Marie Gullard

Leesburg, Virginia is home to history and the grape

Leesburg, Virginia is about as compact a town as one can find, unless looking down on a train garden. Here, Colonial charm seeps from public buildings, businesses and private homes, even as the once sleepy burg has now become a thriving bedroom community to those residents who work in Washington D.C. Established in 1758 by the Virginia Grand Assembly on 60-acres of farmland, the Loudoun County town was named after Thomas Lee, great grand uncle of Robert E. Lee. If visitors are taken aback by the beautifully restored homes and historical markers here, it is probably due to the fact that Leesburg claims 21 entries on the National Register of Historic Places. Tours are available at...

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Harmonious Blacksmith runs with the music of Purcell

If you go Harmonious Blacksmith presents "The Genius of Henry Purcell" Where: Christ Church Capitol Hill, 620 G St. SE When: 8 p.m. Saturday; pre-concert talk at 7:30 p.m. Info: $20, $15 for seniors; 410-997-1342; harmoniousblacksmith.com Many are surprised to learn that the improvisational element intrinsic to jazz performance had a precursor in the music of the Baroque period, and most especially through the 17th-century compositions of Henry Purcell. Harmonious Blacksmith, a group of musicians bringing Baroque music to life via the sound from their period instruments, will offer a tribute to "The Genius of Henry Purcell" Saturday at Christ Church...

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Philharmonic's chorale, soloists honor Hayden, Mendelssohn

If you go National Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorale Hayden's "Lord Nelson Mass" Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 2 Where: The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda When: 8 p.m. Saturday (pre-concert lecture at 7 p.m.) Info: $29 to $79, children ages 7 to 17 are free; 301-581-5100; nationalphilharmonic.org If 18th-century composer Franz Joseph Hayden were alive today, he would no doubt appreciate the following comment by mezzo-soprano Magdalena Wor relevant to one of his choral masterworks: "The 'Lord Nelson Mass' is so well-written that it practically sings itself," she said. "It is a joy to perform." Wor, soprano Sherri Seiden, tenor Leif...

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The Duke Ellington spirit swings at Strathmore

If you go BSO SuperPops Presents: The Duke Ellington Orchestra Where: The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda When: 8 p.m. Nov. 5 Info: $28 to $90; 410-783-8000; bsomusic.org Who says jazz musicians don't have fun with their audiences? When conductor Barrie Lee Hall Jr. leads his wildly popular, 16-piece band, sparks fly. "People have been so appreciative," Hall said. "It's like a big house party." And all are invited to the festivities Nov. 5 as The Music Center at Strathmore once again welcomes the incomparable Duke Ellington Orchestra for one night only. As the pre-eminent performer of the music of Duke Ellington,...

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Port Deposit offers peace at river's edge

Looking down from the Tydings Memorial Bridge over the wide expanse of the Susquehanna River along Maryland's Interstate 95, the little town of Port Deposit is seen off in the distance as no more than pebbles along the water line. Closer inspection at the north end of the bridge reveals a little train garden of a town nestled into cliffs of granite. Compact in layout, Port Deposit's land area is less than two square miles, where a population of approximately 700 people resides. Known for its quarried granite, Port Deposit boasts a number of impressive older buildings constructed of the durable material. The entire Cecil County town, incorporated in 1824, was placed on the National...

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Autumn reigns in the Laurel Highlands

If you closed your eyes and allowed your mind to paint a fall portrait, it might consist of winding country lanes lined with luscious oak trees, their leaves as red as rubies. Or perhaps the imagination would conjure a covered bridge, weathered, but inviting nonetheless as it traverses a stream with fallen maple leaves rushing down river like yellow kayaks. When the daydreams are no longer enough, consider a visit to Pennsylvania's Laurel Highlands. The reality is there and, with eyes wide open, it is picture-perfect. "Some of the great places to visit this fall in the Laurel Highlands would be Fallingwater, Kentuck Knob and The Duncan House -- three original Wright-designed homes,"...

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BSO, piano virtuoso Dinnerstein connect through Mozart

If you go Simply Classical Series, Mozart's Piano Concerto No.23 Where: The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda When: 8 p.m. Saturday Info: $28 to $90; 410-783-8000; bsomusic.org For a gifted pianist, a special musical composition may present certain challenges when played before an audience. Such is the case with Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 23 and Simone Dinnerstein, a classical recording artist and performer who will present the piece with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra on Saturday at the Music Center at Strathmore. "This is one of my favorite Mozart concertos," said Dinnerstein, who will debut with the orchestra in the Simply...

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Harmonious Wail puts soul on the line at D.C.'s Madison Hotel

If you go Harmonious Wail Where: Loews Madison Hotel, 15th and M streets NW When: 7 p.m. Oct. 22 Info: $20; cocktails and light fare available for purchase; 410-269-0777 Fans of Harmonious Wail find themselves drawn time and again to the quartet's Gypsy Swing sound in the great tradition of Django Reinhardt, who created the style and Stephane Grapelli who further developed it. Harmonious Wail's founder and leader, mandolinist Sims Delaney-Potthoff is flattered by the comparison even as he takes it one step further. "We use Gypsy Swing as a common point of entrance; we all agree that's where we're meeting," he said. "And as soon as we hold that in...

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Patuxent Research Refuge a short trip to the wisdom of wilderness

The word "refuge" is a comforting one. It implies retreat, sanctuary, and safe haven and seems all the more poignant on cool autumn days. Driving slowly along the three mile loop that leads to and from the National Wildlife Visitor Center at Patuxent Research Refuge is one such creature comfort -- literally. As part of the south tract of the refuge, the acreage is abundant with walking trails. Tall trees of many varieties stand sentinel along the roadway; several species of bird can be found among their lush branches. The woods are quiet, save for the birdsong and the rustling leaves that have begun to fall - a lush carpet for the wild animals running to and fro. "People like...

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Harford County bids a colorful October welcome

Heading north from the District on Interstate 95, the treetops don their autumn hues like shiny gemstones. This festival of colors, and so much more, heralds the fiery days and foggy nights of October. Harford County, Md., is ready for them. "Harford County is the ultimate fall family destination," said Winnie Roche, the county's tourism and marketing manager. "Festivals, farm markets and a strong agricultural tourism product are all so easily accessible right off I-95." Indeed, autumn events here, like the harvests, are plentiful. The Legends of the Fog is Aberdeen's highly haunted attraction running now through Oct. 31. Haunted hayrides, corn mazes and a spirit-filled house are...

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University of Maryland welcomes English chamber ensemble

If you go Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble Where: Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, University of Maryland, College Park When: 8 p.m. Oct. 9 Info: $37 ($9 for full-time students with ID); 301-405-2787; claricesmithcenter.umd.edu A pre-concert lecture takes place at 7 p.m. in the Leah M. Smith Lecture Hall. Fifty years ago, Sir Neville Marriner gathered together a group of leading London musicians to form a small ensemble that, he said, "had no intention of giving any concerts or continuing forever." How fortunate for lovers of chamber music that Marriner was mistaken. The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble, an offshoot...

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Relax on Assateague's serene edge of the continent

Quiet days watching ponies skip through high tide while the taste of salty surf clings to the lips and sea air ruffles the corners of a pop-up camper is, admittedly, not for everyone. But for those who seek romantic outings outside the box, there is no finer place in time than a weekend on Assateague Island National Seashore. The Washington Examiner sat down with Lisa Challenger, director of tourism for Worcester County, for her thoughts on the rugged way to go. EXAMINER: Can a couple be comfortable on a weekend camping getaway in Assateague? CHALLENGER: Yes, very comfortable. Couples can either bring a tent or a camper or rent one. Most all sights are in sand, so the ground is not...

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BSO fiddles around in Strathmore season opener

If you go Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (with special guest Time for Three) Where: The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda When: 8 p.m. Sept. 26 Info: $28 to $90; 877-276-1444; bsomusic.org The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of music director Marin Alsop, ushers in its 2009-10 symphonic season at the Music Center at Strathmore in authentic hoedown style with their special guests, Time for Three. The talented trio -- Zach De Pue and Nick Kendall on violins and Ranaan Meyer on double bass -- will perform with the BSO in a piece written exclusively for them by composer Jennifer Higdon titled "Concerto 4-3," an obvious play on...

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Gypsy jazz from the strings of Frank Vignola Trio comes to D.C.

If you go The Frank Vignola Trio tribute to Django Reinhardt Where: Loews Madison Hotel, 15th and M streets NW When: 7 p.m. Sept. 24 Info: 410-269-0777 Additional performances at An Die Musik in Baltimore Sept. 25 (410-385-2638) and Annapolis Sept. 26 (410-269-0777) When the recently late, great Les Paul named fellow guitarist Frank Vignola to his "Five Most Admired Guitarists" lists for the Wall Street Journal, he gave this statement: "It's not jazz as we know jazz here in America." The 44-year old Vignola, who not only performed with his idol Paul, but such other luminaries as Paul McCartney, Keith Richards and Madonna, to name a few, now in turn...

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Antrim 1844 is a romantic retreat in Taneytown

People who walk about the 24-acre estate of Antrim 1844 do not find it difficult imagining a place torn from the pages of a Jane Austen novel. Fountains, lush gardens, outbuildings and birdsong recall the spirit of another place in time. Once a working plantation, Antrim 1844 (1844 for the date it was built) enjoys as its backdrop the rolling Cactoctin Mountains of Central Maryland. Today, its owners, Dorothy and Richard Mollett, welcome guests to their completely restored mansion and estate buildings. "[Antrim 1844] is a place to escape the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives, but still [only] an hour and a half from home ... not too far, but far enough," said Barbara Beverungen,...

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Yaron Herman Trio performs in real time at La Maison Francaise

If you go Yaron Herman Trio Where: La Maison Francais, Embassy of France, 1401 Reservoir Road NW When: Monday, Sept. 14, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. Wine reception with the artists will follow the concert. Info: $20, students with ID $15; instantseats.com How do jazz artists reinvent the trio concept while keeping the music joyful, creative, natural and, most importantly, uncomplicated? Pianist Yaron Herman, along with bassist, Matt Brewer and drummer Gerald Cleaver are sure they have found the magic, musical formula and have -- so to speak -- taken their act on the road. "All three of us consider that the essence of jazz is not playing it safe, but rather by going further...

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Through the gates of time at the Maryland Renaissance Festival

How far is a day trip from 2009 back to 1543? For those residing in Washington, D.C., and the metropolitan area, the Maryland Renaissance Festival (now in its 33rd season at Revel Grove in Crownsville) is a very short transport through several centuries. The time-tripping begins the moment one passes beyond the gates of the fairgrounds. Food, fun, fine period crafts and frivolity abound; and surely that would be enough for a successful two-month-long fete. But for many, it is the "reincarnation" of history's most illustrious men and women that defines the festival -- everyday actors in the form of larger-than-life characters from the 16th century appearing as if torn from the pages...

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Washington National Opera reaches new heights in 2009-10 season

If you go The Washington National Opera 2009-10 Performance Season Where: Kennedy Center Opera House When: Various performance dates Info: Tickets, brochures and additional information at 202-295-2400 or dc-opera.org As the Washington National Opera opens its 54th season this year Sept. 12, a staggering 51 performances of six memorable productions at the Kennedy Center Opera House is sure to regale aficionados of all that is beautifully produced in tale and song. "Opera is about love, power, beauty, the heights of joy and the depths of despair and everything in between," said the opera's executive director, Mark Weinstein. Indeed, all of opera's magnetic components...

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Irish music live on tap at The Dubliner

If you go The Dubliner 4 F St. NW 202-737-3773 dublinerdc.com Sometimes the best performances can be enjoyed at a table surrounded by friends, all requesting more brew from the waiter and faster reels from the player. At The Dubliner, both flow freely. Daniel Coleman opened his Capitol Hill pub (as much for the entertainment as for the food and drink) on March 8, 1974. Since that time, live Irish performance has been the staple every night of the year. "Our patrons love our live entertainment," general manager Gavin Coleman said. "We have people come from across the country to visit us at The Dubliner and hear their favorite musicians perform." His father's pub,...

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WPAS serves up a cultural buffet this season

If you go The Washington Performing Arts Society 2009-10 season Ticket and subscription information and complete season listings: wpas.org When Patrick Hayes founded the Washington Performing Arts Society more than 40 years ago, he was committed to "showcasing the complete spectrum of the arts in performances of the highest quality, including classical music, jazz, gospel, contemporary dance, international music and artforms and works that bend genres in provocative ways." The commitment lives on in the 2009-10 WPAS season offerings, presented in some of the finest venues throughout the Washington area. "Sometimes people think of us just for classical...

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New BSO season explores ethnic heritage

If you go The BSO at Strathmore, 2009-10 Season Where: The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda Info: Tickets, brochures and subscriptions are available at 877-276-1444 or bsomusic.org/subscribe Fans of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra's performances at the Music Center at Strathmore will revel in the 2009-10 season offerings. Subscription tickets are on sale now for what is planned as a flight into our cultural connections. "Our cultural and ethnic heritage is unique to each of us, and often something that plays a big role in shaping out lives," said BSO Music Director Marin Alsop who, with this season, begins her third year at the...

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Afro Bop Alliance brings high-energy jazz to Millennium Stage

If you go Afro Bop Alliance Where: Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, 2700 F St. NW When: 6 p.m. Monday Info: Free; kennedy-center.org; www.afrobop.com The comments on the guestbook pages of the jazz septet, Afro Bop Alliance would swell any musician's head. "Love your sound É wow," wrote Patty Kenny last March. That same month, Joy Roy wrote that she heard of the band through a friend and was hooked. Ms. Roy lives in Brazil where, she said "... fabulous rhythms reside." This Monday, Kennedy Center audiences can expect to hear high energy interactive Latin Jazz, which is the marriage of Afro-Cuban rhythms with the harmonic and improvisational...

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Around Town: July 24-25

Bob Dylan: The legendary singer-songwriter performs live with John Mellencamp. [5:30 p.m. Ripken Stadium, Aberdeen, Md.] Baseball: The Washington Nationals play the San Diego Padres. [7:05 p.m. Nationals Park, South Capitol St. SE] The Wizard of Oz: The 1939 film is screened with live orchestra accompaniment. [8:30 p.m. Wolf Trap, 1551 Trap Road, Vienna] The Young Lions: Local fusion rock and jazz band performs live outdoors. [5 p.m. National Gallery of Art, Constitution Avenue and Seventh Street NW] The Other World: A screening of film by director Merzak Allouache for the D.C. African Diaspora Film Series. [6:30 p.m. National Geographic, 1600 M St. NW] Hirshhorn After...

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BSO, Chorus celebrate the magic of Beethoven's 'Ninth'

If you go Summer Nights: Beethoven's Ninth Symphony Where: The Music Center at Strathmore When: 8 p.m. Thursday Info: $25 to $55; 410-783-8000; bsomusic.org In the annals of classical composition, two words identify both composer and his grandest of masterpieces: "The Ninth." "The piece stands alone," said BSO spokesman Jeff Counts of perhaps the most recognizable work in the classical canon. "When you say 'the Ninth' everyone knows who and what you're talking about; it's a singular work." The singular, majestic work, Beethoven's "Symphony No. 9, Choral," will be performed this Thursday at The Music Center at Strathmore....

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Strathmore reels to live 'Psycho' screams

If you go BSO Summer Nights: Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho" Where: The Music Center at Strathmore When: 8 p.m. Thursday Info: $35 to $55, 410-783-8000; bsomusic.org Think of a favorite film. Chances are you can hum the theme or the music accompanying the opening credits. Now imagine witnessing a film's original soundtrack performed live to every projected frame of that film. Next Thursday at the Music Center at Strathmore, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra will do exactly that. And the film presented is Alfred Hitchcock's iconic thriller, "Psycho." Guest conductor Constantine Kitsopoulos will lead the BSO in the musical score while the full-length film...

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Strings come alive at the Natural History Museum

The vast musical repertoire for classical string quartets ensures both challenges and variety of performance. In the case of the Emerson String Quartet, playing this Sunday in the Baird Auditorium at the Natural History Museum, these two components, together with the commitment of four outstanding musicians, have marked a delightful 29-year relationship with the Smithsonian Resident Associate Program. The quartet, consisting of violinists Eugene Drucker and Philip Setzer, violist Lawrence Dutton and cellist David Finckel, performs the fourth concert in its 2008-09 series of five for the museum’s Performing Arts Program. The evening’s selected pieces include Haydn’s...

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Sergio Mendes brings 'Timeless' travels to D.C.

If there is any doubt that classic musical styles mellow with time while evolving with the times, consider this recent comment from Sergio Mendes: “I met will.i.am five years ago, and he asked me to play a song on one of his records,” the Latin maestro and founding member of Sergio Mendes and Brazil ’66 recalled. “After that, we did a project together and he produced my album ‘Timeless.’ ” This Sunday, Montgomery College presents Sergio Mendes in concert performing new interpretations of his samba-based bossa nova music that includes songs from “Timeless” as well as his newest release, “Encanto.” The first track on the...

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