Release Date: September 14, 2001
National Gallery of Art Begins its 60th Concert Season on October 7,
2001
Schedule Includes Two Jazz Concerts and Speacial Appearaces be Alicia de
Larrocha and Alessandra Marc
Washington, DC -- Washington's oldest free concert series will begin its 60th annual season at the National Gallery of Art on Sunday, October 7, 2001. The schedule consists of 37 concerts by acclaimed American and international musicians, including jazz greats Billy Taylor and George Shearing, renowned classical pianists Alicia de Larrocha and John Browning, and soprano Alessandra Marc. Performances are scheduled every Sunday through June 30, 2002, except March 31 (Easter Sunday) and May 26 (Memorial Day weekend).
Gallery concerts are free and open to the public on a first-come, first-seated basis. Seating begins promptly at 6:00 p.m. and concerts are performed in the West Garden Court of the West Building at 7:00 p.m. The Sixth Street and Constitution Avenue entrance remains open until 7:00 p.m. and the Garden Café is open until 6:30 p.m. Monthly listings of the concert programs can be obtained by calling (202) 842-6941.
NATIONAL GALLERY ORCHESTRA AND RESIDENT ENSEMBLES
The National Gallery Orchestra, under the direction of music director George
Manos, will open the season on October 7 and perform additional concerts
in January, April, and June. Three other Gallery resident ensembles will
perform: the National Gallery Vocal Arts Ensemble presents a program
of American works for vocal quartet on May 19, 2002, in honor of the
exhibition An American Vision: Henry Francis du Pont's Winterthur
Museum, and the National Gallery Chamber Players Wind Quintet and
String Quartet perform on June 23 and 30, respectively.
WORLD-RENOWNED MUSICIANS
World-renowned musicians include pianists James Dick (February 3 with the
Debussy String Quartet); James Tocco (30 December); Earl Wild (March
10), who returns 60 years after having played numerous recitals in the
Gallery's very first concert season (1942-1943); Alicia de Larrocha (March
24); and John Browning (April 21). Soprano Alessandra Marc will sing
a recital of holiday favorites on December 23. Marc took New York's Metropolitan
Opera by storm last season with her interpretation of the title role
in Puccini's Turandot and has twice thrilled Gallery audiences
with her performances (with George Manos and the National Gallery Orchestra)
of Richard Strauss' Four Last Songs
JAZZ AND GOSPEL CONCERTS
Famous performers from the world of jazz will be featured on two occasions
at the Gallery this season. On October 21, the George Shearing Trio will
appear with bassist Neil Swainson in a program honoring the exhibition Henry
Moore. Billy Taylor, known and loved by jazz fans throughout the
country for his weekly radio program on National Public Radio, will start
off the Gallery's American Music Festival with his trio on May 5, 2002,
as part of the ongoing celebration of Taylor's 80 birthday. The New England
Spiritual Ensemble will appear on February 10, singing Gospel favorites
and original music in celebration of Black History Month.
SPECIAL CONCERTS IN HONOR OF EXHIBITIONS
A total of four exhibitions will be highlighted by concerts this season.
In addition to the two already mentioned, the exhibition Virtue and
Beauty: Leonardo's "Ginevra de' Benci" and Renaissance Portraits
of Women will be honored by a performance on October 28 with music
of Francesco Landini by the renowned female vocal quartet, Anonymous
4. The exhibition Goya: Images of Women will be highlighted
by two concerts featuring women performers and Spanish repertoire: Alicia
de Larrocha (24 March), and duo-pianists Helena Martin and José Melitón
(April 7).
HOLIDAY CONCERTS
Two traditional holiday concerts are planned. On December 23, soprano Alessandra
Marc will sing a recital of her holiday favorites, and on January 6 the
National Gallery Orchestra will play its traditional Viennese New Year
concert.
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