The National Chamber Ensemble (NCE) is returning to Arlington with a recently announced suite of performances covering the Baroque, Classical, Romantic and contemporary periods.
The concerts will be held in Theater 1 of the Gunston Arts Center (2700 South Lang Street).
The NCE was founded in 2007 with the goal of connecting artists and their audience with concerts in a more intimate setting. The musicians share anecdotes about the composers and music. In a statement on the upcoming season, Artistic Director Leonid Sushansky said the goal this year is to take audiences on a trip through various eras to allow them to compare and contrast how the music has evolved over time.
The season launches on Oct. 20 with “Masters of the Italian Baroque”, featuring works by Vivaldi, Corelli, Albinoni and Pergolesi.
Following the theme of “Musical Adventures Through the Time Machine”, on Feb. 9 the series will move into the Romantic era with hits by Tchaikovsky, Mahler, Mendelssohn, Saint-Saens and Dvorak.
The “Viennese Classics” hits March 23 with music by Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven and “The Contemporaries” season finale concert on May 4, which includes the premiere of Alexander Goldstein’s new “Crossover Piano Trio” as well as the premiere of a new choreographed work with Bowen McCauley Dance, set to the music of Igor Stravinsky.
On Dec. 15, the NCE will hold a “Holiday Time Warp” concert that brings the holiday music of the various eras together. The concert will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington (4444 Arlington Blvd).
String players between the ages of 12 and 18 are also invited to compete for the “Outstanding Young Artist Achievement Awards” and a scholarship. Applications are available online and due Nov. 19.
Season subscriptions to the NCE are $135 through Sept. 14 and $145 after. General admission is $36 for adults and $18 for students. Group discounts for 10 or more are available by calling 703-685-7590. Tickets are available online.