Joshua Bell, Othello, and More: What's Happening in Classic Arts This Week

From Schubert to Shakespeare, the classic arts scene in New York is never quiet. Here is just a sampling of some of the classic arts events happening this week.

American Ballet Theatre takes up residence at Lincoln Center's David H. Koch Theatre for their spring season March 6-21. The season kicks off with Lar Lubovitch's Othello, which will receive five performances from March 6 to March 10, before returning for three more performances March 19 and 20. Based on Shakespeare's tragedy, the three-act ballet is set to an original score by Academy Award-winner Elliot Goldenthal (Frida), and features scenic design by George Tsypin, costumes by Ann Hould-Ward, lighting by Pat Collins, and projections by Wendall K. Harrington. Othello received its world premiere in 1997, and was last performed by ABT in 2015.

The New York Philharmonic will celebrate the 100th birthday of György Kurtág with a concert featuring the Hungarian composer's Brefs Messages, March 5-7 at Lincoln Center's David Geffen Hall. Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla will conduct the program, which also includes Robert Schumann's Symphony No. 1, and Edward Elgar's Violin Concerto with soloist Vilde Frang.

Violinist Joshua Bell will lead the chamber ensemble Academy of St Martin in the Fields in a concert at Carnegie Hall March 5. The program will include Brahms' Violin Concerto, Robert Schumann's Symphony No. 1, and Charles Ive's Variations on "America." Carnegie Hall will also host performances this week by pianists Gianfranco Pappalardo and Giulio Potenza in a four-hands concert with the Orchestra da Camera Italiana (March 3); the Takács Quartet (March 4); pianist Mao Fujita (March 4); the New York Youth Symphony (March 8); and the National Youth Choir (March 8).

Regina Opera’s production of Puccini’s Suor Angelica continues through March 8 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Academy in Brooklyn. Set in a convent, the opera concerns the titular Sister Angelica who was consigned to the convent by her aunt the Princess for bringing shame upon their family. When the Princess pays a visit to her niece, family secrets come out, and tragedy ensues. The one-act opera will be preceded by a concert of works by Handel and Haydn.

The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center will present Destination: Kreisler March 8 at Alice Tully Hall. The concert, part of the Society's winter Violin Celebration, will be a tribute to Friedrich "Fritz" Kreisler, one of the most significant violinists and composers for the instrument of the late 19^th century. The performance will begin with three works by Eugène Ysaÿe, Henryk Wieniawski, and Richard Strauss which precede Kreisler, and continues with a selection of original Kreisler compositions and arrangements.

Choreographer Noé Soulier brings his dance piece The Waves to the Joyce Theater for two performances March 4 and 5. Inspired by Virginia Woolf's experimental novel of the same name, the work features six dancers and two percussionists.

Baritone Ilya Silchukou will perform song cycles by Schumann, Vaughan-Williams and Valery Gavrilin at St. John's in the Village March 7, with pianist Pavel Nersessian. The program, titled "Schumann’s Journey Through Lands and Times" will include Robert Schumann's Dichterliebe, Ralph Vaughan-William's Songs of Travel, and Gavrilin's Second German Notebook.

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