The Washington Arts Ensemble Presents:

The Meaning behind the Music

Thursday, December 15, 2022

6:30 pm  -  10:00 pm

Public (non-members) tickets: Buy Now!

In keeping with holiday celebrations around the globe, our December concert will explore how various composers found meaning in music, whether it be through tradition, worship, or simply gratitude and purpose. Pianist and cofounder Natalia Kazaryan will open the concert with the Second Keyboard Partita by the great J.S. Bach, and several selections from the Vingt regards sur l’enfant-Jésus of Olivier Messiaen, who was a prisoner of war during WWII in France. Pianist and cofounder Christopher Schmitt will perform Issac Albeniz's masterpiece, Fête-Dieu à Seville, commemorating the Corpus Christi festival in Sevilla, Spain. The concert will close with Felix Mendelssohn's second piano trio, an homage to the role of the spiritual; series regular, cellist Joseph Gotoff, will join the young prodigious talent of Bulgarian/Japanese descent, violinist Julia Angelov.

Program:

J.S. Bach – Partita No. 2 in C minor, BWV 826

O. Messiaen – Vingt regards sur l’enfant-Jésus

                        X. Regard de l’Esprit de joie (Contemplation of the joyful Spirit)

                        XI.  Première communion de la Vierge (The Virgin’s first communion)

Intermission

I. Albeniz -  Fête-Dieu à Seville, El Corpus en Sevilla, (Corpus Christi in Seville)

F. Mendelssohn – Piano Trio No. 2 in C minor, Op. 66

6:30 - wine and hors d'oeuvres

7:15 - concert followed by reception

Price of the ticket includes reception with wine bar & hors d'oeuvres.

Discounted parking after 6 pm at 2001 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W.