Free 'Porgy and Bess' concert Wednesday at St. John's, Lafayette Square

Alvy Powell, bass-baritone

Alvy Powell, the bass-baritone who has sung the role of "Porgy" more than 2500 times across the globe from San Francisco to La Scala to Carnegie Hall to Australia, will sing selections from George Gershwin's opera, Porgy and Bess, in a free noontime concert May 1 at St. John's Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square.

Accompanying Powell will be Michael Lodico, St. John's associate organist.

In 2007 Powell debuted with the Choral Arts Society of Washington singing "Porgy" which he has also performed with the Virginia Opera and with the Nashville Symphony which features him in its recording of Porgy and Bess.

Click here to see and hear Powell sing the duet, Bess, You Is My Woman Now with Charlae Olaker.

Other Powell achievements include Bartolo from Le Nozze di Figaro with The Virginia Opera, Sharpless from Madame Butterfly with the Connecticut Opera, Coline in La Boheme with the Tulsa Opera, and Opera Pacific, and as Timur in Turandot with Opera Carolina, Opera Grand Rapids, and the Cleveland Opera.

For the Vatican production commemorating the centennial of the death of Giuseppe Verdi, Powell was soloist in the Verdi Requiem with the Rome Opera. He is a Sergeant First Class in the U.S. Army and sings solo with its chorus.  Last week they performed at the dedication of the George Bush library in Texas.

His performance at St. John's is part of the church's First Wednesday Concert Series which begin at 12:10 p.m. and end at 12:45 p.m.  This year's series ends June 5 when Jeremy Filsell, artist-in-residence at the Washington National Cathedral, plays organ works by Bach, Dupre, and Rachmaninov.

St. John's Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square/Patricia Leslie
 

St. John's, known to many Washington residents as the yellow church at Lafayette Square, is often called the “Church of the Presidents.” Beginning with President James Madison, who served from 1809 to 1817, every president has either been a member of, or has attended services at St. John's. A plaque at the rear of the church designates the Lincoln pew where President Abraham Lincoln often sat when he stopped by St. John's during the Civil War. 

The concerts are excellent respites from Washington's usual weekday harried cycle.  Food trucks are located at nearby Farragut Square so listeners may "eat and run" back to the office.

Who:  Alvy Powell, bass-baritone, and Michael Lodico, organist

When: 12:10 p.m., May 1, 2013

Where: St. John’s, Lafayette Square, 1525 H Street, NW, at the corner of 16^th, Washington, D.C. 20005

How much:  No charge

Duration: About 35 minutes

Wheelchair accessible

Metro stations: McPherson Square or Farragut North or Farragut West

Food trucks:  Located two blocks away at Farragut Square

For more information: 202-270-6265

patricialesli@gmail.com

World premiere debuts in free noontime concert Wednesday

Bianca Garcia will play at St. John's Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square, in a free noontime concert

 

The public is invited to the world premiere of a work for flute and organ featuring Native American music March 6 at St. John's Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square.

Bianca Garcia, newly elected member of the New Hampshire state assembly, will play the flute, and Michael Lodico will play the organ for Stephen Cabell's Kokopelliana, starting at 12:10 p.m.

Stephen Cabell

The musicians and composer promise if everything goes according to plans, the music about the flute playing of the Southwest deity, Kokepelli, will "sweep away winter and herald the spring" on a day when snow is predicted for Washington.  Come and find out.

 

Also on the program are the Titanic Theme Song with glass flute, a shepherd song for piccolo and organ by Hans-Andre Stamm, and Frank Martin's Sonata da Chiesa.

Michael Lodico, choir director and associate organist at St. John's Episcopal Church

 

Mr. Cabell, Mr. Lodico and Ms. Garcia are graduates of the Curtis Institute of Music.  Mr. Cabell teaches at the Manhattan School of Music, and Ms. Garcia, a recent Fulbright Scholar, has performed in 16 countries.  Mr. Lodico, the associate organist and choir director at St. John's, is also a Fulbright Scholar.

Other performances coming up in St. John's First Wednesday series are:

Apr. 3: Benjamin Hutto, director of music ministry and organist, St. John's, plays Organ Treasures Old and New

May 1: Alvy Powell, bass-baritone and Gershwin interpreter

June 5: Jeremy Filsell, artist-in-residence at the Washington National Cathedral, performing organ works by Bach, Dupre, and Rachmaninov

St. John's, known to many Washington residents as the yellow church at Lafayette Square, is often called the “Church of the Presidents.” Beginning with James Madison, president from 1809 to 1817, every president has either been a member of, or has attended services at St. John's. A plaque at the rear of the church designates the Lincoln pew where President Abraham Lincoln often sat when he stopped by St. John's during the Civil War.

St. John's Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square/ Patricia Leslie 

Who:  Bianca Garcia and Michael Lodico performing Stephen Cabell's Kokopelliana

When: 12:10 p.m., March 6, 2013

Where: St. John’s, Lafayette Square, 1525 H Street, NW, at the corner of 16^th, Washington, D.C. 20005

How much: No charge

Duration: About 35 minutes

Wheelchair accessible

Metro stations: McPherson Square, Farragut North, or Farragut West

Food trucks:  Located two blocks away at Farragut Square

For more information: 202-270-6265 or 202-347-8766

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patricialesli@gmail.com

Free concert Wednesday at St. John's, Lafayette Square

St. John's, Lafayette Square, Washington, D.C./Patricia Leslie

For "day after" doldrums, to calm that headache from too much election night celebration, or to simply enjoy elegant music, there's a downtown place to soothe tired souls (and soles) at Lafayette Square on Wednesday.

Michael Lodico, the associate choirmaster and organist at St. John's Episcopal Church, will play Works for Musical Clock by Haydn and Mozart as part of the church's "First Wednesday" series.

There is no charge to attend the concert which lasts just over a half hour and begins at 12:10 p.m.

Barbara Kraft (1764-1825), Austrian, a posthumous portrait of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) in 1819/Wikimedia Commons

Ludwig Guttenbrunn (1740-1819), Austrian, Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) ca. 1770/Wikimedia Commons

 

Other First Wednesday concert dates:

Dec. 5: Madrigal Singers from St. Albans and National Cathedral School, directed by Benjamin Hutto, performing "Music of the Season"

Jan. 9, 2013 (second Wednesday): Marvin Mills, concert organist, performing Avec une touche Francaise, with works by Saint-Saens, Widor, Durufle, Litaize, and Dupre

Feb. 6: Soloists from St. John's Choir

Mar. 6: Bianca Garcia, flute, assisted by Michael Lodico, organist, featuring the world premiere of a work by Stephen Cabell

Apr. 3: Benjamin Hutto, director of music ministry and organist, St. John's, performing "Organ Treasure Old and New"

May 1: Alvy Powell, bass-baritone and Gershwin interpreter

June 5: Jeremy Filsell, Washington National Cathedral Artist-in-Residence, performing organ works by Bach, Dupre, and Rachmaninov

St. John's, known to many Washington residents as the yellow church at Lafayette Square, is often called the “Church of the Presidents.” Beginning with James Madison, who served from 1809 to 1817, every president has either been a member of, or has attended services at St. John's, including President Barack Obama and his family. A plaque at the rear of the church designates the Lincoln pew where President Abraham Lincoln sat when he often stopped by St. John's during the Civil War.

Michael Lodico, organist/St. John's Episcopal Church

 
What:  Works for Musical Clock by Haydn and Mozart

When: 12:10 p.m., November 7, 2012

Where: St. John’s, Lafayette Square, 1525 H Street, NW, at the corner of 16^th, Washington, D.C. 20005

How much: No charge

Duration: About 35 minutes each

Wheelchair accessible

Metro stations: McPherson Square or Farragut West

For more information: 202-347-8766

patricialesli@gmail.com

Free trombone concert at St. John's, Lafayette Square June 6

Weston Sprott

Metropolitan Opera Orchestra trombonist Weston Sprott will present a recital featuring works by Liszt, Guilmant, Holst, and Eben at St. John's Church, Lafayette Square beginning at 12:10 p.m. June 6.  

Sprott, the second trombonist for the Metropolitan Orchestra, formerly was principal trombonist for the Pennsylvania Ballet and Delaware Symphony orchestras.  He has performed around the world, including concerts with the Atlanta Symphony, the Oslo Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, and at Tanglewood, Spoleto, and Helsinki festivals. He teaches at Julliard's Music Advancement Program and other institutions.

St. John's organist Michael Lodico will accompany Sprott in the performance scheduled to last about 30 minutes, perfect for a lunchtime break and refresher. 

St. John's, "the church of the presidents," is located at the corner of H and 16th streets, NW.

St. John's, Lafayette Square /Patricia Leslie

Who:  Weston Sprott, trombonist

When: 12:10 p.m., Wednesday, June 6

Where:  St. John's Episcopal Church, 1525 H Street, NW

Admission:  No charge

Metro station:  McPherson Square (Vermont Avenue/White House exit)

For more information: 202-347-8766

Weston Sprott

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