Concerts from the Library of Congress continues to celebrate a century of landmark concerts in spring 2025, offering a rich and diverse kaleidoscope of classical music, jazz, pop, folk and dance events, with a major focus on American contemporary voices across genres.
“This spring our events present a broad perspective on the Library’s storied history as a presenter of the performing arts,” said Susan H. Vita, Chief of the Library’s Music Division. “Our commissions from Patrice Rushen, Chris Otto, Jlin and Tania Léon honor a distinguished tradition established by Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge in 1925. Now, at the century mark, and the arrival of the America at 250 celebration, we are building on her legacy as we grow our vision of America’s music at the nation’s library.”
Spring 2024 Programs
Friday, January 24, 8 p.m.: Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment with Julia Bullock, soprano
Grammy-winning American soprano Julia Bullock joins Britain’s famed Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment in a brilliant evening of vocal and instrumental showpieces from the Golden Age of the Baroque. Join for a pre-concert conversation with the artists at 6:30 pm, Whittall Pavilion. Reserve tickets here.
Tuesday, January 28, 8 p.m.: Nicolas Altstaedt, cello
German-French cellist Nicolas Altstaedt plays the Library’s magnificent 1699 Stradivari “Castelbarco” cello in a powerhouse solo recital of works by J.S. Bach, Dutilleux and Kodály. There will be no pre-concert conversation for this event. Reserve tickets here.
Saturday, February 1, 2 p.m.: Francesco Corti, harpsichord
Italian harpsichordist Francesco Corti adds joyful spontaneity to virtuosity and flair in his recital of magisterial keyboard works by George Frideric Händel and J.S. Bach. Join for a pre-concert lecture by Christoph Wolff, Adams University Professor, Emeritus, Harvard University, at 6:30 p.m. in the Whittall Pavilion. Reserve tickets here.
Wednesday, February 5, 8 p.m.: Holger Falk, baritone & Steffen Schleiermacher, piano
Baritone Holger Falk and pianist Steffen Schleiermacher perform the music of Hanns Eisler and Franz Schubert in a one-of-a-kind vocal recital. Join for a pre-concert conversation with the artists at 6:30 p.m. in the Whittall Pavilion. Reserve tickets here.
Wednesday, February 19, 8 p.m.: Jupiter Quartet
Celebrated as “an ensemble of eloquent intensity” (The New Yorker), the award-winning Jupiter String Quartet brings a program of Carlos Simon, Shulamit Ran and Beethoven to the Library of Congress, performing on its renowned Stradivari instruments. Join for a pre-concert conversation at 6:30 p.m. in the Whittall Pavilion. Reserve tickets here.
Friday, February 28, 5 p.m.: Screening of “Elevator to the Gallows”
In a late-night session on December 4, 1957, Miles Davis and his French quintet recorded a mostly improvised, modal score for Louis Malle’s debut film “Ascenseur pour l’échafaud” (Elevator to the Gallows). Reserve tickets here.
Friday, February 28, 8 p.m.: José James
José James returns to the Coolidge Auditorium to perform music from his deeply personal, self-produced album, 1978. There will be no pre-concert conversation for this event. Reserve tickets here.
Saturday, March 8, 8 p.m.: Music of Anthony Braxton
Anthony Braxton headlines a concert commemorating the Library of Congress’ acquisition of his papers. An array of stellar collaborators come together with Braxton to celebrate the music of this iconic American contemporary composer and multi-instrumentalist. Join for a pre-concert conversation with the artists at 6:30 p.m. in the Whittall Pavilion. Reserve tickets here starting on January 15.
Friday, March 14, 5 p.m.: Screening of “The Heat’s On”
A vibrant musical comedy film featuring the incredible Hazel Scott, a pioneering Afro-Caribbean pianist and singer known for her virtuosity and captivating stage presence. Reserve tickets here starting on January 15.
Friday, March 14, 8 p.m.: Brandee Younger
Experience the melodic and dynamic sounds of Brandee Younger’s harp. Grammy-nominated, 2024 NAACP Image Award winner, celebrated harpist, composer and educator, Brandee Younger is a leading voice of the harp today. There will be no pre-concert conversation for this event. Reserve tickets here starting on January 15.
Wednesday, March 26, 7 p.m.: Lecture, “Happy Little Seahorses: Brahms’ Unwritten Melusine Opera”
In a lecture co-presented with the American Musicological Society, Laurie McManus of Shenandoah Conservatory gives a talk on a little-known opera libretto that was given to Johannes Brahms for consideration. The libretto might be called a “hidden gem” of the Library’s Brahms collection, given that it has never been transcribed or discussed in any substantial form in the Brahms literature—until now! Reserve tickets here starting on January 15.
Saturday, March 29, 8 p.m.: Fröst-Tamestit-Wosner Trio
Admired worldwide as soloists, a trio of leading touring artists unite for a rare chamber music collaboration. Swedish clarinetist Martin Fröst, French violinist Antoine Tamestit and American pianist Shai Wosner perform their own arrangements of works by Bizet, Brahms and Dvořák, and their irresistible Dance Mosaic of European folk tunes.Join for a pre-concert conversation with the artists at 6:30 p.m. in the Whittall Pavilion. Reserve tickets here starting on January 15.
Friday, April 4, 8 p.m.: The String Queens
Praised for its authentic, soulful and orchestral sound, The String Queens is a dynamic trio of artists who create stimulating musical experiences that inspire audiences to love, hope, feel and imagine. Join for a pre-concert conversation with the artists at 6:30 p.m. in the Whittall Pavilion. Reserve tickets here starting on January 15.
Tuesday, April 8, 8 p.m.: Anne-Sophie Mutter, violin and Lambert Orkis, piano
The Library welcomes the extraordinary violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter and pianist Lambert Orkis for a concert of music by Mozart, Schubert and Respighi, and a new work by Iranian composer Aftab Darvishi. Reserve tickets here starting on January 15.
Friday, April 11, 8 p.m.: Jennifer Koh, violin & Del Sol String Quartet
Celebrate the creativity, brilliance, and legacy of Cuban-born American composer, conductor, and educator Tania León in an evening featuring Grammy-winning violinist Jennifer Koh and Chamber Music America Award-winning Del Sol String Quartet. Join for a pre-concert conversation with the artists at 6:30 p.m. in the Whittall Pavilion. Reserve tickets here starting on January 15.
Friday, April 25, 8 p.m.: Hélène Grimaud, piano
One of the world’s most celebrated pianists, acclaimed for technical mastery and poetic, captivating interpretations, Hélène Grimaud plays late works by Beethoven and Brahms in a beautiful program that ends with the great Bach-Busoni Chaconne in D minor. Join for a pre-concert conversation with the artists at 6:30 p.m. in the Whittall Pavilion. Reserve tickets here starting on January 15.
Saturday, April 26, 8 p.m.: Horszowski Trio
The multi-dimensional Horszowski Trio performs the music of Rebecca Clarke, Charles Wuorinen, and Franz Schubert. Join for a pre-concert conversation with the artists at 6:30 p.m. in the Whittall Pavilion. Reserve tickets here starting on January 15.
Thursday, May 1, 8 p.m.: Somi
With a sound that blends her Rwanda and Uganda heritage with jazz and other rhythms, Grammy-nominated and NAACP Image Award winning Somi brings her sextet to the Library of Congress for an evening of rich musical textures. There will be no pre-concert conversation for this event. Reserve tickets here starting on March 12.
Thursday, May 15, 7 p.m.: Live! At the Library: Jlin
Jlin brings her signature electronic dance party energy to the Library’s Great Hall, where she will present the world premiere of the first electronic music piece commissioned by the Library. There will be no pre-concert conversation for this event. Reserve tickets here starting on March 12.
Friday, May 30, 8 p.m.: loadbang
loadbang, the only group we know of for bass clarinet, baritone voice, trumpet, and trombone, offers an evening of new music, with guest artists Christopher Otto, violin, and Ning Yu, piano. Join for a pre-concert conversation with the artists at 6:30 p.m. in the Whittall Pavilion. Reserve tickets here starting on March 12.
Saturday, May 31, 8 p.m.: Piece Offerings: Brigitta Muntendorf’s “Trilogy”
The brilliant German-Austrian composer Brigitta Muntendorf will be featured in a D.C. premiere of her work Trilogy for Two Pianos. Hear the composer speak about her work in conjunction with the performance. This concert will include a conversation onstage at the conclusion of the event. Reserve tickets here starting on March 12.
Tuesday, June 3, 8 p.m.: “The (Effortless) Now” : dances of Erick Hawkins and Lucia Dlugoszewski
Katherine Duke and the Erick Hawkins Dance Company join some of Lucia Dlugoszewski’s most ardent advocates—pianist Agnese Toniutti and the Daedalus String Quartet—for a can’t-miss exploration of the creative team. The program features music and choreography from the Library’s Erick Hawkins and Lucia Dlugoszewski papers. Join for a pre-concert conversation with the artists at 6:30 p.m. in the Whittall Pavilion. Reserve tickets here starting on March 12.
Wednesday, June 4, 7 p.m.: An Evening with Judy Collins
Join us for a concert and booksigning with one of America’s most-loved performers: the legendary singer-songwriter Judy Collins. There will be no pre-concert conversation for this event. A booksigning for Collins’ new volume of poetry, “Sometimes It’s Heaven, Poems of Love, Loss and Redemption,” will follow the concert. This concert is presented in cooperation with the American Folklife Center and in association with WorldPride Washington, DC 2025. Reserve tickets here starting on March 12.
Thursday, June 5, 6 p.m.: Live! At the Library—Marvin Gaye: Melancholy and Genius in Black Culture and Media
Commemorate Black Music Month with an engaging talk that explores connections between Marvin Gaye’s music and the influence of George Gershwin. This conversation features Dr. I. Augustus Durham (Assistant Professor of English, University of Toronto) and Morgan Davis (Music Reference Specialist, Music Division, Library of Congress). Dr. Durham is the author of “Stay Black and Die: On Melancholy and Genius” (Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2023). Reserve tickets here starting on March 12.
Wednesday, June 18, 8 p.m.: Gary Bartz, saxophone
Grammy-winning saxophonist and 2024 NEA Jazz Master Gary Bartz brings his legendary groove to the historic Coolidge Auditorium. Presented through the generous support of the William I. Bandas Trust Fund in the Library of Congress. There will be no pre-concert conversation for this event. Reserve tickets here starting on March 12.
Concerts from the Library of Congress is made possible through the generous support of music lovers. Make your gift today to ensure world-class performances inspire all who share the experience.