The Cleveland Orchestra
This magnificent orchestra makes its first New York appearance since selecting the 42-year-old Austrian maestro Franz Welser-Möst as its new music director. His programs are remarkably broad, spanning Beethoven, Schubert, Mahler, Johann and Richard Strauss, to Schwertsik and Saariaho. The orchestra's second concert is given over to its new artist in residence, pianist Mitsuko Uchida, who plays and conducts Mozart’s Piano Concertos Nos. 20 and 21. Feb. 1, 3, 4, 6 at 8pm.
Carnegie Hall Seventh Ave. at 57th St. (212-247-7800); $27-$102.
The
Kitchen Keyboard Summit
Following last winter’s compelling “String Summit,” the Kitchen
turns its attention to the ivories in this two-weekend extravaganza of contemporary
solo piano music. The series stars pianist/composer Frederic Rzewski playing
the world premiere of his 8-hour epic, The Road. Rzewski shares each evening
with a co-star: Jed Distler, Guy Livingston, Arturo O’Farrill, Eleanor
Sandresky, Matthew Shipp, and Kathleen Supové. February 6- 8, 14-16 (times
vary, see www.kitchen.org).
West Park Presbyterian Church, Amsterdam Ave. at 86th Street. The Kitchen, 512
W. 19th Street; (212-255-2793 x11). Festival Pass: $50 advance/$60 at the door;
single tickets: $18 advance/$20 door.
Les Troyens at the Metropolitan Opera
The Met celebrates the Berlioz centenary with its most ambitious opera of the
season: a new production of Berlioz's grand Virgilian epic, directed by Francesca
Zambello. The A-list cast includes Deborah Voigt, Ben Heppner, Olga Borodina
and Dwayne Croft. James Levine conducts the work in its full, uncut glory. February
10, 14, 17, 22; March 11, 15, 20, 24, 27.
Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center; (212-362-6000); $25-$250.
Lauren
Flanigan, soprano
For Valentine's Day, New York City Opera's current diva in residence sings a
recital called “Passionate Minds: Women Who Write About Love.” February
14 at 8pm.
Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Fifth Ave. at 82nd
St. (212-570-3949); $20.
Mitsuko Uchida, piano
The elegant, probing pianist Mitsuko Uchida opens her Carnegie Perspectives
series with perhaps her finest specialty, Schubert sonatas. She performs the
great B flat Sonata, alongside Schoenberg's Three Pieces, Op. 11, and Schumann's
C major Fantasy. February 18 at 7:30pm.
Carnegie Hall; Seventh Ave. at 57th St. (212-247-7800); $25-$89.
The Czech Philharmonic
Vladimir Ashkenazy conducts mostly music of Prokofiev and Shostakovich, including
such potboilers as Shostakovich's “Babi Yar” Symphony, Prokofiev's
Sixth, and the Shostakovich Violin Concerto (featuring soloist Vadim Repin).
The ambitiousness of the programs are underscored by an accompanying symposium,
“Music and Dictatorship: Russia Under Stalin.” Feb. 20 and 22 at 8pm,
23 at 3pm.
Carnegie Hall; Seventh Ave. at 57th St. (212-247-7800); $25-$84.
Karita Mattila, soprano
Martin Katz, piano
Finnish soprano Karita Mattila was first-rate in the recent Met staging of Jenufa,
yet here’s a chance to savor her full and vibrant soprano in more intimate
fare. The program features songs by Duparc, Sibelius, Rachmaninoff, and Dvorák.
February 24 at 7:30pm.
Carnegie Hall; Seventh Ave. at 57th St. (212-247-7800); $24-$79.
Leif
Ove Andsnes, piano
Norwegian pianist Leif Ove Andsnes first won international attention in the
early 1990's for his performances of the Grieg Piano Concerto. He’s since
traversed a wide and adventurous repertory, yet as this program should demonstrate,
it’s always a treat to hear him perform the lyric pieces by Grieg. February
25 at 7:30pm.
Carnegie Hall; Seventh Ave. at 57th St. (212-247-7800); $25-$84.
The Art of the Fugue
Members of the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra team up with a troupe named Ballett
Freiburg Pretty Ugly to give the American premiere of The Art of the Fugue,
a two-act, evening-length production matching Amanda Miller's vivid choreography
to Bach’s glorious score. The production has been well received in UK performances
and forms part of Lincoln Center’s adventurous New Visions Series. February
26-March 1 at 8pm.
John Jay College Theatre, 10th Avenue at 59th Street (212-721-6500); $35.
The Ying Quartet
In its prior Symphony Space outings, this talented sibling quartet has paired
one piece written for the group with one quartet from the standard repertory,
plus a dash of poetry. With this installment the group adds dance to the mix,
by modern dancer and choreographer Naomi Goldberg. Featuring music by Augusta
Read Thomas and Shostakovich. February 28 at 8:30 pm.
Symphony Space; Broadway at 95th St. (212-864-1414); $17.