The 48th season of the Smithsonian Chamber Music Society features musical masterpieces from the late-16th to the early 21st century, played on some of the world’s most highly prized musical instruments. The repertoire ranges from acclaimed masterpieces to undeservedly obscure gems by all-but-forgotten composers during this 6-concert series held mostly on Saturdays or all Sundays.
Kenneth Slowik, SCMS artistic director and recipient of the Smithsonian Distinguished Scholar Award, again curates a series of pre-concert talks one hour prior to each concert, shedding light on the glorious music and the lives and times of the featured composers.
Concert Program
The Smithsonian Chamber Orchestra concert in mid-March, featuring baritone Mischa Bouvier, explores 20th- and 21st-century works ranging from the elegiac (Busoni, Mahler, and Strauss) to the transcendently hopeful (Golijov).
Ferruccio Busoni, arr. Schönberg: Berceuse élégiaque
Gustav Mahler, arr. Slowik: Kindertotenlieder
Richard Strauss: Metamorphosen
Osvaldo Golijov: Tenebrae
The Smithsonian Chamber Orchestra
Mischa Bouvier, baritone; Kenneth Slowik, conductor
Additional Masterworks of Five Centuries Series Concerts
- November 2, 2024 or November 3, 2024
- November 23, 2024 or November 24, 2024
- December 7, 2024 or December 8, 2024
- March 29, 2025 or March 30, 2025
- April 12, 2025 or April 13, 2025
- This series is available on Saturdays or Sundays.
Other Smithsonian Chamber Music Society Performances
General Information
- This program and its artists are subject to change.
- This concert takes place at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 301 A St., NE (Metro: Capitol South).
- Advanced sales will close at 2 p.m. on Friday, March 14, 2025.
- Within 24 hours of the concert, this page will be updated if tickets will be available for purchase at the door. If available, mobile device and credit card transactions will apply (no cash allowed).
- Refer to our health and safety information for in-person programs.
