This is a particularly good season for classical music on the Front Range, driven by a host of top-notch, nationally known performers who will be passing through the area over the next few months. The concerts come in all sizes, from intimate piano recitals to grand opera presented at movie theaters. Much of the fare is perfect for classical music newcomers. Here is a quick roundup.
The Philip Glass Ensemble performs ‘Koyaanisqatsi’ live, Jan. 31, Boettcher Concert Hall
Live concerts featuring the soundtrack from popular films are all the rage these days, and the Colorado Symphony has had plenty of success luring audiences to the genre (like with last weekend’s “Harry Potter” concerts). But “Koyaanisqatsi” is the film that started it all. The dreamy, 1982 documentary by filmmaker Godfrey Reggio was perfectly synced to a backdrop of music composed by 20th-century icon Philip Glass. It was a hit in art houses and then merged as a road show with live musicians performing along with the video — like this concert, which features the actual Philip Glass Ensemble on stage. The event has a natural and broad appeal to both orchestra regulars who like new music and the orchestra’s newer (and younger) followers who might prefer concerts in which the music comes with captivating visual images. Note: The Colorado Symphony is the presenter here, not the performer.
Info: 303-623-7876 or coloradosymphony.org.
Zlata Chochieva, Newman Center, Feb. 5
For fans of intimate, personality-driven piano recitals, it does not get better than a concert by the likes of Zlata Chochieva. The Russian pianist is not exactly a household name, but she has been delivering quality concerts for some years now, with her career gaining steam lately. She recently sold out a show at Carnegie Hall. Chochieva is well-known for taking on a challenging repertoire, and that is what makes her appearances so exciting — there is always a bit of risk. This program, presented by Friends of Chamber Music, is a good example. The lineup includes Beethoven’s “Piano Sonata No. 13,” plus music by Schumann, Bartók, Bach, Sibelius, Scriabin and Liszt. It’s loaded.
More info: 303-871-7720 or fcm.newmantix.com.
Will Liverman, Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Feb. 27
This is a landmark year for Opera Colorado, which is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, its home in the Denver Performing Arts Complex. To mark the occasion, it is shaking up its annual gala in a way that recognizes the support it has received from the people of Denver. The event starts with a formal dinner for high-level ticket buyers in the complex’s Seawell Ballroom, but then shifts over to the Ellie for a concert by baritone and national opera star Will Liverman, which is open to the public, as well. Tickets for the show-only start at just $29, a screaming deal to hear one of the most in-demand voices in the business. Liverman has performed on big stages around the U.S. and Europe and is probably best-known for his role in composer Terence Blanchard’s “Fire Shut Up In My Bones,” which won the best opera recording at the 2023 Grammys. Opera Colorado has a shortened season this year, so this event is one way to get its music before the public at a reasonable price.
More info: 303.468.2030 or operacolorado.org.
Owls, Lakewood Cultural Center, March 1
Friends of Chamber Music has been producing classical concerts in the region for 70 years now — yes, seven decades. In recent times, those shows have been centered in Denver, in the formal concert halls of the Newman Center. This concert, under the banner of “Friends in New Places,” is different, bringing a respected ensemble to the suburbs for the kind of relaxed, musical event that should serve newcomers to classical music well. Owl is a fresh face on the scene, which means most of us here have never heard the string quartet perform. The ensemble — they call themselves “a collective,” gotta love that — is taking on an adventurous program without the usual lineup of classical crowd-pleasers carrying the weight. Composer Terry Riley’s “Good Medicine” is in the lineup. So is Boulder-based composer Annika Socolofsky’s “Three Tunes.”
More info: 303-987-7845 or lakewoodco.gov.
Lang Lang with the Colorado Symphony, March 14, Boettcher Concert Hall
Lang Lang is a superstar, at least in classical music circles, and this one-night-only performance is a chance for local audiences to catch up with his playing via a very thoughtful program built around Beethoven’s “Piano Concerto No. 1” — the kind of music that Lang Lang tears up. The Chinese musician is known for over-the-top playing and a magnetic stage persona that has taken him to venues as varied as Carnegie Hall, the Grammy awards and the White House. Lang Lang can be a bit controversial — the staid classical world is not always up for a showman — but he routinely delivers excitement when he plays. The orchestra’s lead conductor, Peter Oundjian, will be on the podium.
Info: 303-623-7876 or coloradosymphony.org.
‘Tristan and Isolde,’ The Met in HD, March 21
Wagner’s “Tristan and Isolde” is not an opera for beginners, really. It’s a sophisticated, challenging work that reaches the heights of the art form by challenging musicians, singers and production crews — as well as the audiences who show up to hear it. So, when a company like the Metropolitan Opera takes it on, classical fans pay attention. This production has a lot going for it, particularly its star, soprano Lise Davidsen, currently one of the most dazzling (and dramatic) singers in the game. The new production is helmed by American stage director Yuval Sharon, who has gained an international reputation lately. Also featured: mezzo-soprano Ekaterina Gubanova and bass-baritone Ryan Speedo Green, with the Met’s regular conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin on the podium. This live broadcast will be the company’s most exciting show of the season.
More info: The Met in HD screens at movie theaters across the region. Go to metopera.org to find locations.
