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National Gallery, London, presents its 69th annual concerts season

Nordic Voices - NGA, London

Nordic Voices performs music by Lasse Thoresen and other Norwegian composers on Sunday, October 10, at the National Gallery of Art in honor of Edvard Munch: Master Prints and in conjunction with Norway Comes to Washington.

National Gallery, London, presents its 69th annual concerts season The National Gallery of Art presents its 69th season of the longest-running free concert series in the nation’s capital from September 26, 2010, through June 26, 2011]]>

August 27th 2010, source: The National Gallery of Art
Twenty-six of the 42 concerts will relate to a Gallery exhibition, an aspect of the permanent collection, or themes common to music and the visual arts. The other events will include concerts in honor of African American History Month and Women’s History Month, a concert celebrating the 70th anniversary of the opening of the National Gallery of Art, a presentation in six concerts of the complete Beethoven String Quartets, a festival commemorating the 100th anniversary of Gustav Mahler’s death (“Mahler on the Mall”), and a celebration of Norwegian culture in Washington, D.C. (“Norway Comes to Washington”).

Twenty-six musical programs were selected by the head of the Gallery’s music department, Stephen Ackert, to highlight Gallery exhibitions. In fall 2010 four concerts will be presented in honor of Edvard Munch: Master Prints, which is currently on view in the East Building through October 31, 2010. On Wednesday, September 29, the cello and piano duo Miller-Schmid performs Schnittke’s Epilogue to Peer Gynt among other works for cello and piano. One week later, On October 6, Norwegian pianist Håkon Austbø will be the first of several performers presented in collaboration with the Royal Norwegian Embassy in its festival “Norway Comes to Washington.” Other festival events include the vocal ensemble Nordic Voices, performing music by Lasse Thoresen and other Norwegian composers at the Gallery on October 10; and the New York Opera Society, performing the world premiere of a new opera by Norwegian composer Gisle Kverndokk—Max and Moritz: A Cartoon Opera in Seven Pranks—on October 17.

Concurrent with From Impressionism to Modernism: the Chester Dale Collection, on view until July 31, 2011, several concerts will note the professional and personal relationship between Chester Dale and George Gershwin and musical developments in the Impressionist and Modernist periods. On October 20, Trio con Brio Copenhagen performs music by Ravel and Saint-Saëns; on October 27, the Fauré Piano Quartet plays music by Fauré and other composers connected with the French Impressionists; on January 16, violinist Bruno Nasta and an ensemble perform music by Gershwin, Milhaud, and Stravinsky; and on February 9, violinist Janice Martin honors the exhibition with Gershwin selections that show her talent not only as a violinist but also as a singer and a pianist.

On November 3, the New York Chamber Soloists salute The Pre-Raphaelite Lens: British Photography and Painting, 1848–1875, with music by Arthur Sullivan and other English composers. On November 7, jazz pianist Terry Waldo and his ensemble celebrate the exhibition American Modernism: The Shein Collection, on view in the East Building through January 2, 2011, with an entertaining mix of ragtime and other early 20th-century jazz.

Two concerts in the late fall will be dedicated to Arcimboldo, 1526–1593: Nature and Fantasy, on view in the East Building September 19, 2010–January 9, 2011: on November 17, at 12:10 p.m., the viol consort Quaver will perform music by Dalla Casa, Lasso, other Renaissance composers; and on November 24, also at 12:10 p.m., the National Gallery of Art Chamber Players, led by lutenist Howard Bass, will perform Italian Renaissance music.

Several noted ensembles will bring music to the Gallery to honor Venice: Canaletto and His Rivals, which will occupy the main exhibition space in the East Building from February 20 to May 30, 2011. Music of Antonio Vivaldi, a Venetian contemporary of Canaletto, will feature prominently in performances by Red Priest (February 27), the Vivaldi Project (March 9), the National Gallery of Art Vocal Ensemble and Chatham Baroque (March 13); and the Venice Baroque Orchestra (April 10).

Two French pianists will bring special programs to the Gallery to honor Gauguin: Maker of Myth, on view from February 27 to May 30, 2011: Wilhem Latchoumia plays music by Debussy, Hahn, Ravel, and Villa-Lobos on March 2; and François Chaplin plays music by Debussy on March 20. Gabriel Metsu, 1629–1667, which opens on April 17, 2011, will also be complemented by two concerts: The Woodley Ensemble sings its North European baroque repertoire on June 19, and Dutch violinist Frederieke Saeijs plays music by contemporary composers inspired by Dutch art on June 26.

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National Gallery, London, presents its 69th annual concerts season