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Symphonic Wonders: Unveiling May and June's Musical Highlights at the Kennedy Center
Prepare yourself for a symphonic journey as the National Symphony Orchestra takes center stage at the Kennedy Center. This series, running from May to June 2025, offers a rich tapestry of orchestral and choral performances. Highlights include Mahler's Sixth Symphony and Beethoven's Missa Solemnis under Gianandrea Noseda's baton, chamber music classics by the Kennedy Center Chamber Players, and beloved film scores brought to life. Join us as we delve into the artistry and passion that define these unforgettable events.
May 6, 2025
Share1. Noseda conducts Mahler’s Sixth
Growling marches. Nostalgic lullabies. Thunderous hammer blows of fate. Mahler’s Symphony No. 6 seizes audiences from its very first notes, taking us on a dream-like journey through the composer’s concepts of dark destiny, heroic struggle, and ultimately, quiet bliss. Don’t miss this heartfelt masterpiece conducted by Noseda, whose Mahler performances are celebrated as “devilishly good” (Bachtrack).
8 - 10 May, 2025
National Symphony Orchestra
Washington, DC · Kennedy Center
2. Kennedy Center Chamber Players: Summer Concert
Comprising titled musicians of the National Symphony Orchestra, this acclaimed ensemble presents chamber music classics.
May 11, 2025
National Symphony Orchestra
Washington, DC · Kennedy Center
3. Noseda conducts Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis
“From the heart, may it again go to the heart,” an inspired Beethoven wrote above the opening “Kyrie” in the manuscript of his greatest choral work, the Missa Solemnis. The Washington Chorus and remarkable guest soloists Erika Grimaldi, Rihab Chaieb, Saimir Pirgu, and Marko Mimica join the NSO for this infrequently performed epic mass—a vast symphonic statement of mysticism, drama, and sacred intimacy.
15 - 17 May, 2025
National Symphony Orchestra
Washington, DC · Kennedy Center
4. Gianandrea Noseda conducts Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis
“From the heart, may it again go to the heart,” an inspired Beethoven wrote above the opening “Kyrie” in the manuscript of his greatest choral work, the Missa Solemnis. The Washington Chorus and remarkable guest soloists Erika Grimaldi, Rihab Chaieb, Saimir Pirgu, and Marko Mimica join the NSO for this infrequently performed epic mass—a vast symphonic statement of mysticism, drama, and sacred intimacy.
15 - 17 May, 2025
The Washington Chorus
Washington, DC · Kennedy Center
5. The Wizard of Oz in Concert
Follow the Yellow Brick Road! The NSO brings the timeless 1939 film classic back to the big screen. Join Dorothy and her friends as she embarks on a fantastical quest to Oz and faces the Wicked Witch of the West.
Sing along to the music you love and the songs you know by heart—from “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” to “The Merry Old Land of Oz”—as the orchestra performs Herbert Stothart’s iconic score live-to-picture at this truly Technicolor symphonic event.
21 - 22 May, 2025
National Symphony Orchestra
Washington, DC · Kennedy Center
6. Joshua Weilerstein conducts Bernstein & Dawson | John Kimura Parker plays Gershwin
The NSO brings you William Dawson’s stirring Negro Folk Symphony—a work one New York critic called “the most distinctive and promising American symphonic proclamation which has so far been achieved.” Joshua Weilerstein completes the program with Bernstein’s ever-popular Symphonic Dances from West Side Story and Gershwin’s jazz-infused Rhapsody in Blue.
29 - 31 May, 2025
National Symphony Orchestra
Washington, DC · Kennedy Center
7. Amadeus Full Film with Live Orchestra
Experience the opulent period epic as the NSO performs the score live-to-picture! Winner of eight Academy Awards including Best Picture, Amadeus tells the story of vindictive composer Antonio Salieri (F. Murray Abraham), who is consumed by jealousy for his rival—the petulant genius Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Tom Hulce).
Jun 4, 2025
National Symphony Orchestra
Washington, DC · Kennedy Center
8. Classic Film Scores
Join us for an evening filled with wonder and nostalgia as the NSO brings to life timeless melodies that have underscored some of the greatest moments in cinematic history. This classic program—led by Musical America’s 2022 Conductor of the Year Teddy Abrams—features music by Max Steiner, Franz Waxman, Erich Wolfgang Korngold, Bernard Herrmann, Alfred Newman, and others.
6 - 7 Jun, 2025
National Symphony Orchestra
Washington, DC · Kennedy Center
9. Metropolis Full Film with Organ
Surreal, sprawling, and operatic, Fritz Lang’s 1927 science-fiction silent film depicts a world in which the privileged live in luxury on the surface, while deep in the bowels of the city an unseen underclass labors on machinery that supports the Metropolis. Grammy–nominated organist Cameron Carpenter performs his original score perfectly suited to the industrial, stylistic backdrop of this deeply influential pulp masterpiece. Please note: the NSO does not perform on this program.
Jun 8, 2025
National Symphony Orchestra
Washington, DC · Kennedy Center
10. James Gaffigan conducts John Williams, James Newton Howard & Michael Abels
NSO favorite James Gaffigan conducts film music by classical composers—including Leonard Bernstein’s On the Waterfront and Nino Rota’s The Godfather—in a program that spotlights concertos by three of today's greatest film composers. On Thursday, Grammy winner James Ehnes plays Violin Concerto No. 2 by James Newton Howard. Friday’s concert features Delights and Dances by Michael Abels. Abel Pereira takes center stage Saturday in the Horn Concerto by Academy Award–winning legend John Williams.
12 - 14 Jun, 2025
National Symphony Orchestra
Washington, DC · Kennedy Center
Conclusion
As we reflect on this musical lineup, it becomes clear that the National Symphony Orchestra and the Kennedy Center are offering a grand celebration of symphonic and cinematic artistry. Each event, crafted with care and passion, invites audiences to explore the depths of musical expression and experience the transformative power of live performance. Whether it’s the emotional intensity of Mahler and Beethoven, the melodic beauty of chamber music, or the nostalgic allure of classic films, these events promise to enrich and inspire, leaving lasting impressions on all who attend.
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