Classical Month in Washington (December)

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Classical Month in Washington is a monthly feature. If there are concerts you would like to see included on our schedule, send your suggestions by e-mail (ionarts at gmail dot com). Happy listening!

December 1, 2008 (Mon)
7 pm
Canadian Brass Holiday Concert
Kennedy Center Concert Hall

December 2, 2008 (Tue)
12:10 pm
Noontime Cantata [FREE]
Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland (BWV 61)
Washington Bach Consort
Church of the Epiphany

December 2, 2008 (Tue)
7:30 pm
Susan Platts (mezzo-soprano) and Brett Polegato (baritone)
Vocal Arts Society
Kennedy Center Terrace Theater

December 2, 2008 (Tue)
8 pm
Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic: National Concert Party
Music Center at Strathmore

December 3, 2008 (Wed)
8 pm
New Music at University of Maryland [FREE]
Clarice Smith Center

December 4, 2008 (Thu)
1:30 pm
Bach Cantata Series [FREE]
Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme (BWV 140)
University of Maryland School of Music
Clarice Smith Center

December 4, 2008 (Thu)
7 pm
National Symphony Orchestra
With Itzhak Perlman, conductor and violinist
Kennedy Center Concert Hall
Review -- Anne Midgette (Washington Post, December 5)

December 5, 2008 (Fri)
1:30 pm
National Symphony Orchestra
With Itzhak Perlman, conductor and violinist
Kennedy Center Concert Hall

December 5, 2008 (Fri)
7:30 pm
Juilliard String Quartet
Kennedy Center Terrace Theater

December 5, 2008 (Fri)
8 pm
American Creativity: Chamber Music of Charles Wuorinen [FREE]
Library of Congress
Review -- Robert Battey (Washington Post, December 8)

December 5, 2008 (Fri)
8 pm
University of Maryland Symphony
Project Petrushka
Clarice Smith Center
Review -- Anne Midgette (Washington Post, December 8)

December 5, 2008 (Fri)
8 pm
Donizetti, Elixir of Love
Virginia Opera
George Mason University Center for the Arts

December 5, 2008 (Fri)
8 pm
George Mason University Opera Recital
George Mason University Center for the Arts

December 5, 2008 (Fri)
8 pm
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra: Gospel Messiah
Music Center at Strathmore
Review -- Ronni Reich (Washington Post, December 6)

December 6, 2008 (Sat)
2 pm
Donizetti, Elixir of Love
Virginia Opera
George Mason University Center for the Arts

December 6, 2008 (Sat)
2 and 7:30 pm
Christmas Revels
Lisner Auditorium

December 6, 2008 (Sat)
5 pm
21st Century Consort: Natural Affinities
Music by Copland, Saariaho, and Augusta Read Thomas
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Review -- Stephen Brookes (Washington Post, December 8)

December 6, 2008 (Sat)
8 pm
Gabriela Montero, piano
University of Baltimore Student Center
Review -- Charles T. Downey (Ionarts, December 8)

December 6, 2008 (Sat)
8 pm
National Symphony Orchestra
With Itzhak Perlman, conductor and violinist
Kennedy Center Concert Hall

December 6, 2008 (Sat)
8 pm
National Philharmonic: Messiah
Music Center at Strathmore

December 7, 2008 (Sun)
1 and 5 pm
Christmas Revels
Lisner Auditorium

December 7, 2008 (Sun)
3 pm
National Philharmonic: Messiah
Music Center at Strathmore

December 7, 2008 (Sun)
5:30 pm
Ritz Chamber Players
With Jonathan Carney, violin
Shriver Hall (Baltimore, Md.)

December 7, 2008 (Sun)
6:30 pm
Till Fellner, piano [FREE]
Beethoven sonatas
National Gallery of Art
Review -- Charles T. Downey (Ionarts, December 9)

December 7, 2008 (Sun)
7 pm
Brotherhood of the Star: A Hispanic Christmas
Boston Camerata
Dumbarton Oaks
Review -- Charles T. Downey (Ionarts, December 11)

December 7, 2008 (Sun)
7:30 pm
Wonny Song, piano
Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington

December 8, 2008 (Mon)
7:30 pm
Young Concert Artists Composers Concert
Kennedy Center Terrace Theater
Review -- Robert Battey (Washington Post, December 11)

December 8, 2008 (Mon)
8 pm
Brotherhood of the Star: A Hispanic Christmas
Boston Camerata
Dumbarton Oaks

December 9, 2008 (Tue)
12:10 pm
Visnja Kosanovich (flute) and Dasha Gabay (piano) [FREE]
Church of the Epiphany

December 9, 2008 (Tue)
7 pm
“A Labyrinth of Time” (2006) Elliott Carter documentary by Frank Scheffer [FREE]
Library of Congress

December 9, 2008 (Tue)
8 pm
Clytemnestra (music of Halim El-Dabh)
Martha Graham Dance Company
Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater
Review -- Sarah Kaufman (Washington Post, December 11)

December 10, 2008 (Wed)
7:30 pm
Musicians of the Paris Opera
Olivier Messiaen and Elliott Carter Centennials
La Maison Française
Review -- Charles T. Downey (Ionarts, December 13)

December 10, 2008 (Wed)
7:30 pm
Musicians from Marlboro I [FREE]
Music by Mozart, Mendelssohn, Janáček
Freer Gallery of Art

December 10, 2008 (Wed)
8 pm
Clytemnestra (music of Halim El-Dabh)
Martha Graham Dance Company
Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater

December 11, 2008 (Thu)
7:30 pm
Tchaikovsky, Nutcracker
Joffrey Ballet
Kennedy Center Opera House
Review -- Sarah Kaufman (Washington Post, December 13)

December 12, 2008 (Fri)
1:30 and 7:30 pm
Tchaikovsky, Nutcracker
Joffrey Ballet
Kennedy Center Opera House

December 12, 2008 (Fri)
7:30 pm
Christmas Revels
Lisner Auditorium

December 12, 2008 (Fri)
8 pm
Sequitur - Elliott Carter Centennial Celebration [FREE]
Library of Congress
Review -- Anne Midgette (Washington Post, December 15)

December 12, 2008 (Fri)
8 pm
Folger Consort: Spanish Christmas
Folger Shakespeare Library
Review -- Charles T. Downey (Ionarts, December 15)

December 12, 2008 (Fri)
8 pm
Merce Cunningham Dance Company
Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater
Review -- Sarah Kaufman (Washington Post, December 15)

December 13, 2008 (Sat)
12 noon and 4 pm
Cathedral Choral Society: Joy of Christmas
Washington National Cathedral

December 13, 2008 (Sat)
1:30 and 7:30 pm
Tchaikovsky, Nutcracker
Joffrey Ballet
Kennedy Center Opera House

December 13, 2008 (Sat)
2 and 7:30 pm
Christmas Revels
Lisner Auditorium

December 13, 2008 (Sat)
5 and 8 pm
Folger Consort: Spanish Christmas
Folger Shakespeare Library

December 13, 2008 (Sat)
7:30 pm
Left Bank Concert Society: Music as Narrative
Music by Carter, Schoenberg, Schwendiger, Argento
Kennedy Center Terrace Theater
Review -- Joe Banno (Washington Post, December 15)

December 13, 2008 (Sat)
8 pm
Merce Cunningham Dance Company
Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater

December 14, 2008 (Sun)
1:30 and 7:30 pm
Tchaikovsky, Nutcracker
Joffrey Ballet
Kennedy Center Opera House

December 14, 2008 (Sun)
2 and 5 pm
Folger Consort: Spanish Christmas
Folger Shakespeare Library

December 14, 2008 (Sun)
2 pm
Christmas Revels
Lisner Auditorium

December 14, 2008 (Sun)
3 and 7:30 pm
Robert Shafer and Friends
Music of Brahms
Music Center at Strathmore

December 14, 2008 (Sun)
4 pm
Cathedral Choral Society: Joy of Christmas
Washington National Cathedral

December 14, 2008 (Sun)
6:30 pm
New York Opera Society and Soloists from Norway [FREE]
National Gallery of Art
Review -- Charles T. Downey (Washington Post, December 16)

December 14, 2008 (Sun)
7 pm
From Venice to Leipzig via Amsterdam: Bach and the Concerto
Clarice Smith Center

December 15, 2008 (Mon)
7 pm
Choral Arts Society: Christmas Music
Kennedy Center Concert Hall
Review -- Rebecca J. Ritzel (Washington Post, December 17)

December 15, 2008 (Mon)
8 pm
Daniel Müller-Schott (cello) and Angela Hewitt (piano)
WPAS
Sydney Harman Hall
Review -- Charles T. Downey (Ionarts, December 17)

December 15, 2008 (Mon)
8 pm
Hard As F#@!
Mobtown Modern
Contemporary Museum (Baltimore, Md.)

December 16, 2008 (Tue)
12:10 pm
Epiphany Choir: Christmas Benefit Concert [FREE]
Church of the Epiphany

December 16, 2008 (Tue)
7:30 pm
[CANCELED]
Paavali Jumppanen, piano
Messiaen, Vingt regards sur l'enfant-Jésus
La Maison Française

December 17, 2008 (Wed)
7:30 pm
Folger Consort: Spanish Christmas
Folger Shakespeare Library

December 18, 2008 (Thu)
7 pm
National Symphony Orchestra: Messiah
Kennedy Center Concert Hall
Review -- Anne Midgette (Washington Post, December 19)

December 18, 2008 (Thu)
7:30 pm
Folger Consort: Spanish Christmas
Folger Shakespeare Library

December 18, 2008 (Thu)
8 pm
Harlem Quartet with Carter Brey (cello) - Stradivari Anniversary Concert [FREE]
Library of Congress
Review -- Charles T. Downey (Washington Post, December 20)

December 19, 2008 (Fri)
8 pm
National Symphony Orchestra: Messiah
Kennedy Center Concert Hall

December 19, 2008 (Fri)
8 pm
Folger Consort: Spanish Christmas
Folger Shakespeare Library

December 19, 2008 (Fri)
8 pm
Rejoice! Music for Christmas
City Choir of Washington
Schlesinger Hall (Alexandria, Va.)
Review -- Charles T. Downey (Washington Post, December 22)

December 19, 2008 (Fri)
8 pm
Vienna Boys Choir: Christmas in Vienna
George Mason University Center for the Arts
Review -- Cecelia Porter (Washington Post, December 22)

December 20, 2008 (Sat)
1 pm
Choral Arts Society: Christmas Music
Kennedy Center Concert Hall

December 20, 2008 (Sat)
3 pm
Rejoice! Music for Christmas
City Choir of Washington
Schlesinger Hall (Alexandria, Va.)

December 20, 2008 (Sat)
4 pm
Washington Chorus: Music for Christmas
Kennedy Center Concert Hall

December 20, 2008 (Sat)
5 and 8 pm
Folger Consort: Spanish Christmas
Folger Shakespeare Library

December 20, 2008 (Sat)
8 pm
Christopher Parkening (guitar) and Jubilant Sykes (baritone)
Holiday concert
George Mason University Center for the Arts
Review -- Grace Jean (Washington Post, December 22)

December 20, 2008 (Sat)
8 pm
National Symphony Orchestra: Messiah
Kennedy Center Concert Hall

December 21, 2008 (Sun)
1 pm
National Symphony Orchestra: Messiah
Kennedy Center Concert Hall

December 21, 2008 (Sun)
2 and 4 pm
Family Christmas Concert
Choral Arts Society of Washington
Kennedy Center Terrace Theater

December 21, 2008 (Sun)
2 and 5 pm
Folger Consort: Spanish Christmas
Folger Shakespeare Library

December 21, 2008 (Sun)
3 pm
Washington Bach Consort
An International Christmas
National Presbyterian Church
Review -- Joe Banno (Washington Post, December 23)

December 21, 2008 (Sun)
5 pm
Washington Chorus: Music for Christmas
Music Center at Strathmore

December 21, 2008 (Sun)
6:30 pm
Alessandra Marc (soprano) [FREE]
Christmas Concert with National Gallery Strings
National Gallery of Art
Review -- Charles T. Downey (Washington Post, December 23)

December 21, 2008 (Sun)
7 pm
Master Chorale of Washington: Christmas Candlelight Concert
Kennedy Center Concert Hall

December 22, 2008 (Mon)
5 pm
Washington Chorus: Music for Christmas
Kennedy Center Concert Hall

December 22, 2008 (Mon)
7:30 pm
Washington Symphonic Brass: Holiday Celebration
Music Center at Strathmore

December 22, 2008 (Mon)
8 pm
Master Chorale of Washington: Christmas Candlelight Concert
Kennedy Center Concert Hall

December 23, 2008 (Tue)
12:10 pm
Sophia Vastek, piano [FREE]
Church of the Epiphany

December 23, 2008 (Tue)
8 pm
Messiah Sing-Along [FREE]
Kennedy Center Concert Hall

December 24, 2008 (Wed)
1 pm
Choral Arts Society: Christmas Music
Kennedy Center Concert Hall

December 27, 2008 (Sat)
8 pm
Chanukah Feast in Concert
Music Center at Strathmore

December 28, 2008 (Sun)
6:30 pm
National Gallery Orchestra [FREE]
New Year Concert (Manfred Knoop, conductor)
National Gallery of Art

December 31, 2008 (Wed)
8:30 pm
NSO New Year's Concert
Kennedy Center Concert Hall