Rain, rain, and more rain this weekend. So ... besides sitting at home and listening to the radio (which I highly encourage, of course), what are you going to do?
The Charleston classical scene is very family-friendly this weekend. The WV Symphony presents “Chaplin at the Symphony” Friday and Saturday nights, and a family concert with an instrument petting zoo on Saturday morning (see our “Funny Business” post for more about the WV Symphony’s guest artist).
Then on Sunday afternoon, the Charleston Chamber Music Society brings the Moscow String Quartet to play Borodin, Tchaikovsky, and Shostakovich. At the same time (downstairs from the concert), children aged 2-10 can attend the free ChamberKids event “Arabian Nights.” They’re promising musical storytelling, games, crafts, and a snack.
The Pittsburgh Symphony rolls into Morgantown on Saturday, along with violinist Nikolaj Znaider. They’re bringing music by Erich “The Sea Hawk” Korngold, Anton Webern, and Franz Schubert.
Everywhere else is looking pretty quiet for these last few days of March, but then the beginning of April brings a whole bunch of cool concerts.
The WV Symphony hits the road for a spring tour, featuring clarinetist Larry Combs (Grammy-winning, recently retired Chicago Symphony Orchestra principal and Charleston-born Larry Combs, that is). From April 2nd to 5th, they'll play at Davis & Elkins College, the Mathena Center in Princeton, The Bible Center Church in Charleston, and Carnegie Hall Lewisburg. In the midst of all that, Larry Combs will do a master class in Charleston on Saturday afternoon.
Fairmont also gets to hear some clarinet that Sunday, when the Prima Trio visits the Fairmont Chamber Music Society with trios for clarinet, piano, and alternating violin and viola. The Prima Trio will be playing music from Mozart through Schickele on April 5th.
Marshall is back from Spring break and putting on plenty of recitals, including one by the Kingsburg Quintet. So even though the Huntington Symphony has finished their regular season, there should be plenty to do in Huntington. If you’re looking ahead, note that piano-playing siblings The Five Browns will be at the Keith Albee Theater later in the month.
In Morgantown, WVU also has a wide-ranging line-up of faculty and student recitals. There are more than I can reasonably list here—check out their calendar if you don’t believe me.
Any leads on music to hear around Wheeling? The Wheeling Symphony doesn’t sneak back until April 18th for pops, and then a neat-sounding Americana concert celebrating Lincoln in May.
Am I missing anything? WV Public Radio broadcasts all over the state, but I can’t actually be everywhere at once. I am working on a (top secret) calendar project to keep better track of concerts that might involve this site. For now, we’re relying on you to help share all the classical music happenings around the state.