September 24, 1998
Contact:
Press Contact: Helen Dalrymple (202) 707-1940
Public Contact: Concert Line (202) 707-5502
Library of Congress 1998-1999 Concert Series Opens October 1
On Oct. 1, the Library of Congress concert series
returns to the acoustically superb Coolidge Auditorium in
the Library's Thomas Jefferson Building. The Juilliard
String Quartet opens the 35-event 1998-99 season, which
offers distinguished chamber music performances, jazz and
world music concerts, a scholarly symposium on a cornerstone
of American popular music history, "The Motown Sound," as
well as lectures, master classes and open rehearsals in the
spring.
All concerts begin at 8 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium
unless otherwise noted on the schedule that follows.
A quintet of distinguished composers will see first
performances of their Library of Congress commissions in the
coming season. Elliott Carter's Piano Quintet, commissioned
in honor of his 90th birthday, will be premiered by Ursula
Oppens and the Arditti String Quartet. John Zorn's new
violin-and-piano duo is a commission of the Library's McKim
Fund, as are works by jazz pianist and composer Cecil Taylor
and Boston-based Korean American composer Donald Sur. Herman
Berlinski's memorial cantata, Maskir Neshamoth (In
Remembrance of the Soul), will be heard for the first time
in a special concert marking the 60th anniversary of
Kristallnacht, presented in collaboration with the Embassy
of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Many of the events scheduled for the coming season are
unique to the Library, including first American appearances
by ensembles such as Spain's Al Ayre Español and Quatuor
Mosaïques, a period-instrument string quartet from Paris.
Pianist Mitsuko Uchida makes a rare chamber appearance with
the Brentano String Quartet - a concert that is being
performed at the Library of Congress and only three other
venues around the world. A Gerry Mulligan Tribute in April
featuring chamber-size Mulligan works performed by seven of
the composer's colleagues and friends, marks the Library's
acquisition of the Gerry Mulligan Collection for the Music
Division archives.
All Library of Congress concerts are free, but tickets
are required. Tickets will be available, approximately six
weeks in advance of the event, from TicketMaster for a
nominal handling charge. Patrons are advised to use
TicketMaster's Maryland number, (301) 808-6900, for the best
response time for Library of Congress events. Interested
concertgoers may also call (202) 432-7328, (703) 432-7328,
(410) 752-1200, or visit one of TicketMaster's outlets in
person (including Hecht's department stores, Tower Records
and Kemp Mill Music). The toll-free telephone number outside
the Washington metropolitan area is (800) 551-7328.
Since tickets to popular events are often quickly given
away, concert patrons are encouraged to try for no-show
tickets at the door the evening of the concert by arriving
at the Coolidge Auditorium by 6:30 or 7 p.m. During the last
concert season, seats were always available at curtain time.
The full schedule for the season, with "sale" date for
tickets, follows.
SEASON CALENDAR
Event Date Concert/Event
Tickets Available
Oct. 1-2 The Juilliard String Quartet
Aug. 31
Oct. 16 Al Ayre Español
Aug. 31 Music of 18th Century Spain
AMERICAN DEBUT
Oct. 22 David and Solomon
Sept. 7 (Israeli World Music)
Habrera Hativit (The Gathering)
With guest singer David
Presented in collaboration with
The Embassy of Israel
Oct. 23 Opus One
Sept. 7 Ida Kavafian, Steven Tenenbom, viola
Peter Wiley, cello, Anne-Marie McDermott, piano
FIRST OFFICIAL APPEARANCE OF THIS ENSEMBLE
Oct. 24 Ida Kavafian Master Class, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Sept. 7 Presented in collaboration with
The Levine School of Music
Nov. 6 Axel Strauss, violin, Rohan de Silva, piano
Sept. 21 Mr. Strauss is the winner of the 1998
Walter W. Naumburg Violin Award
Pre-concert lecture: Violinist Robert Mann
Nov. 18 Arditti String Quartet with Ursula Oppens
Oct. 5 WORLD PREMIERE PERFORMANCE
Of Elliott Carter's Piano Quintet,
Commissioned by the Library of Congress
Nov. 19 Kristallnacht 60th Anniversary
Oct. 5 Dresden String Quartet
Presented with the Embassy of the
Federal Republic of Germany
PREMIERE OF HERMAN BERLINSKI'S MEMORIAL
CANTATA,
Maskir Neshamoth (In Remembrance of
the Soul), a Library of Congress commission for
vocal quartet,
string quartet, percussion and
chamber chorus
Nov. 20 The Motown Sound: A Symposium
Oct. 5 Panelists include Claudette Robinson and
Bobby Rogers of Smokey Robinson and the
Miracles;
producer/songwriter William
"Mickey" Stevenson
Dec. 18 The Juilliard String Quartet
Nov. 2 Antonio Stradivari Anniversary Concert
Pre-concert lecture, the Stradivari Society
Feb. 12 Cecil Taylor, piano
Dec. 28 Premiere of Mr. Taylor's Library of
Congress commission, piano and violin duo
Feb. 19 Metamorphosen Chamber Orchestra
Jan. 4 Scott Yoo, conductor, Karol Bennett, soprano
Feb. 27 Kim Kaskashian, viola
Jan. 11 Peter Nagy, piano
March 19 Music from the Great Lakes Chamber
Feb. 1 Festival; James Tocco, piano
Miriam Fried, violin, and
The St. Lawrence Quartet
March 20 James Tocco Master Class
Feb. 1 11a.m. - 1 p.m.
April 6 Gerry Mulligan Tribute
Feb. 2 An evening of chamber-size Mulligan Works
headlined by Bob Brookmeyer and Randy Brecker
April 9 The Masada Trio
Feb. 22 WORLD PREMIERE; Library of Congress
Commission by John Zorn
April 15-16 The Beaux Arts Trio
March 1
April 22-23 The Juilliard String Quartet
March 8 Menahem Pressler, piano
Young Uck Kim, violin
Antonio Meneses, cello
April 24 Joel Smirnoff Master Class
March 8 11 a.m.- 1 p.m.
April 29 Romain Guyot, clarinet
March 15
April 30 Quatuor Mosaïques
March 15 FIRST AMERICAN APPEARANCE
May 14 Mitsuko Uchida, piano
March 29 and Brentano String Quartet
NORTH AMERICAN EXCLUSIVE
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PR 98-154
9/2498
ISSN 0731-3527