PostClassical Ensemble

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Cultural Diplomacy

American Roots

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Entwined

A Double Feature

April 19, 2023

Terrace Theater at The Kennedy Center

PostClassical Ensemble celebrates the 100-year anniversary of a seminal opera, a life-long creative friendship, and an artistically explosive era in Spanish history with two performances in one night: the world-premiere of Entwined: Love’s Magicians by Derek Goldman and El retablo de maese Pedro (Master Peter’s Puppet Show) by Manuel de Falla.

PCE is honored to have been selected by the government of Spain to lead the centennial celebration of “Master Peter’s Puppet Show” in the United States. Presented in partnership with The Embassy of Spain and Georgetown University.

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What people are saying

So many thanks for that most inspiring, capacious evening. With PCE’s usual ability to surprise and delight… that symphony was astonishing…

Kate

Your leadership and dramatic shaping of the Symphony last night was truly masterful - and so inspiring. I know I’ll never forget this experience. Thank you, Maestro!

Chris

I loved the intimacy of the ensemble and the aching beauty of the melody repeating and recurring and turning up where I did not expect it . And I found the quality of the sound thrilling.

That was my take on the concert --that and the tears that it brought to my eyes, simply to be there, to be present at the creation of something so beautiful..

Michaele

What a perfect PCE evening, wonderful concert and lovely gathering

Liz

Angel, You are so musical! I've played the 4th twice, it was the first Mahler I heard as a kid, and I'm invariably disappointed that conductors don't let it breathe. U nailed it.

David

Congratulations again to you and your superb ensemble on a wonderful and provocative performance in the Terrace Theater last evening. As always, we learned something from this concert and it was fun, too.

Alec

Everything about it was sheer delight, including the lively and interesting talk at the end…

Catherine

"Wildly Ambitious"
Anne Midgette

"Invigorating"
Alex Ross

"One of the country's most innovative musical groups"
Phillip Kennicott

UPcoming this season

Encounters

Cultural Diplomacy

American Roots

Film

Paris at Midnight

November 9, 2022

Encounters

Cultural Diplomacy

American Roots

Film

Amazing Grace

January 11, 2023

Encounters

Cultural Diplomacy

American Roots

Film

Entwined

April 19, 2023

Don't Miss A Beat!

The Prelude: Setting the stage for Entwined: A Double Feature

Tuesday, March 21 at 6:30pm: Tune up and tune in for The Prelude, a 50 minute pre-concert discussion that enriches the concert experience with insights into the music, the composers, and the artists. With director and playwright Derek Goldman, visual artist Kevork Mourad, PCE’s Ángel Gil-Ordóñez and classical music journalist Gail Wein as host. Free and on Zoom. Registration required.

Music Salon at the Hay-Adams Hotel

Join PCE on March 13 at the Hay-Adams Hotel to Celebrate the American Art Song! We will explore works by Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, H. Leslie Adams, Lori Laitman and Paquito d’Rivera with David Jones, clarinet; Audrey Andrist, piano; and Melissa Wimbish, soprano, hosted by our Music Director Ángel Gil-Ordóñez.

Tickets include hors d’oeuvres and paired wine

Learn More

Spring Arts Preview

The Georgetowner Spring Arts Preview previews the best upcoming in visual and performing arts in and near Washington this season. Check out the Q&A with PCE’s Angel Gil-Ordoñez.

PCE at Harvard’s "Instituto Cervantes Observatory”

On February 9: Music Director Ángel Gil-Ordóñez was invited to join Philip Bennett at Harvard’s "Instituto Cervantes Observatory” to discuss performances of Spanish music, played by American musicians for American audiences, including lesser-known works by Manuel de Falla. They also addressed the surprising relationship between Falla and another towering figure of 20th-century Spain, Federico García Lorca, which PCE will explore at our next concert on April 19th.

Watch "Found in Translation: The Discovery of Spanish Classical Music by American Audiences"

Watch Now

PCE Makes The Washington Post's Top 10

Classical Music Critic Michael Brodeur names PCE’s April 2022 concert “Mahler’s Fourth: A Wicked New Look” one of the top 10 Washington, DC performances of the year!

The Prelude: Setting the stage for Amazing Grace

Wednesday, December 28, 2022 at 6:30pm: Tune up and tune in for The Prelude, a 50 minute pre-concert discussion that enriches the concert experience with insights into the music, the composers, and the artists. Free and on Zoom. Registration required.

Brazilian Chamber Music Featuring PCE Musicians

On December 4 at 2:00pm The Friends of the Art Museum of the Americas present “An Afternoon of Brazilian Chamber Music” featuring a 45-minute vibraphone, marimba, percussion, and vocal music program celebrating modern and contemporary Brazilian composers. With vocalist Melissa Wimbish, Bill Richards, Sean MacCarthy-Grant.

More Info

Thanksgiving Radio Special

On November 24, NPR’s 1A broadcast a PCE More than Music episode exploring the life and work of an American original, Lou Harrison. Harrison used instruments rarely seen in any ensemble—Flower pots, parts of old cars, and junk he collected with composer John Cage. Together, he blended eastern and western music into his own unique creation.

more info

Washington Post Review

"Gil-Ordóñez led the 37-piece ensemble with attentive precision and a lively sense of humor that Petersen carried over to the keyboard."

Read

Around Town Best Bets

WETA's Robert Aubry Davis weekly review series, "Around Town Best Bets,” selects PCE's first concert of the season, "Paris at Midnight: Jazz and Surrealism in the 1920s.”

Watch

The Prelude: Setting the Stage for Paris at Midnight

Wednesday, October 26, 2022 at 6:30pm: Tune up and tune in for The Prelude, a 50 minute pre-concert discussion that enriches the concert experience with insights into the music, the composers, and the artists. Free and on Zoom. Registration required

Watch

Entwined

A Double Feature

Haydn Festival

Paris at Midnight

Amazing Grace

Entwined

Don't Miss A Beat!

The Prelude: Setting the stage for Entwined: A Double Feature

Music Salon at the Hay-Adams Hotel

Spring Arts Preview

PCE at Harvard’s "Instituto Cervantes Observatory”

PCE Makes The Washington Post's Top 10

The Prelude: Setting the stage for Amazing Grace

Brazilian Chamber Music Featuring PCE Musicians

Thanksgiving Radio Special

Washington Post Review

Around Town Best Bets

The Prelude: Setting the Stage for Paris at Midnight

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