Music Director and Conductor Piotr Gajewski and the National Philharmonic at Strathmore announced its 2016-2017 season today. The new season will feature the music of Vivaldi, Bach, Handel, Mozart, Beethoven, Rachmaninoff and more. The season kicks off with an evening of Beethoven featuring a National Philharmonic favorite, pianist Brian Ganz, performing the gorgeous Piano Concerto No. 4 on September 17 and 18 at the Music Center at Strathmore. Other soloists featured throughout the year include pianist Eric Lu playing Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2; violinist Chee-Yun performing Vivaldi’s and Piazzolla’s The Four Seasons; and cellist Zuill Bailey showcasing Bruch’s Kol Nidrei and Bloch’s Schelomo.
The National Philharmonic Chorale performs its annual Messiah under the direction of Artistic Director Stan Engebretson in mid-December. In addition, the Chorale will be showcased in a program entitled Music From the English Cathedral and one that includes the rarely heard version of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture (with chorus) paired with Carl Orff’s always popular Carmina Burana. In addition, the chorale will participate in a concert presenting the local premiere of Jonathan Leshnoff’s oratorio Zohar with soprano Danielle Talamantes and baritone Nmon Ford.
In its eleventh year of residency at the Music Center at Strathmore, the National Philharmonic is performing to nearly 50,000 people each year. The Philharmonic will continue its commitment to education and outreach by offering free concerts to every second grader in Montgomery County Public Schools, free pre-concert lectures, master classes with renowned guest soloists and high quality summer string and choral programs. NEW this season: The Philharmonic is offering several instrument petting zoos (Oct. 9 and April 23) and a new series — Musical Musings with the Maestro — during which Maestro Gajewski will discuss music to be performed in upcoming Philharmonic concerts. The Musical Musings will be at the Mansion at Strathmore at 10:30 am on October 3, 2016 and January 23 and April 17, 2017.
The success of the Philharmonic over the past 31 years is largely credited to its critically acclaimed performances that are filled with great, time-tested music and its family friendly approach. All young people age 7-17 attend National Philharmonic concerts free of charge through its unique ALL KIDS, ALL FREE, ALL THE TIME program.
Repeat Sunday matinee performances of the Philharmonic’s most popular programs (five concerts in total in the 2016-17 season) will also be offered again this year. In addition, concertgoers can attend National Philharmonic’s pre-concert lectures 75 minutes before performances.
2016-17 Season Highlights include:
- Season kickoff concert featuring pianist Brian Ganz performing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major. Concert also features the Coriolan Overture in C minor and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 in A Major.
- Pianist Haochen Zhang, Gold Medal winner of the 2009 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, who performs Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2.
- Pianist Brian Ganz, who is more than halfway through his journey to perform all of Chopin’s works, will celebrate the composer’s youthful works, including the 3 Nocturnes, Op. 9; 12 Etudes, Op. 10 and Polonaises in A-flat Major and G-sharp minor.
- Award-winning violinist Chee-Yun returns to Strathmore to play Vivaldi’s and Astor Piazzolla’s The Four Seasons.
- A DC-area premiere of Jonathan Leshnoff’s oratorio Zohar.
- Cellist Zuill Bailey, who performs Bruch’s Kol Nidrei and Bloch’s Schelomo.
- Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition
- Carmina Burana with the National Philharmonic Chorale National Philharmonic’s annual “impressive” and “splendidly rich-toned” (The Washington Post) holiday performances of Handel’s Messiah.
For the eighth year, National Philharmonic is offering its subscribers a Custom Series, which allows subscribers to create their own packages and receive discounts of up to 25% on tickets. Subscription information is available at nationalphilharmonic.org or by calling 301-581-5100. Single tickets will be on sale in early summer. The attached photo of the National Philharmonic conducted by Maestro Gajewski was taken by Jay Mallin.
The complete National Philharmonic 2016-2017 season schedule appears below.
NATIONAL PHILHARMONIC 2016-2017 Season
at the Music Center at Strathmore
BEETHOVEN’S SYMPHONY NO. 7
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2016
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2016
Brian Ganz, piano Piotr Gajewski, conductor
Beethoven Coriolan Overture in C minor
Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major
Symphony No. 7 in A Major
The drama and passion of Beethoven’s music unify this concert featuring three of his most popular works.
Award-winning pianist Brian Ganz has made it his mission to produce a new kind of listening experience in which the classics come to life with authentic emotional power.
“We don’t have the words to speak of this fabulous musician who lives music with a generous urgency and brings his public into a state of intense joy,” says La Libre Belgique, one of Belgium’s leading newspapers.
A free pre-concert lecture will be offered in the Concert Hall at 6:45 pm on Sept. 17; 1:45 pm on Sept. 18.
CHEE-YUN PLAYS THE FOUR SEASONS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2016
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2016 —Instrument Petting Zoo 2-2:30 pm
Chee-Yun, violin Piotr Gajewski, conductor
Vivaldi The Four Seasons
Piazzolla The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires
Journey through all the seasons in a concert that pairs Vivaldi’s most popular work, The Four Seasons, with Astor Piazzolla’s rendering in the style of the Argentinian tango.
The soloist for the evening, violinist Chee-Yun, has enraptured audiences on five continents with her flawless technique, dazzling tone and compelling artistry.
“Chee-Yun has not only extraordinary talent, but the poise and natural self-confidence of a seasoned veteran and born performer. Her technique is brilliant and utterly secure, her tone like butter, smooth, rich and flawless.” — Strings magazine
A free pre-concert lecture will be offered in the Concert Hall at 6:45 pm on October 8; 1:45 pm on October 9.
MUSIC FROM THE ENGLISH CATHEDRAL
Saturday, November 5, 2016
National Philharmonic Chorale
Stan Engebretson, conductor
The majesty of Winchester Cathedral comes alive at Strathmore! Coronation music for choir, brass and organ includes Handel’s famous Zadok the Priest. Sonic splendors feature Thomas Tallis’ Spem in Alium for chorus in 40 parts and Eric Whitacre’s new Alleluia. The evening concludes with the world premiere of a commissioned of Radiance and Light, a commissioned work composed by the young, dynamic Maryland composer Alistair Coleman and John Rutter’s exciting Gloria.
- F. Handel Coronation Anthem No. 1 (Zadok the Priest) Thomas Tallis Spem in Alium, Motet for 40-part Choir Alistair Coleman Radiance and Light (world premiere) Eric Whitacre Alleluia John Rutter Gloria
A free pre-concert lecture will be offered in the Concert Hall at 6:45 pm.
HANDEL’S MESSIAH SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2016
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2016
Danielle Talamantes, soprano Magdalena Wór, mezzo-soprano
Matthew Smith, tenor
Christòpheren Nomura, baritone National Philharmonic Chorale Stan Engebretson, conductor
No Christmas celebration is complete without a performance of Handel’s uplifting oratorio Messiah, a work that has delighted and inspired audiences worldwide since its premiere in 1741. The perennial favorite features such timeless highlights as “And the Glory of the Lord” and the “Hallelujah Chorus.” Messiah will once again infuse audiences with its beauty and celebratory spirit in a performance by the acclaimed National Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorale and world-class soloists, led by conductor Stan Engebretson.
“The chorus was phenomenal, totally responsive to [National Philharmonic Chorale Artistic Director Stan] Engebretson’s directions.” — The Washington Post
A free pre-concert lecture will be offered in the Concert Hall at 6:45 pm on Dec. 17; 1:45 pm on Dec. 18.
BACH DOUBLE SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 2017
Colin Sorgi, violin
Henry Flory, violin
Mark Hill, oboe
Victoria Gau, conductor
Bach Orchestral Suite No. 1 in C Major
Concerto for Two Violins in D minor
Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor
Double Concerto for Oboe and Violin in D minor
National Philharmonic’s talented musicians are featured as soloists in this concert of Bach masterpieces.
Colin Sorgi, concertmaster of the National Philharmonic, has been hailed by The Baltimore Sun as “an extraordinary musical talent.” In high demand as a soloist, Sorgi has collaborated with some of the world’s top musicians, including pianist Leon Fleisher and violinist Joshua Bell.
Described by critics as a “poet” of the violin, award-winning Henry Flory is rapidly earning a reputation as one of the most dynamic and charismatic violinists of his generation, with a burgeoning career spanning the U.S., Europe and Asia.
Mark Hill, principal oboe of the Philharmonic, has earned a wide reputation as an oboe and English horn soloist, chamber musician, orchestral player, recording artist and teacher. He has performed with such top orchestras as the New York Philharmonic and the National Symphony.
A free pre-concert lecture will be offered in the Concert Hall at 6:45 pm.
RACHMANINOFF’S PIANO CONCERTO NO. 2 SATURDAY, JANUARY 28, 2017
SUNDAY, JANUARY 29, 2017
Haochen Zhang, piano Piotr Gajewski, conductor
Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor
Dvořák Symphony No. 8 in G Major
Few openings in the piano concerto repertoire can equal the mounting tension at the beginning of Rachmaninoff’s second piano concerto, a piece that established the composer’s fame.
Since his gold medal win at the 2009 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, 26-year-old Chinese pianist Haochen Zhang has captivated audiences in the U.S., Europe and Asia with a unique combination of deep musical sensitivity, fearless imagination and spectacular virtuosity.
“Such a combination of enchanting, sensitive lyricism and hypnotizing forcefulness is a phenomenon encountered very rarely.” — The Jerusalem Post
A free pre-concert lecture will be offered in the Concert Hall at 6:45 pm on Jan. 28; 1:45 pm on Jan. 29.
BRIAN GANZ PLAYS CHOPIN: A Young Genius SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2017
Renowned pianist Brian Ganz continues his journey through the complete works of Fryderyk Chopin with a celebration of the composer’s youthful creations. Among the early works featured will be the composer’s 12 Etudes, Op. 10. These masterful gems (some composed when Chopin was only a teenager) have set the standard for demanding technical studies that are also works of great beauty and originality. Also on the program: 3 Nocturnes, Op. 9, including the beloved E-flat Major, Op. 9, No. 2. Several youthful polonaises and mazurkas, plus a refreshingly elegant set of variations Chopin composed on the German air “Der Schweizerbub,” round out the evening.
Chopin 3 Nocturnes, Op. 9
12 Etudes, Op. 10
Introduction and Variations on a German Air (“Der Schweizerbub”), Op. Posth.
Polonaises in A-flat Major and G-sharp minor, Op. Posth.
Mazurkas in G Major and D major, Op. Posth.
“There isn’t much about Chopin that Brian Ganz doesn’t know. His delight and wonder in this music seem to grow, apparently without bounds, as time goes on.” —The Washington Post
There is no lecture before this concert.
BRAHMS’ REQUIEM SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 2017
Danielle Talamantes, soprano
Nmon Ford, baritone
National Philharmonic Chorale Piotr Gajewski, conductor
Leshnoff Zohar (DC premiere)
Brahms Requiem, Op. 45
Two works born of deep, personal religious experiences are featured in this concert. One of the most important choral work of the Romantic era, Brahms’ Requiem, was written in memory of his mother, who passed away in 1865. Jonathan Leshnoff’s oratorio Zohar (which means “radiance” in Hebrew) is based on the writings from the Jewish mystical Kabbalah.
Baltimore-based Leshnoff has been named by The Washington Post as one of the “gifted young composers” of this generation. He is a leader of contemporary American lyricism whose compositions have earned international acclaim for their accessible melodies, structural complexity and weighty themes.
A free pre-concert lecture will be offered in the Concert Hall at 6:45 pm.
MOZART’S SYMPHONY NO. 40 IN G MINOR
SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 2017
Eric Lu, piano Piotr Gajewski, conductor
Mozart A Musical Joke
Piano Concerto No. 23 in A Major
Symphony No. 40 in G minor
Three magnificent works showcase Mozart’s genius: the humorous and satirical A Musical Joke, which pokes fun at uninspired composers; the sublime Piano Concerto No. 23; and the popular Symphony No. 40 in G minor.
The prodigy Eric Lu is rapidly building an international reputation as a young pianist with a distinctive musical voice. Lu became one of the youngest prize winners of Warsaw’s esteemed International Fryderyk Chopin Competition in October 2015.
A free pre-concert lecture will be offered in the Concert Hall at 6:45 pm.
MUSSORGSKY’S PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION SATURDAY, APRIL 22, 2017
SUNDAY, APRIL 23, 2017—Instrument Petting Zoo 2-2:30 pm
Zuill Bailey, cello Piotr Gajewski, conductor
Bruch Kol Nidrei, Op. 47
Bloch Schelomo
Mussorgsky/Ravel Pictures at an Exhibition
Celebrated cellist Zuill Bailey performs Max Bruch’s Kol Nidrei, variations on two themes of Jewish origin, and Ernest Bloch’s Schelomo, the final work of this composer’s Jewish Cycle. Mussorgsky’s wondrous and colorful Pictures at an Exhibition depicts an imaginary tour of an art gallery.
Bailey’s “sound is rich, like dark chocolate,” writes Voices magazine. “His voice is distinctive – strong and direct. Bailey reaches from the soul of his instrument to our own.”
A free pre-concert lecture will be offered in the Concert Hall at 6:45 pm on April 22; 1:45 pm on April 23.
Carmina Burana Co-presented with Strathmore
SATURDAY, MAY 20, 2017
Amanda Hall, soprano
Robert Baker, tenor
Philip Cutlip, baritone Strathmore Children’s Chorus
National Philharmonic Chorale Piotr Gajewski, conductor
Makris Alleluia
Tchaikovsky 1812 Overture (with chorus)
Orff Carmina Burana
Tchaikovsky’s politically charged 1812 Overture was composed to celebrate the Russian defeat of the Napoleonic army. This stirring patriotic hymn has also been adopted as a symbol of U.S. independence. Carl Orff’s rousing Carmina Burana contains one of the most versatile musical pieces in the entire Western canon: the opening section, O Fortuna, featured in a multitude of soundtracks for movies, advertisements, video games and sports events.
Hailed for her “sparkling soprano” and “strong presence” on stage, young American soprano Amanda Hall is earning a reputation for outstanding performances of demanding repertoire on both the operatic and concert stages.
A free pre-concert lecture will be offered in the Concert Hall at 6:45 pm.
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