Classical performances in and around Richmond, with selected events elsewhere in Virginia and the Washington area. Program information, provided by presenters, is updated as details become available. Adult ticket prices are listed; senior, student/youth, military, group and other discounts may be offered.
Each event listing includes primary Covid-19 safety protocols. When they are not specified by presenters or venues, my default guidance is “masks recommended” for indoor events, “masks optional” for outdoor events.
Sept. 1 (7:30 p.m.)
Lake Matoaka, College of William & Mary, Williamsburg
Sept. 3 (7:30 p.m.)
Riverwalk Landing, 331 Water St., Yorktown
Sept. 4 (7:30 p.m.)
Chesapeake City Park, 900 City Park Drive
Sept. 8 (7:30 p.m.)
Neptune’s Park, Atlantic Avenue at 31st Street, Virginia Beach
Virginia Symphony Orchestra
Adam Turner conducting
John Stafford Smith & Francis Scott Key: “The Star-Spangled Banner”
John Williams: “Star Wars” – main title theme
Harold Arlen: “The Wizard of Oz” (excerpts) (Charles Sayre arrangement)
Ravel: “Mother Goose” Suite – “The Enchanted Garden”
Howard Shore: “Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” (John Whitney arrangement)
Wagner: “Die Walküre” – “Ride of the Valkyries”
John Powell: “ How To Train Your Dragon” (Sean O’Loughlin arrangement)
Grieg: “Peer Gynt” – “In the Hall of the Mountain King”
Williams: “Hook” – “The Flight to Neverland”
Stravinsky: “The Firebird” – berceuse & finale
Williams: “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” – “Harry’s Wondrous World”
free
masks optional
(757) 892-6366
http://virginiasymphony.org
Sept. 3 (5 p.m.)
Herter Hall, Garth Newel Music Center, 403 Garth Newel Lane, Hot Springs
Garth Newel Piano Quartet
Aaron Berofsky, violin
Haydn: Quartet in G major, Op. 33, No. 5
Amy Beach: Piano Quintet in F sharp minor, Op. 67
$25 (concert); $92 (concert & dinner)
masks recommended
(540) 839-5018
http://garthnewel.org
Sept. 4 (2 p.m.)
Herter Hall, Garth Newel Music Center, 403 Garth Newel Lane, Hot Springs
Garth Newel Piano Quartet
Aaron Berofsky, violin
Florence Beatrice Price: Piano Quintet in A minor (Lisa Jensen-Abbott arrangement)
Dvořák: Piano Quintet in A major, Op. 81
$25 (concert); $53 (concert & picnic)
masks recommended
(540) 839-5018
http://garthnewel.org
Sept. 4 (8 p.m.)
West Lawn, US Capitol, Washington
National Symphony Orchestra
Steven Reineke conducting
Jimmie Herrod, guest star
Labor Day Weekend concert
John Stafford Smith & Francis Scott Key: “The Star-Spangled Banner”
Copland: “Fanfare for the Common Man”
Morton Gould: “American Salute”
Carlos Simon: “Tales: A Folklore Symphony” – “John Henry”
“The Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me”
“The Man That Got Away”
“Come Rain or Come Shine”
John Williams: “Liberty Fanfare”
Sousa: “Liberty Bell March”
trad.: “Turkey in the Straw” (Carmen Dragon arrangement)
“Each Time”
“A Case of You”
“Tomorrow”
“Armed Forces Medley” (Jim Kessler arrangement)
Samuel A. Ward & Katherine Lee Bates: “America the Beautiful” (Carmen Dragon arrangement)
free
masks optional
(800) 444-1324
http://kennedy-center.org
Sept. 8 (8 p.m.)
Filene Center, Wolf Trap, 1551 Trap Road, Vienna
National Symphony Orchestra
José Luis Gomez conducting
Paquito d’Rivera: “The Elephant and the Clown”
Paquito d’Rivera, clarinet
d’Rivera: “The Journey” (premiere)
Paquito d’Rivera, clarinet
Yo-Yo Ma, cello
Gershwin: “Cuban Overture”
Arturo Máquez: Danzon No. 2
Bernstein: “West Side Story” Symphonic Dances
$37 (lawn seating)
proof of Covid-19 vaccination or negative test result; masks optional
(703) 255-1868
http://wolftrap.org
Sept. 10 (7 p.m.)
Pocahontas State Park, 10301 State Park Road, Chesterfield County
Richmond Symphony
Chia-Hsuan Lin conducting
light-classical & pops program TBA
free; $10 parking fee
masks optional
(804) 788-1212
http://richmondsymphony.com
Sept. 11 (3 p.m.)
Vlahcevic Concert Hall, Singleton Arts Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Park Avenue at Harrison Street, Richmond
Rennolds Chamber Concerts:
George Li, piano
Beethoven: 32 Variations in C minor, WoO 80
Beethoven: Variations and Fugue in E flat major, Op. 35 (“Eroica”)
Chopin: 24 Preludes, Op. 28
$35
masks required
(804) 828-1166
http://arts.vcu.edu/academics/departments/music/concerts-and-events/rennolds-series/
Sept. 15 (7 p.m.)
Sept. 17 (8 p.m.)
Sept. 18 (3 p.m.)
Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Washington
National Symphony Orchestra
James Gaffigan conducting
Bernstein: MASS
Will Liverman, celebrant
Heritage Signature Chorale
Stanley J. Thurston directing
Children’s Chorus of Washington
Margaret Nomura Clark directing
Hope Boykin, choreographer
Alison Moritz, stage director
$29-$209
masks required
(800) 444-1324
http://kennedy-center.org
Sept. 16 (7:30 p.m.)
St. Luke Lutheran Church, 7757 Chippenham Parkway, Richmond
Alexander Paley Music Festival:
Amiram Ganz, violin
Alexander Paley, piano
Schubert: Violin Sonata in D major, D. 384
Schubert: Violin Sonata in A minor, D. 385
Schubert: Violin Sonata in G minor, D. 408
Schubert: Rondo in B minor, D. 895 (“Rondo brillant”)
Schubert: 4 impromptus, D. 899
Schubert: suite of waltzes
$20
masks recommended
(804) 665-9516
http://paleymusicfestival.org
Sept. 17 (7:30 p.m.)
St. Luke Lutheran Church, 7757 Chippenham Parkway, Richmond
Alexander Paley Music Festival:
Amiram Ganz, violin
Alexander Paley, piano
Schubert: Violin Sonata in A major, D. 574 (“Duo”)
Schubert: Piano Sonata in A minor, D. 537
Schubert: Piano Sonata in A major, D. 664
Schubert: Fantasy in C major, D. 934, for violin & piano
$20
masks recommended
(804) 665-9516
http://paleymusicfestival.org
Sept. 17 (8 p.m.)
Sept. 18 (3 p.m.)
Carpenter Theatre, Dominion Energy Center, Sixth and Grace streets, Richmond
Richmond Symphony
Valentina Peleggi conducting
William Grant Still: “Festive Overture”
Dvořák: Te Deum
Alexis Seminario, soprano
Dashon Burton, baritone
Richmond Symphony Chorus
Anthony Blake Clark directing
Zachary Wadsworth: “Beyond the Years” (premiere)
Richmond Symphony Chorus
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4 in F minor
$15-$85
masks required
(800) 514-3849 (ETIX)
http://richmondsymphony.com
Sept. 18 (3 p.m.)
St. Luke Lutheran Church, 7757 Chippenham Parkway, Richmond
Alexander Paley Music Festival:
Alexander Paley & Peiwen Chen, piano & piano 4-hands
Richard Strauss: “Symphonia Domestica” for piano 4-hands (Otto Singer arrangement)
Johann Strauss II: “Die Fledermaus” (selections) for piano (Ernő Dohnányi arrangement)
$20
masks recommended
(804) 665-9516
http://paleymusicfestival.org
Sept. 18 (3 p.m.)
Camp Concert Hall, Modlin Arts Center, University of Richmond
Joanne Kong, harpsichord
J.S. Bach: “The Well-Tempered Clavier,” Book 1 (selections)
free
masks recommended
(804) 289-8980
http://modlin.richmond.edu
Sept. 18 (3 p.m.)
Sandler Arts Center, 201 S. Market St., Virginia Beach
Virginia Symphony Orchestra
Helen Martell conducting
“Doctor Seuss at the Symphony”
$12-$22
masks recommended
(757) 892-6366
http://virginiasymphony.org
Sept. 18 (7 p.m.)
Center for the Arts, George Mason University, Fairfax
Jeffrey Siegel, piano & speaker
“Keyboard Conversations: American Pianistic Treasures”
works TBA by Gershwin, Barber, Bernstein, Gottschalk, Joplin
$29-$50
(703) 993-2787
http://cfa.gmu.edu
Sept. 19 (7:30 p.m.)
Chrysler Museum of Art, 1 Memorial Place, Norfolk
Feldman Chamber Music Society:
Los Angeles Piano Trio
program TBA
masks recommended
$30
(757) 551-1630
http://feldmanchambermusic.org
Sept. 20 (7:30 p.m.)
Williamsburg Library Theatre, 515 Scotland St.
Chamber Music Society of Williamsburg:
Los Angeles Piano Trio
program TBA
masks recommended
$30
(757) 741-3300 (Williamsburg Regional Library)
http://chambermusicwilliamsburg.org
Sept. 22 (6:30 p.m.)
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, Overbrook Road at Ownby Lane, Richmond
Richmond Symphony
Valentina Peleggi conducting
program TBA
$30
masks recommended
(800) 514-3849 (ETIX)
http://richmondsymphony.com
Sept. 22 (7:30 p.m.)
Terrace Theater, Kennedy Center, Washington
Pan American Symphony Orchestra
Sergio Alessandro Buslje conducting
Elisa Cordova, soprano
Anna Tonna, mezzo-soprano
Israel Lozano, tenor
Gustavo Ahualli, baritone
Luciano Miotto, bass-baritone
Edwin Aparicio, flamenco dancer
“Antología de la Zarzuela”
Spanish zarzuela songs & dances TBA
$55-$85
masks required
(800) 444-1324
http://kennedy-center.org
Sept. 23 (7:30 p.m.)
Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Laurel Street at Floyd Avenue, Richmond
Bruce Stevens, organ
Niels W. Gade: “Tre Tone Stukker,” Op. 22, No. 1 – Moderato
Johann Gottfried Walther: Partita on “Jesu, meine Freunde” – Chorale with 9 variations
Reger: Benedictus, Op. 59, No. 9
J.S. Bach: Fugue in G minor, BWV 578 (“Little”)
J.S. Bach: Chorale Prelude on “Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme,” BWV 645
Saint-Saëns: “Sept Improvisations,” Op. 150, No. 4 – Allegretto
Jean Langlais: “Suite brève” – “Dialogue sur le mixtures”
Widor: “Symphonie gothique,” Op. 70 – Andante sostenuto
Eugène Gigout: “Dix pieces pour orgue” – Scherzo
Josef Rheinberger: Organ Sonata No. 3 in G major, Op. 88
free; registration via http://www.eventbrite.com/e/organ-recital-bruce-stevens-tickets-367710270317
masks recommended
(804) 359-5651
http://richmondcathedral.org
Sept. 23 (7:30 p.m.)
Ferguson Arts Center, Christopher Newport University, Newport News
Sept. 25 (2:30 p.m.)
Sandler Arts Center, 201 S. Market St., Virginia Beach
Virginia Symphony Orchestra
Eric Jacobsen conducting
Louis Moreau Gottschalk: Symphony No. 1 (“A Night in the Tropics”) – “Festa Criolla”
Rhythm Project All Stars
Bruch: “Scottish Fantasy”
Simone Porter, violin
Respighi: “The Pines of Rome”
$25-$79
masks recommended
(757) 892-6366
http://virginiasymphony.org
Sept. 24 (2 p.m.)
Gellman Room, Richmond Public Library, First and Franklin streets
Chamber Music Society of Central Virginia:
Mari Lee & Grant Houston, violins
Jordan Bak & Fitz Gary, viola
James Wilson, cello
“Just Kidding”
works TBA by Biber, Haydn, P.D.Q. Bach
free
masks required
(804) 646-7223
http://cmscva.org
Sept. 24 (3:30 & 7 p.m.)
Marburg House, 3102 Bute Lane, Richmond
Belvedere Series:
Natalie Rose Kress, violin
Danielle Wiebe Burke, viola
Jonathan Ruck, cello
Ingrid Keller, piano
“Transformation and Inspiration”
J.S. Bach: Suite No. 6 in D major, BWV 1012, for solo cello
Handel-Halvorsen: “Sarabande con variazioni”
Robert Schumann: Piano Quartet in E flat major, Op. 47
$30 (7 p.m. concert sold out)
masks recommended
(804) 604-0689
http://www.belvedereseries.org
Sept. 24 (8 p.m.)
Carpenter Theatre, Dominion Energy Center, Sixth and Grace streets, Richmond
Richmond Symphony Pops
Steve Hackmann conducting
“Brahms X Radiohead”
mashup of Brahms’ First Symphony & Radioheads’s “Ok Computer”
$15-$85
masks required
(800) 514-3849 (ETIX)
http://richmondsymphony.com
Sept. 24 (8 p.m.)
Old Cabell Hall, University of Virginia, Charlottesville
Sept. 25 (3:30 p.m.)
Martin Luther King Jr. Arts Center, Charlottesville High School, 1400 Melbourne Road
Charlottesville Symphony at the University of Virginia
Benjamin Rous conducting
Schubert: “Rosamunde” (“Die Zauberharfe”) Overture
Hummel: Bassoon Concerto in F major
Elizabeth Roberts, bassoon
Missy Mazzoli: Sinfonia (“For Orbiting Spheres”)
Brahms: Hungarian dances Nos. 6, 14, 5
Saint-Saëns: “Samson et Delila” – Bacchanale
$10-$45
masks recommended
(434) 924-3376
http://charlottesvillesymphony.org
Sept. 24 (7 p.m.)
Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Washington
National Symphony Orchestra
Gianandrea Noseda conducting
Season Opening Gala Concert
Smetana: “Vltava” (“The Moldau”)
Carlos Simon: “This Land”
Rachmaninoff: “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini”
Daniil Trifonov, piano
Richard Strauss: “Der Rosenkavalier” Suite
$65-$145
masks required
(800) 444-1324
http://kennedy-center.org
Sept. 24 (8 p.m.)
Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
Thomas Søndergård conducting
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor: Ballade for orchestra
Mahler: “Songs of a Wayfarer”
Thomas Hampson, baritone
Richard Strauss: “An Alpine Symphony”
$35-$90
masks required
(877) 276-1444
http://strathmore.org
Sept. 25 (4 p.m.)
St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 12291 River Road, Goochland County
Chamber Music Society of Central Virginia:
Mari Lee & Grant Houston, violins
Jordan Bak & Fitz Gary, viola
James Wilson, cello
Mozart: String Quintet in C major, K. 515
Mozart: String Quintet in G minor, K. 516
$30
masks required
(804) 304-6312
http://cmscva.org
Sept. 29 (7:30 p.m.)
Williamsburg Community Chapel, 3899 John Tyler Highway
Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra
Michael Butterman conducting
Brahms: “Variations on a Theme by Haydn”
Rachmaninoff: “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini”
Natasha Paremski, piano
Erich Wolfgang Korngold: Theme and Variations
Hindemith: “Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber”
$60 (live attendance), $25 (online live stream)
masks recommended
(757) 229-9857
http://williamsburgsymphony.org
Sept. 29 (7 p.m.)
Olin Hall, Roanoke College, Salem
Jeffrey Springer, tenor
Jeff Midkiff, mandolin
David Stewart Wiley, piano
“Viva Italiana!”
Anton Coppola: songs TBA
Italian opera arias TBA
Neapolitan songs TBA
$34-$52
masks recommended
(540) 343-9127
http://rso.com
Sept. 29 (7 p.m.)
Sept. 30 (8 p.m.)
Oct. 1 (8 p.m.)
Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Washington
National Symphony Orchestra
John Storgårds conducting
Prokofiev: Symphony No. 1 in D major (“Classical”)
John Adams: Violin Concerto
Leila Josefowicz, violin
Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 3 in A minor
$15-$109
masks required
(800) 444-1324
http://kennedy-center.org
Sept. 30 (7 p.m.)
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Arthur Ashe Boulevard at Grove Avenue, Richmond
Richmond Symphony
Chia-Hsuan Lin conducting
“Music in the Galleries 1”
program TBA
free
masks recommended
(804) 340-1400
http://richmondsymphony.com
Sept. 30 (8 p.m.)
Oct. 1 (7:30 p.m.)
Oct. 2 (2:30 p.m.)
Harrison Opera House, 160 E. Virginia Beach Boulevard, Norfolk
Virginia Opera
Adam Turner conducting
Wagner: “The Valkyrie” (“Die Walküre”) (adaptation by Jonathan Dove & Graham Vick)
Kyle Albertson (Wotan)
Alexandra Loutsion (Brünnhilde)
Richard Trey Smagur (Siegmund)
Meghan Kasanders (Sieglinde)
Claudia Chapa (Fricka/Waltraute)
Ricardo L. Lugo (Hunding)
Lesley Anne Friend (Helmwige)
Adriane S. Kerr (Rossweisse)
Courtney Johnson (Grimgerde)
Joachim Schamberger, stage director
in German, English captions
masks recommended
$20-$110
(866) 673-7282
http://vaopera.org
Oct. 1 (8 p.m.)
Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
Peter Oundjian conducting
Carlos Simon: “Fate Now Conquers”
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor, K. 491
Tom Borrow, piano
Dvořák: Symphony No. 9 in E minor (“From the New World”)
$35-$90
masks required
(877) 276-1444
http://strathmore.org
Oct. 4 (8 p.m.)
Carpenter Theatre, Dominion Energy Center, Sixth and Grace streets, Richmond
Richmond Symphony
Valentina Peleggi conducting
Gabriela Ortiz: “Kauyumari”
De Falla: “The Three-Cornered Hat” Suite No. 2
Johann Strauss II: “On the Beautiful Blue Danube”
Ravel: “La valse”
Elgar: Cello Concerto in E minor
Yo-Yo Ma, cello
$65-$200
masks required
(800) 514-3849 (ETIX)
http://richmondsymphony.com
Oct. 5 (8 p.m.)
Oct. 6 (8 p.m.)
Oct. 8 (8 p.m.)
Oct. 9 (7 p.m.)
Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Washington
National Symphony Orchestra Pops
Steven Reineke conducting
Bobby Wier & Wolf Bros featuring The Wolfpack, guest stars
Grateful Dead songs TBA
$69-$139 (Oct. 8 sold out)
masks required
(800) 444-1324
http://kennedy-center.org
Oct. 7 (8 p.m.)
Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
James Conlon conducting
Bernstein: Symphony No. 3 (“Kaddish”), with spoken text by Samual Pisar
Judith and Leah Pisar, speakers
Erica Petrocelli, soprano
University of Maryland Concert Choir
Jason Ferdinand directing
Maryland State Boychoir
Stephen Holmes directing
$35-$90
masks required
(877) 276-1444
http://strathmore.org