It is a great pleasure to announce the winter/spring 2024 events of Concerts from the Library of Congress—we have prepared a broad array of concerts, conversations, lectures and films that we are excited to share with you. With 27 events and more to come, there is something for everyone.
On February 12 we will begin celebrating 100 years of concerts at the Library with a special performance of Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue,” presented by pianist Simone Dinnerstein and The United States Air Force Band using the original orchestration by Ferde Grofé employed at the premiere on February, 12, 1924. It feels like this piece belongs to each of us; join us for this special occasion and make it a “Rhapsody in You!”
You can explore our season announcement here, and get a sense of the range of what will be on offer. You can also find brief descriptions extracted from our website below, as well as links to event pages with additional information. Events on January 12, 26, and February 1 will be available for registration as of this morning (December 12, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. ET). All remaining events will be available for registration on January 17, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. ET. We appreciate your patience as the Library transitions to a new ticketing system that will be used for events starting on February 7, 2024.
All events are free and open to the public, but you do need to register to attend and we recommend arriving at least 30 minutes in advance of each event. Please note that registrations are for general admission and are not the same as tickets—seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis for registered guests at each event. Having said that, in almost all cases we are able to seat every guest who arrives 15 minutes in advance of the event, so there is a high chance of getting seated for the event.
We appreciate your unflagging support during what have proven to be challenging times. It has been wonderful to see so many of you at our fall events, and we look forward to seeing you again with the new year. Perhaps resolve to bring a friend with you who has not experienced a concert at the Library, and share the gift of free, world-class music on the nation’s doorstep.
Friday, Jan. 12, 8 p.m.: Goldmund Quartet
Germany’s Goldmund Quartet performs music by Haydn, Borodin and Schumann on the remarkable matched set of Stradivari instruments once owned by the legendary violinist Niccolò Paganini. Join for a preconcert conversation with the artists at 6:30 p.m. in the Whittall Pavilion. Reserve tickets here.
Friday, Jan. 26, 7 p.m.: Anna Sokolow and the Reimagined Roots of Anti-Fascist Dance
Hear the remarkable story and experience the dances of Anna Sokolow reunited after 80 years with the music of Alex North in a special lecture-demonstration. Reserve tickets here.
Thursday, Feb. 1, 8 p.m.: Live! At the Library: Seth Parker Woods, Cello
Cellist Seth Parker Woods offers a special program for Black History Month; his riveting solo recital at the Library will bring together new compositions from Nathalie Joachim, Monty Adkins and others, an excerpt from Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson’s “Lamentations: Black/Folk Song Suite” and movements from cello suites by J.S. Bach. Join for a preconcert conversation with the artist at 6:30 p.m. in the Whittall Pavilion. Reserve tickets here.
Wednesday, Feb. 7, 7 p.m.: Screening of “Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes”
Enjoy an exclusive screening of “Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes,” part of the PBS “American Masters” series. The film paints an intimate portrait of the legendary drummer, composer, bandleader and social activist from the heady days of postwar modern jazz to his years as a bebop pioneer and a master experimentalist in hip-hop and the avant-garde. Presented through the generous support of the Revada Foundation of the Logan family.
Find more information here (registrations available 1/17/24)
Monday, Feb. 12, 8 p.m.: “Rhapsody in Blue” at 100
Celebrate the 100th anniversary of “Rhapsody in Blue” with a performance of the original version of the piece by pianist Simone Dinnerstein and The U.S. Air Force Band. Treasures from the Library’s George and Ira Gershwin Collection will be on display. Join for a preconcert lecture by Gershwin scholar Ryan Bañagale at 6:30 p.m. in the Whittall Pavilion.
Find more information here (registrations available 1/17/24)
Friday, Feb. 16, 8 p.m.: Melnikov-Faust-Queyras Trio
A superstar trio of musicians — pianist Alexander Melnikov, violinist Isabelle Faust and cellist Jean-Guihen Queyras — performs music by Schumann, Brahms and Carter.
Find more information here (registrations available 1/17/24)
Tuesday, Feb. 20, 7 p.m.: American Musicological Society Lecture : “The Luiz Heitor Corrêa de Azevedo Collection: Brazil-U.S. Musical Exchange and the Good Neighbor Policy”
In a lecture co-presented with the American Musicological Society, Miranda Sousa engages with the Luiz Corrêa de Azevedo Collection in the Music Division of the Library of Congress, bringing to light the collection’s role in the establishment of interdisciplinary studies for Latin American music at the Library of Congress.
Find more information here (registrations available 1/17/24)
Thursday, Feb. 29, 8 p.m.: Live! At the Library: Le Consort
This brilliant foursome of young French musicians makes a whirlwind tour through Italy, England, Germany and France, performing works by Baroque masters alongside recently rediscovered gems from composers less well known today. Join for a preconcert conversation with the artists at 6:30 p.m. in the Whittall Pavilion.
Find more information here (registrations available 1/17/24)
Friday, Mar. 1, 5 p.m.: Screening of “Fandango at the Wall”
In this documentary, Arturo O’Farrill and his Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra travel to Veracruz, Mexico, to jam with masters of “son jarocho,” a 300-year-old Mexican folk music with roots in African, Indigenous, and Spanish traditions. Presented through the generous support of the Revada Foundation of the Logan Family.
Find more information here (registrations available 1/17/24)
Friday, Mar. 1, 8 p.m.: Arturo O’Farrill Octet
Multi-Grammy Award winner, pianist, composer, bandleader, and founder and artistic director of the Afro-Latin Jazz Alliance, Arturo O’Farrill performs with his octet in a captivating exploration that pushes the boundaries of jazz and Latin rhythms.
Find more information here (registrations available 1/17/24)
Wednesday, Mar. 6, 7 p.m.: Screening of “The Jazz Loft According to W. Eugene Smith”
Library of Congress Jazz Scholar Sam Stephenson will introduce Fishko’s film about the remarkable archive of photographer W. Eugene Smith and his documentation of mid-century jazz life. A Q&A session will follow the screening. Presented through the generous support of the Revada Foundation of the Logan Family.
Find more information here (registrations available 1/17/24)
Friday, Mar. 8, 8 p.m.: The Baylor Project
Step into a world of unparalleled soulful melodies and captivating rhythms. Six-time Grammy nominee, the Baylor Project, led by Jean Baylor and Marcus Baylor, effortlessly weaves blues, jazz, soul, and gospel influences, creating a rich and evocative musical tapestry. There will be no pre-concert conversation for this event.
Find more information here (registrations available 1/17/24)
Thursday, Mar. 14, 8 p.m.: Live! At the Library: Sō Percussion with Shodekeh Talifero
Sō Percussion partners with breath artist and composer Dominic “Shodekeh” Talifero for a performance of his piece “Vodalities: Paradigms of Consciousness for the Human Voice!” and music by Angelica Negrón, Nathalie Joachim, Eric Cha-Beach, Pauline Oliveros, and Jason Treuting. Join for a pre-concert conversation with the artists at 6:30 p.m. in the Whittall Pavilion.
Find more information here (registrations available 1/17/24)
Tuesday, Apr. 2, 8 p.m.: Jordi Savall & Hespèrion XXI
World-renowned Spaniard Jordi Savall is a viol player, conductor, and musical scholar who has devoted his career to reviving and interpreting the vast repertoire of early music. He directs an intimate group of virtuosic colleagues from Hespèrion XXI in music by Emilio de’ Cavalieri, Girolamo Frescobaldi, Bartolomé de Selma y Salaverde, Tobias Hume and others. Join for a preconcert conversation with the artists at 6:30 p.m. in the Whittall Pavilion. Presented with the support of the Departament de Cultura of the Generalitat de Catalunya and Institut Ramon Llull.
Find more information here (registrations available 1/17/24)
Friday, Apr. 5, 8 p.m.: Christian Tetzlaff, Violin & Kirill Gerstein, Piano
Christian Tetzlaff and Kirill Gerstein join forces to perform sonatas by Janáček, Brahms and Bartók, with Kurtag’s “3 pezzi,” op. 14e, and a suite from Thomas Adès’s “The Tempest,” written for the duo.
Find more information here (registrations available 1/17/24)
Thursday, Apr. 11, 8 p.m.: Live! At the Library: Regina Carter, Violin & Xavier Davis, Piano
2023 NEA Jazz Master and winner of the MacArthur Award and a Doris Duke Artist Award, violin virtuosa Regina Carter is joined by her longtime collaborator Xavier Davis. The artists premiere a Library of Congress McKim Fund commission by pianist, composer, and arranger Patrice Rushen. Join for a pre-concert conversation with the artists at 6:30 p.m. in the Whittall Pavilion.
Find more information here (registrations available 1/17/24)
Thursday, Apr. 18, 8 p.m.: Live! At the Library: Kronos Quartet
Celebrating 50 years of extraordinary performances, the Kronos Quartet will offer a program by a huge range of composers, from Sun Ra and Terry Riley to Steve Reich, Charlton Singleton and Laurie Anderson. Join for a post-concert NightCap conversation with the artists following the concert.
Find more information here (registrations available 1/17/24)
Friday, Apr. 26, 8 p.m.: Marc-André Hamelin, Piano
Canadian super-virtuoso Marc-André Hamelin performs masterworks of the piano literature by Ives and Ravel, alongside Schumann and a new work of his own, commissioned by the Library. Join for a pre-concert lecture, “He came, he saw, he Concord: Technique and Texture in Ives and Ravel” by David Plylar at 6:30 p.m. in the Whittall Pavilion, and a post-concert Nightcap conversation with the artist onstage.
Find more information here (registrations available 1/17/24)
Tuesday, Apr. 30, 8 p.m.: Les Violons du Roy With Miloš, Classical Guitar and Jonathan Cohen, Music Director
Québec’s Les Violons du Roy ensemble joins forces in this concert with phenomenal classical guitarist MILOŠ to perform Baroque gems by Marcello, Locatelli, Purcell and others, including selections from Vivaldi’s “L’estro Armonico.” Join for a pre-concert conversation with the artists at 6:30 pm in the Whittall Pavilion.
Find more information here (registrations available 1/17/24)
Thursday, May 9, 8 p.m.: Live! at the Library: PUBLIQuartet with Vijay Iyer, Piano
Embark on a sonic adventure as the groundbreaking PUBLIQuartet and Vijay Iyer converge in a concert experience that defies convention, including the premiere of a new Library of Congress commission by Iyer. Join for a pre-concert conversation with the artists at 6:30 p.m. in the Whittall Pavilion.
Find more information here (registrations available 1/17/24)
Friday, May 17, 8 p.m.: Takt Trio, Program I
The Takt Trio performs two new horn trios (by Marcos Balter and Hilda Paredes) commissioned by the Library, alongside György Ligeti’s classic contribution to the genre. Join for a preconcert conversation with the artists at 6:30 p.m. in the Whittall Pavilion. This concert was made possible with the generous support of the Verna and Irving Fine Endowment in the Library of Congress.
Find more information here (registrations available 1/17/24)
Saturday, May 18, 2 p.m.: Takt Trio, Program II
The Takt Trio will perform the Brahms horn trio alongside the classic 20th-century work it inspired: Ligeti’s horn trio, itself an homage to Brahms. Join for a pre-concert lecture: “Is That Natural? A Closer Look at the Horn Trios of Brahms and Ligeti” by David Plylar, Music Division, at 12:30 p.m. in the Whittall Pavilion. This concert was made possible with the generous support of the Verna and Irving Fine Endowment in the Library of Congress.
Find more information here (registrations available 1/17/24)
Wednesday, May 22, 8 p.m.: Octets by Loeffler and Schubert
Until it was recently revived, the octet of Charles Loeffler is not known to have been played or recorded since the year it was composed: 1897. Graeme Steele Johnson assembled the score from the manuscript held in the Library’s Music Division and convened a host of top-tier players to bring about a series of live performances and a new recording. Loeffler’s octet is paired with Schubert’s octet, and Johnson’s transcription of Debussy’s beloved “Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune.” Join for a pre-concert conversation with the artists at 6:30 p.m. in the Whittall Pavilion.
Find more information here (registrations available 1/17/24)
Wednesday, May 29, 7 p.m.: American Musicological Society Lecture : “Integration without Identification: NBC TV, Leontyne Price, and Opera Casting in the Civil Rights Era”
In a lecture co-presented with the American Musicological Society, scholar Danielle Ward-Griffin examines television’s influence on opera casting practices during the early civil rights movement, focusing on Leontyne Price’s NBC Opera appearances.
Find more information here (registrations available 1/17/24)
Saturday, June 15, 8 p.m.: Zephyros Winds with Audrey Andrist, Piano
The Zephyros Winds are joined by pianist Audrey Andrist in this special program that includes a newly commissioned wind quintet transcription of an Irving Fine work, written by Jeff Scott. The program also includes Ruth Crawford Seeger’s Suite for wind Quintet and a transcription of Leonard Bernstein’s Overture to “Candide.” Join for a pre-concert conversation with the Artists at 6:30 p.m. in the Whittall Pavilion. This concert was made possible with the generous support of the Verna and Irving Fine Endowment in the Library of Congress.
Find more information here (registrations available 1/17/24)
Thursday, June 20, 5 p.m.: Screening of “Take Me to the River: New Orleans,” 5 p.m.
“Take Me to the River New Orleans” celebrates the rich musical history, heritage, legacy, and influence of New Orleans and Louisiana. The film pairs legacy musicians with present-day stars, demonstrating the enduring legacy of New Orleans’ music scene.
Find more information here (registrations available 1/17/24)
Thursday, June 20, 8 p.m.: Live! At the Library: Cha Wa
Cha Wa’s concert promises an unforgettable fusion of New Orleans brass band traditions, Mardi Gras Indian culture, and contemporary funk to honor Juneteenth.
Find more information here (registrations available 1/17/24)
Comments (2)
When will the next summer/ fall Coolidge concert tickets be available? I missed the winter spring season because I did nit know the day to sign up for tickets. Thank you.
Thank you for your message and your interest. We do not yet have an announce date set, but it may be as early as August this year. Please watch our blog and loc.gov/concerts for updates. You can still come and try for a RUSH pass this spring; we are usually able to get a number of people in that way who were not previously registered. Unfortunately we cannot guarantee a seat, but we do our best to get as many people in to see the concerts as possible!