Oscar; and arrangements for albums by Björk, Usher and Rufus Wainwright. The 31-year-old composer joined eighth blackbird for a sampler of his works, two of them written for the ’birds, and pieces by composers he counts as mentors and influences – Philip Glass, Steve Reich and Tristan Perich. Glass specifically – Muhly worked for him as a copyist, arranger and conductor – and minimalism generally figure prominently in Muhly’s compositional style; but repeated figures and rhythms are only the foundation of his compositions. His instrumental and electronic writing is as elaborate and decorous as Renaissance polyphony, and his repetition builds into a genuine groove. Among the four works of his played in this program, “Doublespeak,” introduced last year by eighth blackbird in a concert marking Glass’ 75th birthday, was the most elaborately and playfully voiced, contrapuntal and colorful, the colors especially vivid in sections highlighting woodwinds and mallet percussion. The most orchestral of the lot, curiously, was “A Long Line” (2003), a quasi-fanfare scored for an almost romantically expressive violin and electronica. “How Soon” (2010) was a sample of Muhly’s long fascination with choral writing (he was a boy chorister) and English literature (his major at Columbia University). The piece is a setting of “Mortification,” by the 17th-century poet George Herbert, sung by a chorus of sopranos and altos – here, members of the University of Richmond Schola Cantorum, directed by Jeffrey Riehl – with moody yet rhythmically pointed instrumentation. “It Goes Without Saying” (2005), described by the composer as “a slow transition from one thing to essentially the same thing,” is a colorfully sonorous soliloquy for clarinet with electronica combining a harmonium drone, clicking sounds (mimicking the mechanics of the clarinet) and recorded clarinet. Clarinetist Michael J. Maccaferri and violinist Yvonne Lam played deftly and expressively in their duets with electronica; the full sextet (pianist Lisa Kaplan, cellist Nicholas Photionos, flutist Tim Munro and percussionist Matthew Duvall, Lam and Maccaferri) audibly and visibly relished Muhly’s energetic intricacies. The composer joined Kaplan and Lam to play Perich’s “qsqsqsqsqqqqqqqqq” (2009), a perky canon for three toy pianos and electronca. Muhly played celesta in a rendition of Glass’ early (1968) “Two Pages.” Another early minimalist opus, Reich’s “Four Organs” (1970), an extended deconstruction of a single chord, featured Kaplan, Lam, Maccaferri and Photinos on computerized keyboards (whose master unit malfunctioned, requiring a restart) and Duvall on maracas, whose unchanging rhythm tested the percussionist’s stamina, and probably his patience. 2 months ago | Comment | Tag | Read Full Story

The tainted philharmonic Letter V Justin Davidson of New York magazine outlines new disclosures from long-suppressed archives of the Vienna Philharmonic on its collaboration with the Nazis before and during World War II: http://www.vulture.com/2013/03/davidson-on-the-vienna-philharmonics-nazi-era.html Headline findings: During the period of Nazi rule in Austria (1938-45), nearly half the members of the orchestra were party members, including an SS officer who spied on colleagues and after the war became the chief administrator of the orchestra. . . . The popular New Year Strauss concerts were introduced under Nazi auspices; Joseph Goebbels, the party propaganda chief, ordered suppression of the fact that the Strausses had Jewish ancestors. The report by a group of historians, in German only (English version to follow), is here: http://www.wienerphilharmoniker.at/index.php?set_language=en&cccpage=history_ns 2 months ago | Comment | Tag | Read Full Story

Richmond Symphony 2013-14 Letter V A concert starring mezzo-soprano Kate Lindsey, the most prominent singer to have come out of Richmond in the past generation, and a recent work by Mason Bates, the Richmond-bred composer who has become a leading figure in contemporary classical music, highlight the 2013-14 season of the Richmond Symphony. Lindsey, who has performed at the Metropolitan Opera, London’s Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and other leading opera companies and orchestras in the U.S. and Europe, will sing a French program with the symphony on Nov. 9. Bates’ Violin Concerto, introduced in December 2012 by Anne Akiko Meyers with the Pittsburgh Symphony, will be played here by Meyers on March 1-2. Unlike many of Bates’ recent works, the concerto does not incorporate electronic sounds. The coming symphony season also will feature another collaboration between the Richmond Symphony and Virginia Symphony choruses, Berlioz’s “The Damnation of Faust,” on May 17-18 in Richmond as well as dates to be announced in the Virginia Arts Festival in Norfolk. The chorus also will perform in Verdi’s Requiem on Oct. 19-20, Handel’s “Messiah” on Dec. 6 and “Let It Snow!” pops concerts on Dec. 7-8. The Richmond Symphony Chamber Chorus will sing Handel’s four “Coronation Anthems” in a Metro Collection program on Feb. 23. The season will open on Sept. 21-22 with an all-Beethoven program, including the Fourth Piano Concerto played by William Wolfram and the “Eroica” Symphony (No. 3). Other major works on the 2013-14 Masterworks schedule are Richard Strauss’ “Don Quixote,” featuring two symphony principals, violist Molly Sharp and cellist Neal Cary (Jan. 11); Grieg’s Piano Concerto, played by George Li, and Schumann’s Second Symphony (Feb. 1); and Shostakovich’s Tenth Symphony (March 1-2). Steven Smith, the symphony’s music director, will conduct all those programs, except the Feb. 1 date, which will be led by Mei-Ann Chen, music director of the Memphis Symphony and winner of the 2012 Helen M. Thompson Award from the League of American Orchestras. Erin R. Freeman, associate conductor of the Richmond Symphony and director of the Symphony Chorus, will lead the Feb. 23 Metro Collection concert with the Handel anthems and Mozart’s Symphony No. 34, as well as “Messiah,” three of the season’s four pops concerts including “Let It Snow!” and three programs in the LolliPops family series. The Metro Collection series, in addition to the Mozart-Handel concert, include a program with a rare performance of the original chamber version of Samuel Barber’s music for “Medea,” a performance of Copland’s Clarinet Concerto by symphony principal Ralph Skiano, and a French program featuring the orchestra’s concertmaster, Daisuke Yamamoto, playing violin showpieces by Ravel and Saint-Saëns. The Pops series will feature, in addition to “Let It Snow!” a concert with Rex Richardson, the Virginia Commonwealth University-based jazz trumpeter; a return engagement for the acrobatic dance troupe Cirque de la Symphonie; and “Classical Mystery Tour,” a 50th-anniversary celebration of The Beatles’ first U.S. tour. LolliPops programs include “Carnivals and Clowns,” with Drew Allison & Grey Seal Puppets; performances of Gershwin’s “An American in Paris” and Michael Abels’ “Dance for Martin’s Dream,” a piece celebrating Martin Luther King Jr., with The School of Richmond Ballet Ensembles; and “The Remarkable Farkle McBride,” with actor Michael Boudewyns. The symphony also will play host to the Windborne troupe in “The Music of Michael Jackson,” a special concert on April 12 at the Landmark Theater. As in the current season, the symphony will stage seven Masterworks programs, three of them on Saturday nights only; four in the Metro Collection chamber-orchestra series; four in the Pops series, with “Let It Snow!” reprised in a Sunday matinee; and three in the LolliPops series. Masterworks, Pops and LolliPops programs will be staged in the Carpenter Theatre of Richmond CenterStage, Metro Collection concerts in Blackwell Auditorium of Randolph-Macon College in Ashland. To obtain a season brochure or subscription information, call the symphony’s patron services desk at (804) 788-1212. Concert dates, artists and programs for the symphony’s 2013-14 season: MASTERWORKS 8 p.m. Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays, Carpenter Theatre, Richmond CenterStage. Saturday subscriptions: $35-$448. Sunday subscriptions: $20-$256. Sept. 21-22 – Steven Smith conducting. Beethoven: “Fidelio” Overture, Piano Concerto No. 4 (William Wolfram, piano), Symphony No. 3 (“Eroica”). Oct. 19-20 – Steven Smith conducting. Verdi: Requiem (Kelley Nassief, soprano; Jennifer Feinstein, mezzo-soprano; Michael Fabiano, tenor; Kevin Deas, bass; Richmond Symphony Chorus). Nov. 9 – Steven Smith conducting. Bizet: “Carmen” Prelude; Canteloube: selections from “Songs of the Auvergne;” Massenet: “Enfin, ju sis ici (Cendrillon);” Berlioz: “La mort d'Ophelie;” Chabrier: “Je suis Lazuli;” Offenbach: Overture and arias from “The Grand Duchess of Gérolstein” (Kate Lindsey, mezzo-soprano); Debussy: “Ibéria;” Ravel: “Alborada del grazioso.” Jan. 11 – Steven Smith conducting. Wagner: orchestral excerpts from “Lohengrin;” George Walker: “Foils for Orchestra (Homage à Saint-Georges);” Richard Strauss: “Don Quixote” (Molly Sharp, viola; Neal Cary, cello). Feb. 1 – Mei-Ann Chen conducting. Osvaldo Golijov: “Last Round;” Grieg: Piano Concerto (George Li, piano); Schumann: Symphony No. 2. March 1-2 – Steven Smith conducting. Liadov: “Enchanted Lake;” Mason Bates: Violin Concerto (Anne Akiko Meyers, violin); Shostakovich: Symphony No. 10. May 17-18 – Steven Smith conducting. Berlioz: “The Damnation of Faust” (Elizabeth Bishop, mezzo-soprano; Vale Rideout, tenor; Kyle Ketelsen, bass-baritone; Jason Hardy, bass, Richmond Symphony Chorus; Virginia Symphony Chorus). METRO COLLECTION 3 p.m. Sundays, Blackwell Auditorium, Randolph-Macon College, Ashland Subscriptions: $20-$68. Oct. 13 – Steven Smith conducting. Barber: “Medea” (original chamber version); Bernard Rands: Madrigal; Brahms: Serenade No. 2. Nov. 24 – Steven Smith conducting. Joseph Martin Kraus: Symphony in E minor; Copland: Clarinet Concerto (Ralph Skiano, clarinet); Ives: Symphony No. 3 (“Camp Meeting”); Dvorák: “Czech Suite.” Feb. 23 – Erin R. Freeman conducting. Mozart: Symphony No. 34; Handel: “Coronation Anthems” (Richmond Symphony Chamber Chorus). May 4 – Steven Smith conducting. Fauré: “Masques et bergamasques;” Ravel: “Tzigane;” Saint-Saëns: “Introduction and Rondo capriccioso” (Daisuke Yamamoto, violin); Roussel: “The Spider’s Feast” Symphonic Fragments; Ravel: “Le Tombeau de Couperin.” POPS 8 p.m. Saturdays, 3 p.m. Dec. 8, Carpenter Theatre, Richmond CenterStage Subscriptions: $20-$256. Sept. 28 – Erin R. Freeman conducting. “Classical Mystery Tour – Music of The Beatles 50th Anniversary Tour.” Dec. 7-8 – Erin R. Freeman conducting. “Let It Snow!” holiday program (Lisa Edwards-Burrs, soprano, Richmond Symphony Chorus). Feb. 8 – Steven Smith conducting. Rex Richardson, trumpet, and friends in jazz program. March 8 – Erin R. Freeman conducting. Cirque de la Symphonie, dance and acrobatic troupe. LOLLIPOPS 11 a.m. Saturdays, Carpenter Theatre, Richmond CenterStage Subscriptions: $15-$24. Oct. 26 – Erin R. Freeman conducting. “Carnivals and Clowns,” with Drew Allison & Grey Seal Puppets. Jan. 25 – Erin R. Freeman conducting. Gershwin: “An American in Paris;” Michael Abels: “Dance for Martin’s Dream” (The School of Richmond Ballet Ensembles). March 15 – Erin R. Freeman conducting. “The Remarkable Farkle McBride” (Michael Boudewyns, actor). SPECIALS Dec. 6 (7:30 p.m., Carpenter Theatre, Richmond CenterStage) – Erin R. Freeman conducting. Handel: “Messiah” (soloists TBA, Richmond Symphony Chorus). Tickets: $12-$45. April 12 (8 p.m., Landmark Theater) – conductor TBA. “The Music of Michael Jackson” (Windborne). Tickets: $25-$60. 2 months ago | Comment | Tag | Read Full Story

Review: 'A Streetcar Named Desire' Letter V Virginia Opera Ari Pelto conducting March 8, Richmond CenterStage After Act 1 of the first of two Richmond performances concluding Virginia Opera’s run of André Previn’s “A Streetcar Named Desire,” one patron remarked, “It ain’t Mozart.” Nor is it Bizet, Puccini, Gershwin, Lloyd Webber, or the Elia Kazan stage production or movie set to music. It is a richly expressive, dramatically intense translation to music of Tennessee Williams’ story and characterizations, and both a showcase for and challenge to singing actors. Its demands on vocal technique are formidable, especially for the singer portraying Blanche DuBois. All four of its principals – Blanche, the aging Southern belle with a sordid past to conceal; her younger sister, Stella, whose passion trumps genteel pretense; Stella’s husband, Stanley Kowalski, a virile brute with no time for either gentility or pretense; and Mitch Mitchell, an awkward romantic who falls for Blanche – introduce their characters in a first act that’s basically all recitative, and subsequently flesh out those characters in solos and duets that are more like soliloquies than traditional opera arias. Kelly Cae Hogan (Blanche), Julia Ebner (Stella), David Adam Moore (Stanley) and Scott Ramsay (Mitch) very ably, at times brilliantly, negotiate Previn’s continuous musical dialogue. While vocalization often overrides diction in the text (by Philip Littell, closely following Williams’ script), and Southern dialect is a sometime thing, the foursome proves remarkably adept at acting in song – a tribute to the singers, and to stage director Sam Helfrich. Hogan is in consistently strong voice as Blanche, a role that requires as much stamina as Tosca, and conveys her character’s emotional disintegration with great cumulative impact. Moore stakes a gritty and convincingly personal claim on the character of Stanley Kowalski; he’s never a shadow of Marlon Brando, even when crying “Stella!” Ramsay as Mitch, and Drew Duncan in his small role as a newspaper boy, both capture the naiveté of their characters as manipulated by Blanche. Ebner’s Stella strikingly shrinks emotionally as she swells with pregnancy. Supporting characters, notably Duncan and Margaret Gawrysiak as the Kowalski’s neighbor, Eunice, make strong impressions. The drama unfolds on a set (by Andromache Chalfant) that’s sparsely appointed but serviceable, with plenty of empty space for the singers to move around in. Previn’s score, with its many theatrically charged effects, is rendered assertively and edgily by the orchestra, drawn from Hampton Roads’ Virginia Symphony and led by Ari Pelto, whose experience as an opera conductor is evident from start to finish. For those willing to suspend expectations of romantic aria-singing, 19th-century melodrama and grand-opera spectacle, this “Streetcar” offers music-drama that packs a wallop and characterizations to savor and remember. The final performance of Virginia Opera’s “A Streetcar Named Desire” will be staged at 2:30 p.m. March 10 at the Carpenter Theatre of Richmond CenterStage, Sixth and Grace streets. Tickets: $31-$119. Details: (800) 514-3849 (ETIX); www.vaopera.org MARCH 17 UPDATE: The New York Times’ Anthony Tommasini reviews Renée Fleming as Blanche DuBois in a Carnegie Hall preview of a Chicago Lyric Opera production opening next month: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/16/arts/music/renee-fleming-in-streetcar-named-desire-at-carnegie-hall.html?ref=music&_r=0 2 months ago | Comment | Tag | Read Full Story