Name: Nikolai Lugansky, piano
Start: 2025-02-09T14:00:00
Location: Kennedy Center

Washington Performing Arts presents an extraordinary lineup of events showcasing diverse musical talents and genres. From the iconic pianist Evgeny Kissin's breathtaking recital to Sasha Velour's entertaining drag performances, this season promises a variety of unforgettable experiences. Dive into the musical fusion of Broadway en Spanglish by Florencia Cuenca and Jaime Lozano, and celebrate cultural heritage with Akua Allrich's homage to African-American women in music. Experience the uplifting spirit of gospel choirs, the stunning performances by Nikolai Lugansky and Seong-Jin Cho, and more. This season is an artistic journey you won't want to miss.

A Symphony of Diverse Sounds: Celebrating Artistry with Washington Performing Arts

Washington Performing Arts is thrilled to present a rich tapestry of musical and cultural events, each offering a unique and captivating experience. From the virtuosic piano performances of Evgeny Kissin and Nikolai Lugansky to the dynamic theatricality of Sasha Velour, and the cultural fusion of Broadway en Spanglish by Florencia Cuenca and Jaime Lozano, the lineup promises something for everyone. Set in esteemed venues like the Kennedy Center and Union Market, these events showcase exceptional talent, creativity, and inclusivity, making them a must-see for anyone passionate about the arts.

Washington Performing Arts Presents: A Diverse Celebration of Music and Culture

Washington Performing Arts is set to dazzle audiences with an array of captivating performances in the 2024-2025 season, showcasing a blend of classical, jazz, and contemporary talents. From the spellbinding piano recitals of Evgeny Kissin and Nikolai Lugansky to the cultural fusion of Jaime Lozano and Florencia Cuenca's Broadway en Spanglish, the season promises an unforgettable journey across musical landscapes. With events celebrating the legacies of iconic figures like Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to tributes to African queens and African-American women in music, this season is a testament to the rich diversity and artistic innovation at the heart of Washington Performing Arts.

A Spectacular Season of Music: Washington Performing Arts 2024-2025 Lineup

Nikolai Lugansky

Washington Performing Arts

Celebrated sitar maestro Niladri Kumaar is a compelling force in Indian classical music and an innovator who carries centuries of tradition in every note. This evening is both a forward-looking showcase and a tribute to an irreplaceable musical bond: curated selections from Space Between the Notes, the only recorded live performance between Kumaar and the late, legendary Zakir Hussain. Their singular partnership resounds once more—a gift, before the album’s release later this year. Featuring sitar, zitar, and an ensemble of Indian and American musicians with jazz influences, this is Indian music at its most expansive, where centuries of classical tradition meet improvisational spirit.

Niladri Kumaar, sitar

Sixth & I

Take a midweek trip through Latin folk, Mexican roots, Tejano culture, and contemporary songwriting with D.C.-based artist Juan Manú. A skilled violinist, guitarist, vocalist, and storyteller, Juan brings warmth, rhythm, and a distinctly personal perspective to every performance. Expect an intimate, globally inspired evening that feels right at home over dinner, drinks, or a late-night conversation. 

Juan Manú

Barrel House Cafe & Bar

“A genuine artist, with a thoughtfully conceived and poetic interpretation.” – The New York Times

Pianist Minsoo Sohn debuts with Washington Performing Arts for a program exhibiting his undeniable musical intelligence and masterful virtuosity. Studied by the likes of Beethoven and Mozart, Bach’s The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I, is frequently regarded as one of the most significant works in the history of classical music. Sohn brings his own poetic interpretation to this storied collection of 24 prelude and fugue pairs, creating an unforgettable evening with one of the most audacious and influential works for piano as the centerpiece. Known for his career as a devoted pedagogue, Sohn is also recognized as the teacher of Yunchan Lim, the youngest first-prize winner in the history of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.

Minsoo Sohn, piano

Washington Performing Arts presents an evening where the musical worlds of Central Asia, China, the Middle East, and contemporary Europe meet in striking and unexpected harmony. Five performers from the Aga Khan Master Musicians—an artistic collective dedicated to living musical traditions—are joined by celebrated French artists Vincent Peirani and Vincent Ségal for a concert that is wholly its own.

Syrian-born Basel Rajoub has reimagined an entirely new vocabulary for the saxophone; his compatriot Feras Charestan commands the qanun, the shimmering Middle Eastern plucked zither. Turkish oud master Yurdal Tokcan and Uzbek percussionist Abbos Kosimov, a virtuoso on the doira frame drum, complete the collective’s lineup. They are joined by Vincent Peirani, award-winning accordionist, singer, and composer whose work spans jazz, contemporary music, and improvisation, and by cellist and bassist Vincent Ségal, whose collaborators have included Sting, Cesaria Evora, and Elvis Costello. Seven distinct voices in one extraordinary evening.

Aga Khan Master Musicians

The year 2026 marks 100 years since the births of Miles Davis and John Coltrane, two visionaries of modern jazz. To mark the occasion, esteemed trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard and saxophonist and composer Ravi Coltrane join forces for a centennial tribute celebrating the history, evolution, and continuing future of jazz. The two bandleaders bring distinct personal and artistic connections to this performance: Coltrane as the son of John Coltrane and Blanchard as one of today’s leading trumpeters, shaped by the music and innovation of Miles Davis. Together, they channel the creativity, freedom, and spirit of experimentation that defined Davis and Coltrane’s artistry. Rather than a nostalgic reenactment, the concert offers a reimagining grounded in the legacy of Davis and Coltrane while remaining anchored in the present. True to jazz’s essence, Blanchard, Coltrane, and their ensemble embrace improvisation, invention, and emotional intensity, allowing the music to evolve in the moment throughout the evening.

Terence Blanchard & Ravi Coltrane 

The Music Center at Strathmore

“Few artists have burst onto the classical music scene in recent years with the incandescence of the pianist Daniil Trifonov.” – The New York Times

Combining consummate technique with rare sensitivity and depth, Daniil Trifonov’s performances have been a source of perpetual awe for Washington Performing Arts’s audiences since his premiere on our Hayes Piano Series during the 2012/13 season. The Grammy Award-winning pianist returns for a program spanning continents and centuries, from Handel and Schubert to Ginastera and Villa-Lobos. The journey begins in the Baroque era, concluding with contemporary works by a breadth of Latin American composers, all performed by “without question, the most astounding pianist of our age” (The Times of London).

Daniil Trifonov, piano

Start the new year with the vibrant sounds of Brazil. Brazilian musician, arts administrator, and EducArte co-founder Pablo DeOliveira brings the rich traditions of Brazilian music into conversation with the D.C. music scene, with samba and the cavaquinho. Expect rhythm, warmth, and a little Brazilian sunshine in the middle of January.

EducArte

Pianist Hayato Sumino defies easy categorization: a sold-out debut recital at Carnegie Hall, a semi-finalist at the 2021 International Chopin Piano Competition, an acclaimed performance at the Hollywood Bowl, and over 1.5 million YouTube followers. A graduate of the University of Tokyo’s prestigious information science program, Sumino has pursued cutting-edge music research at IRCAM in Paris—and that rare fusion of analytical depth and improvisational flair defines everything he plays. Washington Performing Arts is thrilled to introduce D.C. audiences to this singular artist through a program of Chopin, Ravel, and Saint-Saëns alongside Sumino’s own compositions, performed across three instruments—grand piano, upright piano, and electric keyboard—in one extraordinary evening.

Hayato Sumino, piano

Cellist Seth Parker Woods and pianist Andrew Rosenblum unite for an evening of commanding musicianship at the intersection of tradition and discovery. A three-time GRAMMY nominee, Woods has garnered a reputation for versatile and inventive musicality, and is joined by pianist Rosenblum. Their program brings together Fazil Say’s vivid Four Cities, George Walker’s 1956 Sonata for cello and piano—of which Gramophone writes that Woods and Hanick’s recording is “more compellingly characterful,” with “the raw vulnerability of the central slow movement” lingering in the memory—and Rachmaninoff’s sweeping Cello Sonata, op. 19, one of the most passionate works in the duo repertoire.

Seth Parker Woods, cello Andrew Rosenblum, piano

When the power of the human voice meets the spirit of community and the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the result is guaranteed to be joyous and inspiring—as tens of thousands of Living the Dream attendees over a decade can attest. Join us as the combined Men, Women, and Children of the Gospel choirs of Washington Performing Arts, and the Choral Arts Symphonic Chorus raise their voices in tribute both to Dr. King’s achievements and to his ongoing, indelible impact. Through song, Living the Dream … Singing the Dream ​unites all who honor Dr. King’s ideals.

Living the Dream … Singing the Dream

Grammy winning pianist Matthew Whitaker has captivated audiences worldwide with his remarkable versatility across jazz, gospel, and beyond. In UPLIFT!, a jubilant, multi-generational one-night celebration tailored for Washington Performing Arts and Strathmore, Whitaker joins forces with Grammy nominated vocalist Christie Dashiell, his dynamic band, and youth ensembles the Washington Performing Arts Children of the Gospel Choir and alumni, featuring horns and strings from members of Strathmore’s resident artist programs. Don’t miss this soulful evening of music.

Matthew Whitaker

“Cho is a master. He displayed an impressive variety of tonal colors and remarkable technique, dispatched with jaw-dropping panache. He had something to say and communicated it well.” – The Wall Street Journal

A leading pianist of his generation, Seong-Jin Cho is celebrated universally for his expressive, illuminating, and distinctive pianistic voice. His First Prize at the 2015 International Chopin Competition opened doors to perform with the world’s most prestigious orchestras, including the Berliner Philharmoniker, Wiener Philharmoniker, London Symphony Orchestra, and Boston Symphony Orchestra. His Washington Performing Arts recital return begins with Jörg Widmann’s Sonatina facile for Piano, an homage to Mozart’s famous Sonata in C Major, K. 545. Cho’s colorful playing shines with two works from Prokofiev: 10 Pieces from “Romeo and Juliet,” and Piano Sonata No. 8 (one of his epic “war sonatas”), plus Mozart’s dramatic Fantasia in C Minor.

Seong-Jin Cho, piano

Praised as “one of the most outstanding artists of our epoch” (Le Monde), Nikolai Lugansky is a pianist of extraordinary depth and versatility. Regularly appearing with major orchestras across the globe, this is a special opportunity to experience Lugansky’s divine interpretations in the intimate Terrace Theater – his first return to Washington Performing Arts since his 1996 Hayes Piano Series debut. Often celebrated for the deftness by which he approaches Rachmaninov’s cannon, Lugansky offers an unconventionally special program rooted in the Romantic music of Mendelssohn and Wagner. Hear the rolling melodies of Mendelssohn’s Songs Without Words, written while and influenced by the composers tour of Italy, Switzerland, and Germany; plus Wagner’s Brünnhilde and Siegfried’s love duet, Siegfried’s Rhine Journey, and Lugansky’s own transcription of Wagner’s 4 Scenes from Götterdämmerung.

Nikolai Lugansky, piano

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