CFA

Friends of the Center for the Arts

Loving v. Virginia: World Premiere Opera at the Center for the Arts

Laura Mertens — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 21:17:57 +0000

Loving v. Virginia: World Premiere Opera at the Center for the Arts Laura Mertens Thu, 03/27/2025 - 17:17

Get tickets for Loving v. Virginia

Learn more about the project

Richard and Mildred Loving, photo credit: Estate of Grey Villet

The Center for the Arts is thrilled to present the highly anticipated world premiere of Loving v. Virginia (May 3 & 4), a co-commission from Virginia Opera and the Richmond Symphony based on the true story of Mildred and Richard Loving. The couple from Central Point, VA was criminally charged for their 1958 interracial marriage and forced to leave Virginia to avoid prison sentences. In 1967, they courageously took their case to the Supreme Court and won a landmark victory for civil rights in this country. Widely considered the beginning of the dismantling of "Jim Crow" race laws, the case paved the way for future cases addressing equality, including Obergefel v. Hodges, which legalized same-sex marriage in 2015.

The opera is composed by Virginia native Damien Geter, features a libretto by Jessica Murphy Moo, and is directed by Washington, D.C.-native and celebrated mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves.

Damien Geter

Jessica Murphy Moo

Denyce Graves

“Mildred and Richard Loving made my own family possible,” said Murphy Moo. “What an honor and responsibility it is to be part of a team telling their story… The vision they were working toward—equality, home, love—these subjects are part of opera’s vast terrain. I know that composer Damien Geter’s music will make us all feel—in new ways—the weight and importance of the Lovings’ contribution to racial justice in America.”

The performances of this opera are being accompanied by community outreach and engagement programming, including the Pride in Black Voices: A Loving Community events, which took place this winter in locations throughout Virginia. The events, including the one March 17 in Fairfax, featured excerpts from the opera performed by Virginia Opera’s talented Herndon Foundation Emerging Artists, and a community Q&A session. The programming also included a February 6 event at the Sherwood Community Center: The Constitution and Loving v. Virginia, co-presented by the City of Fairfax and Center for the Arts.

The Virginia Opera and Richmond Symphony participate in a workshop event for Loving v. Virginia. Photo credit: Dave Pearson Photography

“How the lived experience that is, at root, simply a celebration of love between a man and a woman became a Supreme Court case should ignite deep consideration for all freedom-loving Americans,” said Graves. “And it should because of the almost unfathomable animosities and clear misunderstandings that still swirl in the ethos of American engagement today. That Loving v. Virginia is now receiving operatic treatment will, I believe, lift this unique and particular story for the broader arts appreciating public to experience and to consider.”

We hope you’ll join us for this exciting world premiere event on May 3 and 4. See the Washington City Paper's Spring Arts Guide recommendation for Loving v. Virginia.

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Cirque Mechanics

Laura Mertens — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 16:04:54 +0000

Cirque Mechanics Laura Mertens Thu, 03/27/2025 - 12:04

Get tickets for Cirque Mechanics "Pedal Punk"

At the heart of Cirque Mechanics (4/5) is a love story—but maybe not the one you’d expect. The company’s co-founders, Chris and Aida Lashua, have been creative partners and life partners for nearly 30 years. A decade of that was spent with the legendary Cirque du Soleil, in which Chris performed a BMX bike act and a “German wheel” act. Aida worked on the marketing and sponsorship side. In 2004, they brought together their business sense and creative sensibility to launch Cirque Mechanics, a unique venture all their own. And they’ve been delighting audiences ever since.

One thing that sets Cirque Mechanics apart—which won’t surprise you given the company’s name—is their mechanical ingenuity.

“We distinguish ourselves from many of the other circus companies, new circus or old,” Chris Lashua said in a 2023 interview. “We have usually some large-scale mechanical apparatus component that we build the show around, and that device can take many shapes. Usually the desire is to find a way to accomplish the work of circus, whether that’s to lift and fly an aerialist or transport a contortionist”

Their show at the Center for the Arts, Pedal Punk, puts a “Gantry bike” at center stage: a 22-foot, pedal-powered performance platform. “Decked out in Victorian hats, goggles, sleeve garters and meticulously groomed facial fair, the astoundingly fit and funny ensemble kicks classic acts into high gear… spoke-less wheels become hula hoops, a penny-farthing transforms into an aerial hoop. Metal bars invite climbing and contortion, and, of course, unicycle and bicycle tricks abound.” (TimeOut)

Pedal Punk is an astoundingly original and completely dazzling circus performance. We hope you’ll bring your whole family to enjoy what the New York Times called an “exceptional, evocative, eye-catching, ear-catching and, to keep the list short, engrossingly entertaining” show.

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Moon Mouse: A Transcendent Family Show

Laura Mertens — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 17:12:57 +0000

Moon Mouse: A Transcendent Family Show Laura Mertens Wed, 03/26/2025 - 13:12

Get tickets for Lightwire Theater's Moon Mouse: A Space Odyssey

Calling all intrepid travelers: Moon Mouse: A Space Odyssey launches on April 6! You won’t want to miss Lightwire Theater’s dazzling aesthetic, which utilizes glow-in-the-dark puppets, technology, and music to tell captivating stories—in this case, the tale of one Marvin the Mouse. He desperately wants to be popular, but the cool rats aren’t having it. But in Marvin’s interior world of science fiction and fantasy, he’s the hero on the adventure of a lifetime: a trip to the moon! Hop aboard his homemade rocket for a cosmic trip about celebrating differences.

According to Broadway World, “it's a show that transcends language barriers and connects with viewers of all ages on a deep emotional level.”

You might recognize Lightwire Theater’s incredible talent from America’s Got Talent, when they were semi-finalists in season seven.

“Their performance was absolutely incredible,” Rolling Stone said of their time on the show. “Their glow-in-the-dark creations moved with grace and panache.”

Lightwire Theater was also the winner of Tru TV's Fake Off, and has brought incredible family programming all over the world, including to Hong Kong, Estonia, Canada, Belarus, China, and Abu Dhabi.

We hope your family won’t miss their performance here in Fairfax on April 6!

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Friends of the Center for the Arts reflect on holiday performances at the venue

Laura Mertens — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 18:49:34 +0000

Friends of the Center for the Arts reflect on holiday performances at the venue Laura Mertens Mon, 12/02/2024 - 13:49

View holiday performances at the Center for the Arts.

Friends of the Center for the Arts reflect on holiday performances at the venue that have been special to them and evoked cherished memories.

Listening to The American Festival Pops Orchestra perform “Sleigh Ride” draws a picture that carries me into the crisp snowy night where sleigh bells are ringing, horses are clip clopping, chestnuts are popping, and friends are calling and singing carols. Then, with the crack of a whip and the jingle of bells, I ride down the road with my sweetheart to savor and share happy feelings and traditions! During “Sleigh Ride,” I can’t help but feel merry and bright, observing the smiles and energy of the musicians and wallowing in my memories of the special people, sights, smells, and sounds of Christmas seasons past.

—Janice Sutera Wolfe

The GRAMMY® Award-winning vocal ensemble Chanticleer has performed its Christmas concert at the Center for the Arts several times over the years and it always is an audience favorite. The first time I heard this amazing choir perform I was delighted with their beautiful harmonies and their incredibly extensive repertoire ranging from Gregorian Chant to Silent Night to A Charlie Brown Christmas. They stood on the Concert Hall stage attired in a rainbow of comfy sweaters which made me feel almost like I was with them in someone’s living room. It was not until several songs into the concert that they explained that they usually performed in tuxedos but that the airline had lost their luggage and that the sweaters were a last-minute replacement. I have seen Chanticleer at the Center other holiday seasons, but the first time with the sweaters will always be my favorite.

—Paulette Miller

One holiday season several years ago, one of the orchestras visiting the Center for the Arts played Leroy Anderson’s “A Christmas Medley,” which is one of my two favorite carols (the other one is “Carol of the Bells.”) For years now, whenever we start to decorate the house for Christmas, “A Christmas Medley” is the tune I play to kick things off. It’s great hearing it on a music system, but it is OUTSTANDING to hear it performed live!

—Mark Roddy

Holiday concerts performed at the Center for the Arts by the Natalie MacMaster/Donnell Leahy family have been a favorite of mine whenever they come to Fairfax. Their chatting together on stage, reminiscing about Christmas times in Cape Breton Island have always evoked warm memories of my childhood, when grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins would all get together and tell long stories, sing songs, and imbibe in delicious holiday cuisine.

—Bob Warakomsky

View 2024 holiday concerts at the Center for the Arts.

Topics

Friends of the Center for the Arts

holiday

Mason Artist-in-Residence Ballet Hispánico Connects Campus and Community in Deep Hispanic Heritage Month Engagement

Laura Mertens — Wed, 06 Nov 2024 22:10:18 +0000

Mason Artist-in-Residence Ballet Hispánico Connects Campus and Community in Deep Hispanic Heritage Month Engagement Laura Mertens Wed, 11/06/2024 - 17:10

In This Story

Samantha Sinagra

Lawrence M. Jackson

Victor Adebusola

Learn more about Mason Artists-in-Residence

Mason Artist-in-Residence and “smashingly theatrical” dance company (Chicago Sun-Times) Ballet Hispánico led a whirlwind of inspiring engagement activities October 1–5, 2024 during Hispanic Heritage Month. With events held at the Center for the Arts, in Mason classrooms, and at other sites around the community, the residency exemplified the Center's commitment to joyous and transformative experiences in the arts for all ages.

"Ballet Hispánico’s visit to the Mason community far exceeded my expectations. It’s clear that community engagement is a top priority for this organization," said Victor Adebusola, programming and engagement manager at the Center for the Arts at George Mason, "Very rarely do you have an Executive Director participate in so many residency activities, further evidencing their commitment to community outreach. During every engagement, they brought warmth and fun while educating communities on the historical and cultural influences of various Hispanic diasporas. It was a joy to see so many smiling faces! Their performances at our Concert Hall were the cherry on top of a phenomenal weekend."

The Maryland Theatre Guide declared of the October 5 performance, "Saturday night’s program at the George Mason University Center for the Arts (the culmination of their time as a Mason Artist-in-Residence) was a well-curated, sophisticated, and poignant production with work spanning three decades. The dancers of Ballet Hispánico are all fabulous, technically talented, and charismatic performers."

Below is a recap of just some of the week's events:

Ballet Hispánico company members taught a master class on modern repertoire to students in George Mason University’s School of Dance on Wednesday, October 2 at 10:30 a.m.

Ballet Hispánico led a masterclass on modern repertoire with local high school students at Fairfax County Public School's Fairfax Academy, also participating in discussion with the students on Wednesday, October 2 at 1 p.m.

Ballet Hispánico members led a Latin Social Dance Workshop and Community Party the evening of Thursday, October 3, co-hosted by the Latin Student Association and Mason Dining outside Southside Dining Hall, for George Mason students, faculty, and staff. Chef Monica Bastidas Moreno curated snacks for the event including Colombian ceviche and churros, and Latin dance student group Azucar attended, along with many other Mason students of all experience levels.

The company performed exciting excerpts of works for hundreds of students in grades 6-12 in a free school time matinee performance on Friday, October 4, at 11 a.m. With brief interstitial presentations, charismatic Ballet Hispánico artistic director and CEO Eduardo Vilaro fully immersed the students and teachers in the program, getting them up on their feet and dancing along.

The free and interactive Artists in Conversation: Latin Social Dance Workshop with Ballet Hispánico, co-presented by the City of Fairfax and the Center for the Arts at George Mason University, offered community members free lessons in salsa, merengue, cha chá, and more on Friday, October 4, at 7 p.m. at the Stacy C. Sherwood Community Center.

Ballet Hispánico artistic director Eduardo Vilaro taught an interactive Baila Conmigo dance workshop to members of the public and the Mason Community Arts Academy following the free school time matinee performance on Friday, October 4, 2024.

George Mason School of Dance Professor Lawrence Jackson moderated a pre-performance discussion with Vilaro in Monson Grand Tier, on the third level of the Center for the Arts, prior to the October 5 culminating performance. The recorded discussion is available for viewing on the Mason Arts Amplified digital venue, which features curated arts experiences including livestreamed concerts, releases of previously recorded content, behind-the-scenes talks with artists, and more (free account setup and login required).

Vilaro joined additional George Mason classes for discussion, including the “Survey of Latin American History,” taught by Associate Professor Joan Bristol from George Mason’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences, on Tuesday, October 1, at 9 a.m. Vilaro discussed topics including the company's history and how the need for visibility for a community spurred rich innovation based on the intersection of Latin diasporas; colonization, the cross-Atlantic slave trade, and the legacy of movement throughout history; and the history of Latin dance in modern dance and culture in the United States. In the virtual class “Introduction to Arts Management,” taught by Professor Samantha Sinagra from George Mason’s Arts Management Program on Thursday, October 3 at 1:30 p.m., Vilaro discussed with class members how the company centers its mission when creating programs and initiatives.

The Mason Artist-in-Residence program is supported in part by the Wendy Frieman and David Johnson Fund.

Topics

Friends of the Center for the Arts

College of Visual and Performing Arts

College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA)

College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) Arts Management Program

College of Visual and Performing Arts School of Dance

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Mason Dining

Latino Student Association

Holiday Haul of Festive Concerts at the Center for the Arts

Laura Mertens — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 21:52:51 +0000

Holiday Haul of Festive Concerts at the Center for the Arts Laura Mertens Tue, 11/05/2024 - 16:52

Learn more about Canadian Brass on Nov. 30

Learn more about Take 6 on Dec. 1

Learn more about Squirrel Nut Zippers on Dec. 7

Learn more about American Festival Pops Orchestra on Dec. 14

HOLIDAYS AT THE CENTER

Canadian Brass

Making Spirits Bright
Saturday, Nov. 30 at 8 p.m.

Canadian Brass kicks off the holiday season with a program of original arrangements and signature takes on beloved classics such as “Christmas Time is Here,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch," and songs of Hanukkah. These joyous musicians have performed across the globe, recorded more than 130 albums, and created their own musical world by transcribing, arranging, and commissioning more than 600 works.

Tickets: $60, $51, $36; half-price for youth through Grade 12

Take 6

Sunday, Dec. 1 at 2 p.m.*

The most awarded a cappella group in history, Take 6, brings its superlative vocal genius to the Center for a gospel-infused holiday concert. Take 6 has captivated audiences for more than three decades, earning 10 GRAMMY Awards, 10 Dove Awards, 2 NAACP Image Awards, a Soul Train Award, and more.

*This performance will be ASL interpreted.

Tickets: $55, $47, $33; half-price for youth through Grade 12

Squirrel Nut Zippers

Christmas Caravan
Saturday, Dec. 7 at 8 p.m.

Swing into the holiday season with platinum-selling jazz-rock band Squirrel Nut Zippers. Serving up a boisterous blend of Delta blues, big band, klezmer jazz, and calypso sound in their holiday program Christmas Caravan, Squirrel Nut Zippers is sure to get audiences dancing along.

Tickets: $55, $47, $33; half-price for youth through Grade 12

American Festival Pops Orchestra

Holiday Pops: Songs of the Season
Peter Wilson, conductor
Saturday, Dec. 14 at 4 p.m.

The American Festival Pops Orchestra (AFPO) continues its annual tradition of spreading musical goodwill and cheer in this audience favorite! Holiday Pops: Songs of the Season returns under the baton of Artistic Director and Conductor Peter Wilson, the former senior enlisted music advisor to The White House who served as a Marine violinist for 30 years.

Tickets: $60, $51, $36; half-price for youth through Grade 12

This performance also takes place on Friday, December 13 at 8 p.m. at our sister venue, Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas, VA.

HOLIDAY OFFERING FROM OUR FRIENDS AT FAIRFAX SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Fairfax Symphony Orchestra

Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker with The Fairfax Ballet
Dec. 21–22 at 4 p.m.

The Fairfax Symphony joins the Fairfax Ballet in a special collaboration to present the timeless holiday favorite, The Nutcracker, with guest soloists from New York City Ballet. Experience this rare, D.C.-area production featuring LIVE music together with the magical ballet. Perfect for the entire family!

Tickets: $89, $69, $59, $49

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holiday

Keeping Score: Featured Artists at Center for the Arts Sound Off on Soundtracks

Laura Mertens — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 00:19:30 +0000

Keeping Score: Featured Artists at Center for the Arts Sound Off on Soundtracks Laura Mertens Mon, 11/04/2024 - 19:19

Get tickets for Arturo Sandoval

Get tickets for Take 6

Get tickets for Branford Marsalis with the Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra

Get tickets for Les Arts Florissants

Many acclaimed artists featured as part of the 2024–25 Great Performances at Mason season at the Center for the Arts have graced the soundtracks of famous movies. You might have already enjoyed their musical talents without even realizing it was them... Below experience how just some of our upcoming artists have worked their magic on movie soundtracks.

ARTURO SANDOVAL
(performing November 10, 2024)

A 2024 Kennedy Center honoree, composer and 10-time GRAMMY Award winner Arturo Sandoval is an acknowledged virtuoso of jazz trumpet and flugelhorn, who is just as dynamic and vivacious on the piano, timbales, vocals, and keyboard. Having been seen by millions performing live at the Oscars, the GRAMMYs, the White House, and the industry’s most esteemed performing arts centers and festivals, Sandoval has also received six Billboard Awards, an Emmy, the Hispanic Heritage Award, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama. He was recently honored with a GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award. You can hear his virtuosic skills in his following film score work:

Mambo Kings (1992)

Arturo Sandoval's GRAMMY-nominated composition “Mambo Caliente” from the soundtrack of the movie Mambo Kings, features the legend himself on solo trumpet.

For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story (2000)

Sandoval was awarded an Emmy Award for composing the entire score of the HBO movie based on his life,

Sandoval's film score compositions can also be heard in movies including the 25th James Bond flick No Time to Die (in collaboration with Hans Zimmer); Clint Eastwood’s films, The Mule, starring Eastwood and Bradley Cooper; Richard Jewell: 1001 to 1 starring Beau Bridges; and At Middleton starring Andy Garcia and Vera Farmiga. His work can also be heard on Dave Grusin’s soundtracks for Havana and Random Heart; the soundtracks of The Perez Family, 61, Mr. Wrong, the documentary Oscar, and The Family Fuentes, among others.

TAKE 6
(performing December 1, 2024)

The most awarded a cappella group in history—with 10 GRAMMY Awards, 10 Dove Awards, 2 NAACP Image Awards, a Soul Train Award, and membership in the Gospel Music Hall of Fame—Take 6 has won praise from such luminaries as Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Brian Wilson, Ella Fitzgerald and Whitney Houston. The group's film credits include the following:

**Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing (1989)**

"Don't Shoot Me"

Dick Tracy (1990)

"Ridin' The Rails" with Take 6 and k.d. lang:

This Christmas (2007)

including Moody's Mood For Love (as performed here on The Oprah Winfrey Show: featuring Take 6 with Brian McKnight and Patti Austin):

Boyz n the Hood (1991)

"Setembro" (Brazilian Wedding Song)

BRANFORD MARSALIS
(performing February 1 with the Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra)

A National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master, three-time GRAMMY winner, and Tony Award-nominated composer for his work on Broadway, Marsalis has also composed extensively for movies, with screen credits including the following:

Spike Lee’s Mo’ Better Blues (1990)

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020)

starring Viola Davis and the late Chadwick Boseman. The critically acclaimed Ma Rainey is the Netflix film adaptation of two-time Pulitzer Prize winner August Wilson’s play, produced by Denzel Washington.In reviewing the score, Vanity Fair proclaimed “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is a story in which the music has to be authentic and the details need to be correct. It requires the musical oversight of someone who has this history in his blood. It requires Branford Marsalis.”

The Guardian also noted “Marsalis’s work, both recreation and original composition, is as close to perfection as I could imagine.”:

Rustin (2023)

Additional film work includes Netflix's Rustin starring Colman Domingo. Since its release in November 2023, Rustin has garnered attention and praise, with critics calling the score scintillating, kinetic, vibrant, maintaining the “buoyancy of a man who refused to be kept down.

Tulsa Burning: The 1921 Race Massacre (2021)

Marsalis also received a 2021 EMMY nomination for the original music he composed and produced for the History Channel’s documentary Tulsa Burning: The 1921 Race Massacre, in the Outstanding Music Composition for a Documentary Series or Special (Original Dramatic Score) category.

LES ARTS FLORISSANTS
(performing March 30, 2025)

One of the foremost Baroque music groups in the world, the period-instrument ensemble from France, Les Arts Florissants, has "revolutionized the way baroque music is presented" (Opera News). It can be heard performing on the soundtracks of the following:

Marie Antoinette (2006)

Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (2020)

Don't miss these incredible artists live at the Center for the Arts! More information about their respective programs at left.

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Q&A with Virginia Opera Carmen stars Lisa Marie Rogali and Zach Borichevsky

Laura Mertens — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:10:35 +0000

Q&A with Virginia Opera Carmen stars Lisa Marie Rogali and Zach Borichevsky Laura Mertens Mon, 11/04/2024 - 15:10

In This Story

Prof. Richard Leech

Get tickets for Virginia Opera's Carmen at the Center for the Arts

Learn more about the full cast in this production, part of Virginia Opera's 50th anniversary season.

Zach Borichevsky as Don José and Lisa Marie Rogali as Carmen, in the Virginia Opera's 50th anniversary season production of Carmen. Credit: Dave Pearson Photography.

Get to know the stars of Carmen in the Virginia Opera's production (November 16–17 at the Center for the Arts). Mezzo-soprano Lisa Marie Rogali (Carmen) has been praised by Opera News for her début performance with Minnesota Opera as “a tour de force of diction, precision and pizzazz.” Tenor Zach Borichevsky (Don José) has been lauded in OperaWire as a “masterful tenor" who “delighted and captivated the audience.”

LISA MARIE ROGALI, MEZZO-SOPRANO

Mezzo-soprano Lisa Marie Rogali will make her Virginia Opera debut in the title role of Carmen.

Hometown?
Hawley, PA

What makes Carmen a role you wanted to take on?
Carmen is an incredibly exciting role to take on for so many reasons. She’s an iconic character and an extraordinary woman—strong, confident, and unapologetically herself. She's more than just a one-dimensional seductress and I’m loving the process of uncovering the layers that make her so compelling and human. Carmen is a dream role for many, and I feel truly fortunate to step into her shoes for the first time.

A favorite moment in this opera?
One of my favorite moments is in Act 2, after Don José and Carmen are reunited. When he can’t be present with her because he hears the bugle calling him to leave, she responds with a fiery outburst. Her reaction is all or nothing—she's not willing to compromise. I've always been drawn more to the acting side of singing, and Carmen has so many scenes like this that highlight her complexity. So, to answer your question, my favorite part of the opera is when I get to yell at the tenor!

When you have a passionate duet—up close and personal—is it loud for you both onstage? How do you all handle that?
It can be! But that’s what makes it so thrilling. The human voice is incredible, and that raw energy really connects with the audience. As professionals, we know our limits and how to harness that power effectively.

What is another role you aspire to and why?
I would love to perform the role of Cinderella one day—both in Rossini’s La Cenerentola and Massenet’s Cendrillon. I find it particularly meaningful when I can connect with a character on a personal level. Growing up, I had a very humble upbringing and didn’t always have an easy childhood, which makes me feel deeply connected to Cinderella’s story.

Tenor Zach Borichevsky performs in a production of Gianni Schicchi.

ZACH BORICHEVSKY, TENOR

Hometown?
Doylestown, PA

You went to George Washington University… How has your time in D.C. shaped you?
I double majored in music and political science, and I’ve always been intrigued by how we organize our societies. In my opera career, my political interest manifests through a deeper look at the societies in which the stories are set. In Carmen, we have an overtly political tale in that the main characters are (or become) smugglers working against the interest of the state. Carmen herself is a member of the perennially oppressed Roma ethnic group and has to navigate her life through the omnipresent misogyny of the time (which is especially evident when reading the original novella).

Some favorite composers (or works)?
I have to say my big three are pretty unoriginal: Mozart, Verdi, and Puccini. I’m sure it has a lot to do with the fact I’ve been most deeply exposed to their works in my training and career, but it’s hard to listen to anything by any of those guys and not be astounded by their genius. As for a (slightly) lesser known favorite of mine: in this era of Joker and The Penguin, Il tabarro by Puccini is the most heartbreaking villain origin story you could ever ask for.

Other unexpected or surprising items on your music playlists?
With two small children, the playlist is short but on repeat, so we try to make sure that the songs that are on their radar are tolerable for all (no Baby Shark!). Somebody That I Used To Know by Gotye is currently on heavy rotation after an October filled with The Nightmare Before Christmas.

What makes Don José a role you wanted to take on?
The very first opera duet I sang overseas (while a student at GW) was his first big scene with Micaëla. Ever since then, José has been a goal of mine — the part requires real subtlety as well as raw power, and it’s quite a challenge to fulfill both of those to the max in the same evening. And I love a challenge!

A favorite moment in this opera?
It has to be the final scene, which I think is the most complete piece of music drama ever created. The two former lovers’ confrontation contrasted with the thrilled offstage crowd makes for incredible theater.

When you have a passionate duet—up close and personal—is it loud for you both onstage? How do you all handle that?
The hardest opera aurally is La bohème, when both Mimi and Rodolfo do a lot of cuddling while singing as loud as they can. It’s not as much of an issue here in Carmen, but it’s generally much more of a problem for my costars than me, as they’re frequently stuck with their heads right on my chest as I’m singing, and that’s about the loudest place you can be—even more so than in front of the mouth. But either way, since loud passages never last too long, I don’t think opera approaches the danger level of the average pop concert.

What is another role you aspire to and why?
I’d love to expand my French repertoire—I’ve always enjoyed singing in the language, and I’ve only had a chance to sing Roméo and Faust so far. Des Grieux in Manon is something I’d love to tackle, as well as Werther and Hoffmann. My wife just had an enormous success singing all the heroines in Tales of Hoffmann, so that’d be a fun gig to do together!

Watch these acclaimed singers in action:

You can learn more about Carmen by attending the pre-performance discussions with George Mason Dewberry School of Music Professor Richard Leech, 45 minutes prior to both performances on November 16 and 17, and can catch cast members in a post-show Q&A following the Sunday matinee.

Topics

Virginia Opera

Jeremy Denk Performs Favorite Beethoven Piano Concerto with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra Nov. 23

Laura Mertens — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 18:36:18 +0000

Jeremy Denk Performs Favorite Beethoven Piano Concerto with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra Nov. 23 Laura Mertens Mon, 11/04/2024 - 13:36

In This Story

Dr. John Healey

Get tickets for Jeremy Denk with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra

Register to observe Jeremy Denk's masterclass with George Mason Dewberry School of Music students

Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58, might just be Jeremy Denk’s favorite piano concerto. It’s the favorite of many pianists, he concedes, in a YouTube video breaking down his interpretation of the piece. But there’s good reason. The concerto can be seen as a “musical thought castle,” blending “playfulness and seriousness together… [creating] meaningful synthesis.” It’s a “brew of wits and the most profound emotion.” It's the piece he’ll play alongside the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra (FSO), onstage at the Center for the Arts on November 23 at 8 p.m.

Denk is one of the nation’s foremost pianists, "one of the most thoughtful and reliably interesting artists of our time" (Cleveland Plain Dealer)—a frequent performer at Carnegie Hall, and a collaborator with renowned orchestras like the Chicago Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic. His YouTube videos are exemplary of the thoughtful and witty writing about music Denk is also known for. “Learning to play the piano is learning to reason with your muscles,” Denk wrote in a 2013 New Yorker article titled ‘Every Good Boy Does Fine.’ But that’s just the beginning. Denk expanded on his own musical and personal journeys in his 2022 New York Times bestselling memoir with the same title.

Denk’s relationships with his teachers are a significant theme throughout the book. He’ll also share some of his own knowledge with four George Mason University Dewberry School of Music students during a masterclass on November 21, which is open to the public. Denk’s Center for the Arts concert will also feature the regional premiere of Quinn Mason’s She Dreams of Flying, and Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances. We hope you’ll join in for what’s sure to be an evening of lively music, performed with warmth and spirit.

Read WETA Classical's Q&A with pianist Jeremy Denk about Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4.

On November 23, a pre-performance discussion with pianist Jeremy Denk, composer Quinn Mason, and FSO Maestro Christopher Zimmerman, moderated by Mason Dewberry School of Music Professor John Healey, will take place in Monson Grand Tier, which is located on the third level of the Center for the Arts Lobby, 45 minutes prior to curtain.

Topics

Fairfax Symphony Orchestra