DCist: NSO's Extraordinary January Continues

See my review of the Saturday performance of the National Symphony Orchestra's concert with Emanuel Ax and Michael Stern, published today at DCist:

DCist Goes to the Symphony (DCist, January 18):

The National Symphony Orchestra has been in a sort of leadership vacuum this season, with a carousel of guest conductors filling time until Christoph Eschenbach takes the helm next season. While the results have been varied, the month of January is shaping up to be, as expected, one of the best in recent memory for the hometown band. After a lovely performance of Elgar's violin concerto last week, with former NSO music director Leonard Slatkin, the podium featured the return of Michael Stern, who has been putting in some solid work as music director of the Kansas City Symphony. The exciting program combined two symphonies of the 20th century with an old favorite, Beethoven's second piano concerto, played by another old favorite, pianist Emanuel Ax.

PREVIOUSLY:

• Robert R. Reilly, Michael Stern at the NSO Helm (Ionarts, January 15)
  
• Charles T. Downey, Michael Stern Stirs a Tempest (Ionarts, January 14)
  
• Jens F. Laurson, A Survey of Sibelius Cycles (Ionarts, May 30, 2009)
  
• Charles T. Downey, From the BSO, a Heroic Approach to Sibelius (Washington Post, June 14, 2008)
  
• ---, NSO & Vladimir Ashkenazy, Staying True to Sibelius (Washington Post, May 30, 2008)
  
• Jens F. Laurson, Dip Your Ears, No. 57: Vladimir Ashkenazy's Sibelius cycle (Ionarts, May 5, 2006)