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FALL ARTS 2016: Orchestra, organ, opera and then some

Mozart’s ‘Figaro,’ China Philharmonic and more pepper fall classical season

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classical music, gay news, Washington Blade

Soprano Lisette Oropesa will perform in Donizetti’s ‘The Daughter of the Regiment’ in November with the Washington National Opera. (Photo courtesy WNO)

Washington National Opera presents Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro” Sept. 22-Oct. 2 in the Kennedy Center Opera House.

The WNO joins with the Washington Nationals for “Opera in the Outfield” on Saturday, Sept. 24 at 7 p.m. at Nationals Park. It’s free — no tickets required.

Donizetti’s “The Daughter of the Regiment” runs Nov. 12-20 with Lisette Oropesa and Lawrence Brownlee in the starring roles.

The National Symphony Orchestra has its season-opening ball/concert on Sunday, Sept. 25 with Musical Director Christoph Eschenbach and Principal Pops Conductor Steven Reineke with pianist Lang Lang, singers Brian McKnight, Nnenna Freelon and Mervyn Warren and Take 6.

In his NSO debut, Edward Gardner conducts three works inspired by Shakespeare in “From Tchaikovsky to Elgar” Sept. 29-Oct. 1.

Other NSO performances slated for fall include violinist Nicola Benedetti (Oct. 27 and 29), pianist Emanuel Ax (Oct. 6-8), the NSO Pops with a “Halloween Extravaganza” (Oct. 13-16) and more.

The NSO also has performances planned for Nov. 3-5, Nov. 10-12, Nov. 17 and 19 and Dec. 15-18 with various programs.

The Harlem String Quartet plays the Family Theater at the Kennedy Center on Oct. 17. Joyce DiDonato and the Brentano String Quartet performs Oct. 5.

Washington Performing Arts is celebrating its 50th anniversary season. Classical highlights include cellist Alisa Weilerstein at the UDC Theater of the Arts with an all-Bach program on Oct. 16, violinist Hilary Hahn in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall on Oct. 28, pianist Llyr Williams at UDC Theater of the Arts on Oct. 29, pianist Lucas Debargue at UDC Theater of the Arts on Nov. 12, baritone Eric Owens and soprano Susanna Phillips in a program of works by Schubert on Nov. 13 at the UDC Theater of the Arts and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall on Nov. 29.

The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington will present “Let’s Misbehave: True Confessions of GMCW” on Nov. 12 as soloists share “funny, outrageous” and “ribald” stories in this season—opening cabaret event at Atlas Performing Arts Center.

The Chorus’s holiday show “Naughty and Nice” will run Dec. 10 and 17-18 at the Lincoln Theatre.

UrbanArias, a contemporary opera company, presents “The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat” Oct. 15-22 at Atlas Performing Arts Center (1333 H St., N.E.) with music by Micahel Nyman and libretto by Oliver Sacks, Christopher Rawlence and Michael Morris.

Virginia Opera brings its production of “The Seven Deadly Sins and Pagliacci” to Fairfax on Oct. 8-9 at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts Concert Hall (4400 University Drive, Fairfax, Va.).

Virginia Opera will return to the region Dec. 3-4 with Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville.”

Every Friday at 12:15 p.m., free organ recitals are held at National City Christian Church (5 Thomas Circle). The church has one of the finest organs in the city and often attracts world-class performers. Out minister of music Rev. Michael McMahon programs the series.

Washington Concert Opera has its 30th anniversary concert on Sunday, Sept. 18 with performances by Vivica Genaux, Angela Meade, Michele Angelini and Javier Arrey at 6 p.m. at the Lisner Auditorium (720 21sst St., N.W.). The company will also perform Massenet’s “Herodiade” on Sunday, Nov. 20.

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra performs several times at the Strathmore (5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, Md.) this fall. They’ll perform Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony on Sept. 24, “Carmina Burana” on Sept. 29, BSO SuperPops on Oct. 6, Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 10 on Oct. 15, Dvorak’s Symphony No. 8 on Oct. 22, “The Nutcracker” on Nov. 6, Mahler’s Symphony No. 6 on Nov. 10 and a full Beehoven weekend on Nov. 19. The BSO also performs regularly at the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall (1212 Cathedral St.) in Baltimore.

The Strathmore also has a few other classical concerts planned as usual.

Mike Mills from the band R.E.M. presents his “Concerto for Violin, Rock Band and String Orchestra” at the Music Center at Strathmore on Nov. 3 and the China Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Long Yu performs at the Strathmore on Dec. 9.

The National Cathedral (3101 Wisconsin Ave., N.W.) has organ recitals on Sunday afternoons throughout the fall. On the slate are Erik William Suter (Sept. 18), Paul Thomas (Sept. 25), Jung-A Lee (Oct. 2), the Lafayette Square Duo (organ and harp) (Oct. 9), Chuyoung Suter (Oct. 30), Leon Couch (Nov. 6) and George Fergus (Nov. 20).

Other classical recitals planned at the Cathedral for fall include the Schumann Piano Quintet (Sept. 14), Cathedral Choral Society: Berlioz Te Deum (Oct. 16), a Veteran’s Day concert (Nov. 11), and Handel’s “Messiah” (Dec. 2-4).

Baritone Eric Owens will perform a program of works by Schubert on Nov. 13 at the UDC Theater of the Arts. (Photo by Dario Acosta; courtesy Bucklesweet Media)

Baritone Eric Owens will perform a program of works by Schubert on Nov. 13 at the UDC Theater of the Arts. (Photo by Dario Acosta; courtesy Bucklesweet Media)

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Music & Concerts

Musical icons and newer stars to rock D.C. this spring

Brandi Carlile, Bad Bunny, Nicki Minaj, and more headed our way

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Brandi Carlile plays the Anthem this month.

Bands and solo artists of all different genres are visiting D.C. this spring. Patti LaBelle and Gladys Knight will team up to perform at the Wolf Trap in June, and girl in red will play at the Anthem in April. Some artists and bands aren’t paying a visit until the summer, like Janet Jackson and Usher, but there are still plenty of acts to see as the weather warms up. 

MARCH 

Brandi Carlile plays at the Anthem on March 21; Arlo Parks will perform at 9:30 Club on March 23; Girlschool will take the stage at Blackcat on March 28.

APRIL 

Nicki Minaj stops in D.C. at Capital One Arena as part of her North American tour on April 1; Bad Bunny plays at Capital One Arena on April 9 as part of his Most Wanted tour; girl in red performs at the Anthem on April 20 and 21; Brandy Clark plays at the Birchmere on April 25; Laufey comes to town to play at the Anthem on April 25 and 26. 

MAY 

Belle and Sebastian play at the Anthem on May 2; Chastity Belt performs at Blackcat on May 4; Madeleine Peyroux stops at the Birchmere on May 5; The Decemberists play at the Anthem on May 10; the rock band Mannequin Pussy performs at the Atlantis on May 17 and 18; Hozier plays at Merriweather Post Pavilion on May 17 as part of the Unreal Unearth tour. 

JUNE 

Patti LaBelle and Gladys Knight will sing soulful melodies at Wolf Trap on June 8; Joe Jackson performs at the Lincoln Theatre on June 10; the Pixies and Modest Mouse are teaming up to play at Merriweather Post Pavilion on June 14; Maggie Rogers plays at Merriweather Post Pavilion on June 16 as part of The Don’t Forget Me tour; Brittany Howard headlines the Out & About Festival at Wolf Trap on June 22; Sarah McLachlan plays at Merriweather Post Pavilion on June 27; Alanis Morissette performs at Merriweather Post Pavilion on June 29 and 30

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Music & Concerts

Grammys: Queer women and their sisters took down the house

Taylor Swift won Album of the Year

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When the late, great Ruth Bader Ginsburg was asked when there will be enough women on the Supreme Court, her answer was simple: Nine. She stated: “I say when there are nine, people are shocked. But there’d been nine men, and nobody’s ever raised a question about that.” RBG did not attend the Grammy’s last night, but her spirit sure did. Women, at long last, dominated, ruled and killed the night.

Cher, in song a decade ago, declared that “this is a woman’s world,” but there was little evidence that was true, Grammy, and entertainment awards, speaking. In 2018, the Grammys were heavily criticized for lack of female representation across all categories and organizers’ response was for women to “step up.”

Be careful what you wish for boys.

The biggest star of the 2024 Grammys was the collective power of women. They made history, they claimed legacy and they danced and lip sang to each other’s work. Standing victorious was Miley Cyrus, Billie Eilish, SZA (the most nominated person of the year), Lainey Wilson, Karol G, boygenius, Kylie Minogue and Victoria Monét. Oh, yes, and powerhouse Taylor Swift, the superstar from whom Fox News cowers in fear, made history to become the first performer of any gender to win four Best Album of the Year trophies.

In the throng of these powerful women stand a number of both LGBTQ advocates and queer identifying artists. Cyrus has identified as pansexual, SZA has said lesbian rumors “ain’t wrong,” Phoebe Bridgers (winner of four trophies during the night, most of any artist) is lesbian, Monét is bi and Eilish likes women but doesn’t want to talk about it. Plus, ask any queer person about Swift or Minogue and you are likely to get a love-gush.

Women power was not just owned by the lady award winners. There were the ladies and then there were the Legends. The first Legend to appear was a surprise. Country singer Luke Combs has a cross-generational hit this year with a cover of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car.” When originally released, the song was embraced as a lesbian anthem. When performing “Fast Car,” surprise, there was Chapman herself, singing the duet with Combs. The rendition was stunning, sentimental and historic.

Chapman, like many of the night’s female dignitaries, has not been public with her sexuality. Author Alice Walker has spoken of the two of them being lovers, however.

The legend among legends of the night, however, was the one and only Joni Mitchell. Not gay herself, she embodies the concept of an LGBTQ icon, and was accompanied by the very out Brandi Carlile on stage. On her website, Mitchell’s statement to the LGBTQ community reads, “The trick is if you listen to that music and you see me, you’re not getting anything out of it. If you listen to that music and you see yourself, it will probably make you cry and you’ll learn something about yourself and now you’re getting something out of it.”

Mitchell performed her longtime classic “Both Sides Now.” The emotion, insight and delivery from the now 80-year old artist, survivor of an aneurism, was nothing short of profound. (To fully appreciate the nuance time can bring, check out the YouTube video of a Swift lookalike Mitchell singing the same song to Mama Cass and Mary Travers in 1969.) In this latest rendition, Mitchell clearly had an impact on Meryl Streep who was sitting in the audience. Talk about the arc of female talent and power.

That arc extended from a today’s lady, Cyrus, to legend Celine Dion as well. Cyrus declared Dion as one of her icons and inspirations early in the evening. Dion appeared, graceful and looking healthy, to present the final, and historic, award of the night at the end of the show.

Legends did not even need to be living to have had an effect on the night. Tributes to Tina Turner and Sinead O’Conner by Oprah, Fantasia Barrino-Taylor and Annie Lennox respectively, proved that not even death could stop these women. As Lennox has musically and famously put it, “Sisters are doing it for themselves.”

Even the content of performances by today’s legends-in-the-making spoke to feminine power. Eilish was honored for, and performed “What Was I Made For?,” a haunting and searching song that speaks to the soul of womanhood and redefinition in today’s fight for gender rights and expression, while Dua Lipa laid down the gauntlet for mind blowing performance with her rendition of “Houdini” at the top of the show, Cyrus asserted the power of her anthem “Flowers” and pretty much stole the show.

Cyrus had not performed the song on television before, and only three times publicly. She declared in her intro that she was thrilled over the business numbers the song garnered, but she refused to let them define her. As she sang the hit, she scolded the audience, “you guys act like you don’t know the words to this song.” Soon the woman power of the room was singing along with her, from Swift to Oprah.

They can buy themselves flowers from now on. They don’t need anyone else. Cyrus made that point with the mic drop to cap all mic drops, “And I just won my first Grammy!” she declared as she danced off stage.

Even the squirmiest moment of the night still did not diminish the light of women power, and in fact, underscored it. During his acceptance of the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award, Jay-Z had a bone to pick with the Grammy voters. He called out the irony that his wife Beyoncé had won more Grammys than any other human, but had never won the Best Album of the Year. Yeah, what’s with that?

But then, it brought additional context ultimately to the fact that the winner of the most Grammys individually … is a woman. And to the fact that the winner of the most Best Album of the Year awards … is a woman.

Hopefully this was the night that the Grammys “got it.” Women are the epicenter of The Creative Force.

Will the other entertainment awards get it soon as well? We can hope.

Most importantly, in a political world where women’s healthcare is under siege. Will the American voters get it?

A little known band named Little Mix put it this way in their 2019 song “A Woman’s World.”

“If you can’t see that it’s gotta change
Only want the body but not the brains
If you really think that’s the way it works
You ain’t lived in a woman’s world

Just look at how far that we’ve got
And don’t think that we’ll ever stop…”

From Grammy’s mouth to the world’s ear.

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Music & Concerts

Janet Jackson returning to D.C, Baltimore

‘Together Again Tour’ comes to Capital One Arena, CFG Bank Arena

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Janet Jackson is coming back to D.C. this summer.

Pop icon Janet Jackson announced this week an extension of her 2023 “Together Again Tour.” A new leg of the tour will bring Jackson back to the area for two shows, one at D.C.’s Capital One Arena on Friday, July 12 and another at Baltimore’s CFG Bank Arena on Saturday, July 13.  

Tickets are on sale now via TicketMaster. LiveNation announced the 2023 leg of the tour consisted of 36 shows, each of which was sold out. The 2024 leg has 35 stops planned so far; R&B star Nelly will open for Jackson on the new leg. 

Jackson made the tour announcement Tuesday on social media: “Hey u guys! By popular demand, we’re bringing the Together Again Tour back to North America this summer with special guest Nelly! It’ll be so much fun!”

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