One-Hour Live Concerts in the Secret Garden
Opera | Choir | Jazz | Chamber Music | Early Music | Cabaret | Tango | Flamenco
2024-2025 Season Completed Concerts
Thursday, September 12, 2024 | 5pm, 6:30pm
From Porter to Puccini: YOU & THE NIGHT & THE MUSIC
Anna Bergman, Soprano | Howard Breitbart, Musical Director & Pianist
In her new show “YOU & THE NIGHT & THE MUSIC: From Porter to Puccini,” Anna, and her accompanist Howard Breitbart, will serenade you with beloved songs from Broadway musicals and films by Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, George & Ira Gershwin, Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein, Michel Legrand, Charles Trenet, Johann Strauss, Giacomo Puccini as well as Noel Coward, Don Mclean and signature songs by Edith Piaf and Marlene Dietrich.
Anna Bergman “thrills you with the sheer aural sensation of her voice” (THE WALL STREET JOURNAL) and is hailed by THE WASHINGTON POST as “a vocal citizen of the world who has triumphed in everything from Broadway tunes to opera arias and the sultry innuendoes of a cabaret chanteuse.” She has performed roles in musicals, operas, plays and has been a soloist for Queen Elizabeth’s Birthday/60th Jubilee, in Carnegie Hall’s Ira Gershwin Centennial and Vienna, City of Dreams Festival, at the White House, with major international music festivals, symphony orchestras and on television including her own PBS concert “A SALON WITH ANNA BERGMAN.”
“Wonderful, poignant and breathtaking, Anna makes classic songs seem vibrant and new.” (BROADWAYWORLD).
Sunday, November 3, 2024 | 5pm, 6:30pm
The Last Stand Quartet
Schumann Piano Quartet No. 1 in E flat Major
Joel Fuller, violin | Derek Powell, violin | Mahoko Eguchi, viola |
Rachel Young, cello | Natalia Kazaryan, piano
The Last Stand Quartet brings together four of The National Symphony Orchestra’s musicians who each enjoy sharing their passion for chamber music and performing for a wide range of audiences. Commended by The Washington Post for their “consistent refinement and interpretive restraint”, The Last Stand Quartet’s performance at The Rectory on Princess Street will include Natalia Kazaryan joining the quartet to perform Schumann’s glorious and intricate Piano Quartet No. 1, followed by Mozart’s String Quartet no. 8 in F-Major.
Thursday November 21, 2024 | 5pm, 6:30pm
GYPSY PASSAGES: A Liszt Program
Thomas Pandolfi, piano
A program of dreamy to dazzling, virtuosic piano pieces by Franz Liszt that challenge any pianist with the range of expressive emotions, thrilling dynamics, and dramatic tempo. The program includes some of Liszt’s most well-known works like Liebestraum (“Dream of Love”) and Hungarian Rhapsody, as well as several little known gems.
Friday, January 17, 2025 | 5pm, 6:30pm
TERRA STRING QUARTET performs the music of GREG SANDOW
Harriet Langley, violin | Amelia Dietrich, violin | Chih-Ta Chen, viola | Audrey Chen, cello
Join the award-winning Terra String Quartet for an evening of chamber music featuring three evocative and deeply personal works by composer Greg Sandow: The Remembered Song, Mahler Variations, and Quartet for Anne. This vibrant ensemble has captivated audiences with their “remarkable maturity and musicality” and “superb ensemble playing” (Hyde Park Herald, Chicago). Prizewinners at the 2023 Melbourne and Osaka International Chamber Music Competitions, the quartet is based in New York City and boasts graduates from Juilliard, Harvard, New England Conservatory, and Curtis Institute of Music. As the 2024–25 Ensemble-in-Residence at the Yale School of Music and Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts, the Terra String Quartet is celebrated for their passion, spontaneity, and humor—qualities sure to shine in this extraordinary program.
Following the concert, these quartets will be recorded for release on the Acis label, available on streaming platforms and CD.
Thursday, February 13, 2025 | 5pm, 7pm
My Funny Valentine: An Evening of Wine and Jazz
Sendy Brown, vocals | Antonio Parker, saxophone | Cheyney Thomas, bass | Darius Scott, keyboard | Greg Holloway, drums
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with an evening of romance and rhythm featuring Sendy Brown and her Jazz Quartet. With Sendy Brown’s soulful voice accompanied by piano, saxophone, and double bass, the quartet will serenade you with jazz love songs like the timeless My Funny Valentine and Skylark, alongside fresh takes on other Jazz and contemporary favorites. Let the smooth, heartfelt melodies set the mood for a night to remember. Wine reception will be hosted between the two concerts!
This concert is sponsored by Tres Lorton & Nancy Prosser.
Thursday, March 6, 2025 | 5pm, 6:30pm
Beethoven, Brahms, and the Beautiful Blue Danube
Dmitry Yudin, piano
Celebrate the 200th birthday of Johann Strauss, the “Waltz King.” With his masterful artistry, Dmitry Yudin will transport you to 19th century Vienna, with works by three composers who made their home there. The program includes Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 30 in E major, Brahms’s Variations on a theme of Paganini, and Strauss’s beloved waltz, “The Blue Danube.” A perfect way to honor a musical legend!!
Thursday, March 27, 2025 | 5pm, 6:30pm
Portuguese Music Reimagined
ALMO & Júlio Resende
Step into an enchanting evening of music at The Rectory as ALMO & Júlio Resende bring their unique blend of jazz, improvisation, and Portuguese soul to life. This memorable concert showcases the exceptional creativity of Júlio Resende, a pioneer of a unique new genre called “Fado-Jazz,” alongside the vocal talents of tenor Paulo Lapa, a finalist on The Voice Portugal, and baritone Tiago Matos.
In a perfect symbiosis between jazz, improvisation, and singing, the performance pays homage to the essence of Fado and the rich Portuguese Songbook, while transcending traditional boundaries. With their innovative sound and profound artistry, this trio crafts a distinctive musical experience that is both soulful and sophisticated. Immerse yourself in the beauty of Portuguese music reimagined. A delightful evening for lovers of jazz and cultural exploration alike! Sip on a port wine during the performance!
Thursday, April 24, 2025 | 5pm, 6:30pm
The Heartbeat of Cuba
Monte Cimarrón – Cuban Quartet:
Voice, Saxophone/Clarinet, Piano, Double Bass
Monte Cimarrón breathes new life into the traditional sounds of Son Cubano, drawing inspiration from legends like Miguel Matamoros, Compay Segundo, Ñico Saquito, and Eliades Ochoa.
With a fresh and innovative twist, the ensemble replaces the traditional trumpet with the clarinet, creating a softer, more refreshing sound for the timeless rhythms and melodies of Cuban music. Infused with modern harmonies and vibrant energy, Monte Cimarrón preserves the essence of Cuba’s musical heritage while offering a dynamic experience for the audience.
Thursday, May 29, 2025 | 5pm, 6:30pm
Cabaret, Broadway, & the American Songbook
Scott Clark, baritone | Pelagia Pamel, soprano | Bryan Bennett, baritone | Claire Iverson, soprano
Join us for a night of Cabaret featuring alumni from the Prague Summer Nights Young Artist Music Festival. These rising stars will dazzle you with a captivating program blending cabaret with Broadway and favorites from the American songbook. including familiar selections from South Pacific, The Mikado, Camelot, and Man of La Mancha, alongside opera arias by Mozart and Rossini.
Showcasing the artistry, charm, and vocal brilliance of these young performers, the evening promises a journey of passion, humor, and elegance.
Don’t miss this celebration of talent and timeless music in the intimate and atmospheric setting of The Rectory’s Secret Garden.
Thursday, May 15, 2025 | 6:30pm
Peace Notes: Musicians from The Symphony of South Asia
Rohan De Silva, piano | Tharanga Goonetilleke, soprano | Dilshad Posnock, flute | Mezraq Ramli, oboe
A Concert. A Project. A Journey of Peace.
Ambassador Nirupama Menon Rao will relate the story of a unique Symphony Orchestra and how she believes it is better to “sweat in peace than bleed in war”. Join us for this free event for our patrons of the Secret Garden Concerts at The Rectory. This event will be inside the Atrium and is expected to fill up quickly reserve your space at the link below.
