2024-2025 Season Concerts

Tickets on sale May 1 for Dumbarton Concerts Members and May 15 for the general public

Unless noted otherwise, all concerts are presented both live in-person and livestreamed

Live in-person tickets $48 | Livestream tickets $14

Monumental Bach motets from an exquisite all-star choir

The Thirteen

Matthew Robertson, Artistic Director

Saturday, October 19, 2024
7:30 p.m.
Live in-person only, no livestream

J.S. Bach: The Motets

Johann Sebastian Bach

Jesu, meine Freude, BWV 227
Fürchte dich nicht, BWV 228
Lobet den Herrn, alle Heiden, BWV 230
Komm, Jesu, Komm, BWV 229
Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf, BWV 226
Ich lasse dich nicht, BWV 1164
Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied, BWV 225

Our historic 47th season starts with a new and exciting DC partnership. The Thirteen is one of the Washington area’s flagship professional ensembles, founded in 2012 and led by Artistic Director Matthew Robertson. In their Dumbarton debut, they present a program, with full choir of sixteen singers and period instruments, of J.S. Bach’s timeless motets, including the iconic Jesu, Meine Freude. Tickets will go fast for this epic season-opening program, featuring the group lauded by The Washington Post as possessing “striking color and richness” that “transfigures the listener .”

German luminaries present elegant & rarely heard music for piano quartet

Fauré Quartett

Dirk Mommertz, piano | Erika Geldsetzer, violin
Sascha Frömbling, viola | Konstantin Heidrich, cello

Saturday, November 9, 2024
7:30 p.m.

Gustav Mahler Quartet Movement for Piano Quartet in A Minor
Gabriel Fauré Piano Quartet No. 1 in C minor, Op. 15
Johannes Brahms Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor, Op. 25

It is the ambition of classical chamber musicians to pay respect to the past while looking to the future. The Fauré Quartett has embodied this dynamic throughout its nearly thirty-year history. From Mendelssohn to Steely Dan and back again, the quartet stands out in a crowded field with its multifaceted and eminently skillful approach to its unique repertoire. At Dumbarton, the Fauré Quartett offers a refined program of rarities and favorites by Mahler, Brahms, and, of course, Fauré. This is chamber music at its finest: organic, vital, and always beautiful.

Innovative & genre-bending music for solo cello

Seth Parker Woods

Saturday, November 16, 2024
7:30 p.m.

Difficult Grace

Johann Sebastian Bach Sarabandes from Suites Nos. 1, 2, and 5 for solo cello
Frederick Gifford Difficult Grace for cello and electronics

With works by

Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, Giacinto Scelsi, Nathalie Joachim, Monty Adkins,
Alvin Singleton, Conrad Beck, Carlos Simon, and Chinary Ung

The critical accolades afforded to Seth Parker Woods are striking and illustrative. Described as a cellist of “power and grace” by The Guardian and of “prodigious technical gifts and sharp intellect” by The New York Times, Mr. Woods is a singular and powerful artist. His programming, and indeed his playing, challenge listeners to examine their aesthetic, social, and personal assumptions. His expertly curated program Difficult Grace centers around a commissioned piece by the same name and uses moving contemporary works to reframe the classical cello canon. This “dazzlingly inventive” (Gramophone) program will leave you a more thoughtful, engaged, and inspired listener.

Tickets on sale May 1 for Dumbarton Concerts Members and May 15 for the general public

The 40-year holiday favorite returns!

A Celtic Christmas

Allison Hampton, harp | Linn Barnes, guitar & lute
Joseph Cunliffe, flutes & recorders | Steve Bloom, percussion | Robert Aubry Davis, narrator

Saturday, December 7, 2024
Sunday, December 8, 2024
4:00 p.m.

Every December, the cold rolls in and we seek comfort and joy in the warm embrace of the holiday season. We present to you the perennial Georgetown favorite, A Celtic Christmas, returning once again to the Dumbarton stage and continuing the beloved tradition that stretches over four decades. The Barnes and Hampton Celtic Consort transports its devoted audience back in time and across the pond with the skillful musical touch of Linn Barnes and Allison Hampton and the jocular poetic stylings of the inimitable Robert Aubry Davis. Join the community celebration and allow yourself to be swept up and transported by the sounds of Celtic music for Christmas.

A legendary pianist tributes an iconic Christmas soundtrack

Cyrus Chestnut Trio

Friday, December 13, 2024
7:30 p.m.

Baltimore’s own Cyrus Chestnut guarantees a tour de force. Hailed as “the best pianist of his generation” by TIME magazine, Mr. Chestnut’s skill and stage presence have kept audiences coming back time and again. His pedigree speaks for itself – since signing with Atlantic Records in 1993, he has collaborated with such multi-genre musical giants as Wynton Marsalis, Chick Corea, and Kathleen Battle. In this special appearance with his trio on the Dumbarton stage, Mr. Chestnut returns to his roots and pays tribute to his first jazz influence, Vince Guaraldi, in a fresh yet reverent interpretation of Guaraldi’s iconic 1965 soundtrack to A Charlie Brown Christmas. Don’t miss this charming trip down memory lane with a true jazz virtuoso.

Rollicking folk and bluegrass from a Baltimore supergroup

Helicon: Winter Solstice

Ken Kolodner | Robin Bullock | Chris Norman | Ken & Brad Kolodner Quartet
Charm City Junction | Elke Baker

Saturday, December 14, 2024
7:30 p.m.

The rhythms and tunes of the Irish musical canon have sojourned all over the world, but most especially to the mountains and hills of the American South and Midwest. These cultural standard bearers continue to carry such traditions into the modern day, and we are thrilled to welcome back the Baltimore-based supergroup Helicon and its cadre of guests for a warm salute to this cherished heritage. Band leader Ken Kolodner brings his incredible team to the Dumbarton stage for their annual program of bluegrass and folk music for the winter season. From rollicking dances to heartwarming ballads, join us to celebrate the coming of a new year.

Tickets on sale May 1 for Dumbarton Concerts Members and May 15 for the general public

Impressionism through the centuries: string quartet jewels from a veteran American ensemble

Fry Street Quartet

Robert Waters, violín | Rebecca McFaul, violin
Bradley Ottesen, viola | Anne Francis Bayless, cello

Saturday, January 25, 2025
7:30 p.m.
Live in-person only, no livestream

Franz Joseph Haydn Quartet in D Major, Op. 20, No. 4
Clarice Assad Canções da America
Claude Debussy Quartet in G minor, Op. 10

There’s a certain synergy that arises from longtime musical collaborators, and from this alignment comes captivating performance. When we welcome the acclaimed Fry Street Quartet to our stage, you will witness an uncommon partnership at work. With history as an ensemble stretching back over twenty-five years, the Fry Street Quartet has accomplished incredible things, starting on the stage and extending far beyond it. Join us for a fascinating and varied program showcasing what The Strad magazine called "technical precision and scorching spontaneity.”

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with tango music for string ensemble & live dancers

Steve Honigberg Tango Ensemble

Friday, February 14, 2025
7:30 p.m.

National Symphony cellist Steve Honigberg is a favorite of the Dumbarton stage, and in February of 2025 he returns with a special presentation: a decadent program of tango music for strings and piano on Valentine’s Day. This is no ordinary enchanted evening, however. It may be date night, but musical excellence is integral to every program Mr. Honigberg puts together. In the clubs of Buenos Aires and throughout the world, the tango captivates audiences with its virtuosic demands and passionate energy. Bring a friend, bring that special someone, or treat yourself to a solo night out. You never know what special guests might appear onstage!

Fresh, bold jazz led by a revered saxophone maestro

Paul Carr Quartet

Saturday, March 8, 2025
7:30 p.m.
Live in-person only, no livestream

Saxophonist, educator, and director Paul Carr has been an extraordinary jazz ambassador for decades. While consistently performing and recording throughout his career, Mr. Carr is also known throughout the Washington area for his work in the education and preservation of the great and uniquely American jazz tradition. We are pleased and honored to welcome Mr. Carr and his quartet to our stage after years of sold-out shows at other storied DC jazz venues. Having trained generations of young musicians, Paul knows jazz like no other.

Tickets on sale May 1 for Dumbarton Concerts Members and May 15 for the general public

Inspirational African American spirituals by breathtaking young vocal talents

Morgan State University Choir

Dr. Eric Conway, Director

Saturday, March 29, 2025
4:00 p.m.

Few musical traditions exemplify the power of the human spirit like the African American spiritual. Standing distinct from gospel and with an educational and performance history dating to the 1870s, the spiritual endures as a timeless and achingly beautiful response to the horrors of enslavement. As true emissaries of the craft, the Morgan State University Choir have brought their signature astounding skill around the U.S. and the world for decades. Led by Dr. Eric Conway, a brilliant pianist in his own right, the choir brings down the roof in every house they play, with a sensitive and deeply informed approach leading them along the way.

A riveting evening of music & stories honoring pioneering Black women pianists

Michelle Cann

Saturday, April 12, 2025
7:30 p.m.

The Women of Chicago’s Black Renaissance

Florence Price Fantasie nègre Nos. 1, 2, and 4
Margaret Bonds Spiritual Suite
Betty Jackson King Four Seasonal Sketches
Irene Britton Smith Variations on a Theme by MacDowell
Nora Holt Negro Dance Op. 25, No. 1
Hazel Scott
Improvisation on Rachmaninoff’s Prelude in C-sharp Minor
Improvisation on Lizst’s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2

In a triumphant solo return to the Dumbarton stage, we welcome virtuoso and educator Michelle Cann. Praised as “exquisite” by The Philadelphia Inquirer and “a pianist of sterling artistry” by Gramophone, Ms. Cann brings a warm, confident, and energetic voice to the world of classical piano. Known as an industry-leading interpreter of the music of Florence Price, she expands upon this expertise with a program celebrating Black women composers and pianists of the 20th century. Join us for an evening of world-class piano performance, accompanied by compelling storytelling and musical observations on this fresh and fascinating subject.

Two superstar string quartets join forces for a show-stopping season finale

Borromeo String Quartet with the Verona Quartet

Saturday, May 3, 2025
7:30 p.m.

George Enescu Octet for Strings in C Major, Op. 7
Dmitri Shostakovich Two Pieces for String Octet, Op. 11
Felix Mendelssohn String Octet in E-flat Major, Op. 20

Our 47th season comes to a close with a rare treat. We are delighted to welcome the renowned Borromeo String Quartet with the outstanding rising stars of the Verona Quartet in a special collaborative program of string octets. From brilliantly contrapuntal Enescu to sharp, edgy Shostakovich and closing with the genre-defining Mendelssohn, it is a program perfectly designed for the acoustics of our beloved Dumbarton sanctuary. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to witness these eight stunning musicians fill the room with sound, in a spectacle of technical prowess and sublime music-making.

Purchase a Dumbarton Concerts membership here!