Legendary Studio Ghibli film composer Joe Hisaishi conducts the NSO in “Music from the Studio Ghibli Films of Hayao Miyazaki” at Wolf Trap. Photo courtesy of Kennedy Center.
WASHINGTON—The National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) demonstrates its versatility in its presentation of 12 summer programs in two venues featuring genres ranging from film music to gospel and Broadway to indie-roots. The NSO’s summer pops programming runs from June 9–August 5 and will take place in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall and at the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts in Vienna, Virginia.
The NSO’s summertime pops performances begin with NSO Artistic Advisor Ben Folds’ series DECLASSIFIED® presenting pop singer BANKS for her orchestra debut, and guitar virtuoso and Alexandria native, Yasmin Williams on June 9. Folds will perform works from his latest album, What Matters Most, which is set to release on June 2. This party-like concert will have a pre-show performance featuring D.C. rap artist Flex Mathews and post-show live-band karaoke with local group HariKaraoke Band on Millennium Stage.
Next, the NSO performs alongside sitar virtuoso and film composer Anoushka Shankar, led by conductor and arranger Jules Buckley on June 14. Shankar, the daughter of famed sitarist Ravi Shankar, and the first Indian woman to be nominated for a Grammy Award®, will present Buckley’s arrangements of works from her latest Grammy®–nominated album, Between Us…, which was released in July 2022.
On June 16–17, the NSO will celebrate D.C. native and Motown legend Marvin Gaye with What’s Going On NOW, a tribute marking the 50th anniversary of the singer’s groundbreaking album, What’s Going On. Gaye performed the album in its entirety at the Kennedy Center on May 1, 1972. Conducted by Principal Pops conductor Steven Reineke, the NSO will be joined by Joshua Henry, Luke James, Cory Henry, Michelle Williams, and Emily King. Highlighting the lasting impact Gaye had on Washington, D.C., the concerts will also feature poetry from Kennedy Center Vice President of Social Impact and Artistic Director of Cultural Strategy Marc Bamuthi Joseph, along with poets from local youth organizations 826DC; Shout Mouse Press; and Words, Beats & Life addressing the ever-important question posed by Gaye: ‘What’s going on?’ in today’s society.
The highly acclaimed gospel and R&B icon CeCe Winans joins the NSO performing highlights from her 2021 live album Believe For It on June 20. Winans, one of the most-decorated gospel singers of all time with 15 Grammy Awards®, Winans’ replaces a previously scheduled appearance by Yolanda Adams.
On June 23–25, the Music of Star Wars will fill the Concert Hall with selections from the classic Star Wars films, composed by John Williams, along with music from Rogue One, composed by Michael Giacchino.
Singer-songwriter Natalie Merchant performs works from her new album, Keep Your Courage as part of her national tour, June 30–July 1. Keep Your Courage was released in April and is the artist’s ninth solo studio album, coming almost a decade after her last release.
On July 26–28, the NSO will present the symphonic world premiere of RENT in Concert, directed by Sammi Cannold with original orchestrations by Sean O’Loughlin. Cannold, last year, directed the NSO’s performance of Barlow and Bear’s The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical Album Live in Concert. A star-studded cast and additional creative team members will be announced in the coming weeks. RENT is the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award®–winning musical written by Jonathan Larson, set in New York City’s East Village in the 1990s.
As part of its yearly residency at Wolf Trap, the NSO will offer five exciting pops programs at the venue. On July 8, the Orchestra celebrates the 40th anniversary of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. John Williams’ Oscar®-nominated score will be played live as the full-length film is projected onto HD screens. On July 14–15, famed Japanese composer Joe Hisaishi, known for composing music for nearly all of Hayao Miyazaki’s animated films from Studio Ghibli, conducts the Orchestra in selections of his scores from movies including My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away as scenes from the films are projected onto HD screens. In a brand new show, indie-roots favorite, DISPATCH, will showcase lush orchestrations of fans’ most-loved hits and selections from the band’s 2021 album, Break Our Fall, on July 21. On July 22, the Orchestra again performs the music of John Williams with another classic: Jurassic Park. The full-length film will be projected in high definition. To conclude its summer Wolf Trap residency, on August 5, the Orchestra joins up with Lyle Lovett and His Large Band for an evening of country music.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
The 2022–2023 season marks the National Symphony Orchestra’s 91st and Gianandrea Noseda’s sixth season as its Music Director. The Italian conductor serves as the Orchestra’s seventh music director, joining the NSO’s legacy of such distinguished leaders. Its artistic leadership also includes Principal Pops Conductor Steven Reineke and Artistic Advisor Ben Folds.
Founded in 1931, the Orchestra has always been committed to artistic excellence and music education. In 1986, the National Symphony became an artistic affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, where it has performed a full season of subscription concerts since the Center opened in 1971. The 96-member NSO regularly participates in events of national and international importance, including official holiday celebrations through its regularly televised appearances on PBS on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol, live-streamed performances from the Kennedy Center Concert Hall on medici.tv, and local radio broadcasts on Classical WETA 90.9FM, making the NSO one of the most-heard orchestras in the country.
Additionally, the NSO’s community engagement projects are nationally recognized, including Notes of Honor, which offers free performances for active, veteran, prior service, and retired members of the military and their families; and Sound Health, a collaboration with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and its affiliated organizations. Career development opportunities for young musicians include the NSO Youth Fellowship Program and its acclaimed, tuition-free Summer Music Institute.
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets for performances at the Kennedy Center are available at the Kennedy Center Box Office, online at kennedy-center.org, and via phone through Instant Charge, (202) 467-4600; toll-free at (800) 444-1324.
Tickets for performances at Wolf Trap are available at wolftrap.org.
For all other ticket-related customer service inquires, call the Advance Sales Box Office at (202) 416-8540.
CONCERT SCHEDULE
DECLASSIFIED®: Ben Folds Presents BANKS and Yasmin Williams
Friday, June 9, 2023 at 9:00 p.m.
Pre-show 8–9:00 p.m.; Post-show 10:30 p.m. –12:00 a.m.
Kennedy Center Concert Hall
Steven Reineke, conductor
Ben Folds, vocals and piano
Yasmin Williams, guitar
BANKS, vocals
Between Us… featuring Anoushka Shankar
Wednesday, June 14, 2023 at 8:00 p.m.
Kennedy Center Concert Hall
Jules Buckley, conductor
Anoushka Shankar, sitar
Rohan Krishnamurthy, percussion
What’s Going On NOW: A Tribute to Marvin Gaye
Friday, June 16, 2023at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 17, 2023 at 8:00 p.m.
Kennedy Center Concert Hall
Steven Reineke, conductor
Joshua Henry, vocals
Luke James, vocals
Cory Henry, vocals
Michelle Williams, vocals
Emily King, vocals
Marc Bamuthi Joseph, spoken word
Youth poets from 826DC; Shout Mouse Press; and Words, Beats & Life
CeCe Winans: Believe For It in Concert
Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at 8:00 p.m.
Kennedy Center Concert Hall
David Hamilton, conductor
CeCe Winans, vocals
Music of Star Wars
Friday, June 23, 2023 at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 24, 2023 at 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, June 25, 2023 at 2:00 p.m.
Kennedy Center Concert Hall
Steven Reineke, conductor
An Evening with Natalie Merchant: Keep Your Courage Tour
Friday, June 30, 2023 at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, July 1, 2023 at 8:00 p.m.
Kennedy Center Concert Hall
James Bagwell, conductor
Natalie Merchant, vocals
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi in Concert
Saturday, July 8, 2023 at 8:00 p.m.
Wolf Trap
Emil de Cou, conductor
Presentation licensed by Disney Concerts in association with 20th Century Fox Film Corp, Lucasfilm and Warner/Chappell Music. © 1983 & TM LUCASFILM LTD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © DISNEY.
Joe Hisaishi Symphonic Concert: Music from the Studio Ghibli Films of Hayao Miyazaki
Friday, July 14, 2023 at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, July 15, 2023 at 8:00 p.m.
Wolf Trap
Joe Hisaishi, conductor
DISPATCH
Friday, July 21, 2023 at 8:00 p.m.
Wolf Trap
Steven Reineke, conductor
Jurassic Park in Concert
Saturday, July 22, 2023 at 8:00 p.m.
Wolf Trap
Steven Reineke, conductor
Jurassic Park is a trademark and copyright of Universal Studios. Licensed by Universal. All Rights Reserved.
RENT in Concert
Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at 8:00 p.m.
Thursday, July 27, 2023 at 8:00 p.m.
Friday, July 28, 2023 at 8:00 p.m.
Kennedy Center Concert Hall
Steven Reineke, conductor
Sammi Cannold, concert director
This production of RENT in Concert is licensed by Music Theatre International www.mtishows.com.
RENT in Concert is created and produced by AMP Worldwide.
Lyle Lovett and His Large Band
Saturday, August 5, 2023 at 8:00 p.m.
Wolf Trap
Jason Seber, conductor
Lyle Lovett, vocals
