The Washington Arts Ensemble Presents:

A Musical Offering

Saturday, January 28, 20232

6:30 pm  -  10:00 pm

Public (non-members) tickets: Buy Now!

The pioneering voices of African-American women and the men who supported them, the collaboration between the sexes in poetry and song, and the progressive integration of thematic content and musical texture provide the essence of this artistic tribute to such a relevant piece of American history. Acclaimed mezzo-soprano Chrystal Williams returns from the Metropolitan Opera to offer a program of Art Songs with pianist and cofounder Natalia Kazaryan. H.T. Burleigh's “Five Songs of Laurence Hope” will be performed alongside Ottorino Resphigi's “Quattro Canzone,” based on a text by Ada Negri. The program will also include a pairing of “Troubled Waters” and “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” with the original text by Langston Hughes, as well as Spirituals by Undine Smith Moore, “The Dean of Black Women Composers. ”

Washington Classical Review:

"Washington Arts Ensemble flourishes with new downtown series

While some established arts organizations struggled to survive the coronavirus lockdowns, other new ones found their niche. Washington Arts Ensemble, founded in 2021 just before the Omicron wave of the pandemic, took a gamble on live performance and continues to thrive. The latest in its series of monthly concerts took place Thursday night in the intimate performance space of the Arts Club of Washington.

Anecdotal reports from presenters and listeners around the Washington area indicate that attendance at classical music events has still not returned to pre-pandemic levels. It seems likely that a small series may have an edge over its larger competitors, by keeping costs low and operations flexible. The venue’s parlor, named after the building’s most famous occupant, President James Monroe, seats only about 90 people.

The group’s founders, pianists Natalia Kazaryan and Christopher Schmitt, each presided over a program half. The ensemble’s events feature receptions with wine and food before and after the performance. This was a controversial choice when the group launched, just as some organizations were canceling live events again, but the audience was primed and enthusiastic, especially when given spoken program notes about the pieces by both pianists."

Reception begins at 6:30, followed by the concert at 7:15.

6:30 - wine and hors d'oeuvres

7:15 - concert followed by reception

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