Countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo, praised by the New York Times as “vocally brilliant and dramatically fearless,” shares a recital program that spans the Baroque era, minimalism, and Broadway.

Hailed by the Boston Globe as “one of the world’s most remarkable singers,” tenor Nicholas Phan performs a program exploring migration and immigration narratives in the U.S.

As this year’s Local Dance Commissioning Project Awardee, Chitra Subramanian of chitra.MOVES shares a full-bodied dance work that explores how we activate our ecosystems of care in times of turbulence and transformation.

Mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke and pianist Myra Huang present Goin’ Home, a heartfelt exploration of American song that weaves themes of identity and belonging, highlighted by the world premiere of a new song cycle by rising composer Jasmine Barnes.

This is a private event. 

Artistic Director of Fortas Chamber Music Concerts and a Grammy Award®–winning artist Jennifer Koh kicks off the season with a powerful program exploring Beethoven’s impact on diverse composers by pairing his works with new commissions.

Duo Atlantis explore British, American, and European art songs, a variety of works that capture the essence of the human experience and resonate deeply in our collective consciousness. Themes of love, beauty and nature are explored in this evocative musical journey across continents, showing how we unite through shared experiences and vulnerability.

The Pan American Symphony Orchestra, led by Maestro Sergio Buŝlje, brings you an evening of exuberant and seductive tangos with a special appearance by the internationally renowned F-31 Tango Quintet from Medellin, Colombia.

Celebrated tenor Lawrence Brownlee and soprano Erin Morley join pianist Gerald Martin Moore for Golden Age, a luminous recital of Bel Canto gems and early 20th-century French works, marking Vocal Arts DC’s 35th anniversary season and offering a rare preview of their highly anticipated album.

This is a private event. 

In honor of Korea’s 80th Liberation Day, hit pop opera group POET and the renowned fusion band G-Hwaja join forces on stage to showcase the best of contemporary Korean music inspired by tradition, K-Pop, and a spirit of collaboration. 

For 75 years The U.S. Army Strings have elevated events at the most iconic Washington, D.C. locations and served as musical diplomats in support of our Nation’s leaders. Through a multimedia program of live performances and video, the 22-member ensemble will tell the story of its history and mission and showcase the artistry of its Soldiers.

Elmo, Cookie Monster, Abby Cadabby, and your favorite Sesame Street friends are bringing the TV show’s iconic songs and stories to the stage, right in front of your eyes! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to enjoy the Muppets from Sesame Street in an intimate, joyous theatrical setting. Everyone entering the theater, regardless of age, must have a ticket.

Join us for the launch of the U.S.-Israel Initiative with a screening of Theodor, presented by the Israeli Opera and in cooperation with Washington National Opera and the Washington Hebrew Congregation. 

Don’t miss this extraordinary celebration of Vivaldi’s genius!

Jennifer Koh takes center stage for a rare one-night-only performance of Johann Sebastian Bach’s complete works for solo violin—a feat attempted by very few.

Comprising titled musicians of the National Symphony Orchestra, this acclaimed ensemble presents chamber music classics.

Join us in honoring the life and work of the “first lady of jazz,” legendary pianist and composer Mary Lou Williams. This year’s two-day festival features performances by Dee Dee Bridgewater, the Jamie Baum Septet+, the Savannah Harris “4,” Fay Victor, and more phenomenal women leading today’s jazz scene.

Can you imagine a time before there was Opera Lafayette? Difficult as it may seem, the nation’s oldest period instrument opera company was once only the speck of an idea in the mind of a visionary young violinist, Ryan Brown.

Celebrating its 50th season, Takács Quartet has cemented itself as a Fortas series favorite! The Grammy Award^®–winning ensemble is acclaimed for its innovative programming, virtuosic performances, and extensive, award-winning discography.

Embark on a musical journey across the Americas, featuring classic favorites and premieres of vibrant new works.

The Pan American Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Maestro Sergio Alessandro Bušlje, presents its signature tango show featuring 25 musicians, Javier Sanchez, Heyni Solera, and Rodrigo Àvalos on bandoneóns, and three pairs of international award-winning tango dancers. 

Windham Hill composer and pianist Liz Story presents a solo piano concert celebrating her forty-year career.

The Pan American Symphony Orchestra (PASO), nominated for a Latin Grammy award for best tango album, presents a concert of nuevo tango by the famous Argentine tango composer and bandoneon player Astor Piazzolla.

Grammy Award–winning titan of jazz saxophone Joe Lovano, hailed by The New York Times as “one of the greatest musicians in jazz history,” and virtuoso guitarist Julian Lage have enjoyed a long journey of mutual artistic admiration. This electrifying new ensemble also features longtime collaborator Asante Santi Debriano on bass and drummer Will Calhoun (of Living Colour fame).

Italian composer Nino Rota is known to film enthusiasts for the music he wrote for the films of Fellini and Visconti, and movie buffs will recognize the Academy Award-winning original score he composed for Francis Ford Coppola’s cinematic masterpiece, The Godfather. His 150 film scores are just one side of his extraordinarily prolific compositional output.

Join us for the second of two afternoon concerts featuring musicians of the National Symphony Orchestra performing Brahms sonatas for strings.

Join us for the first of two afternoon concerts featuring musicians of the National Symphony Orchestra performing Brahms sonatas for strings.

The Power and the Glory explores diverse perspectives on colonial history through music and poetry of the last 150 years.

Leaving Dublin, Ireland where he was born and raised until the age of 22, David got drunk on travel and never quite hit sobriety of it. His shows draw on his wide travels, cultural observations, being a mildly confused immigrant, and more. The new show Shelf Help mixes comedy and reading recommendations, because that’s the kind of wild kinky stuff David is into.

Adept as a performer of Baroque and contemporary music, countertenor Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen has a reputation as “a redefining force in the countertenor field” (Limelight).

In celebration of our Arc'teryx Georgetown store opening, you’re invited to join us for a special film night!

Acclaimed vocalist and songwriter Lizz Wright sings with a soaring reflection of the cultural fabric of America, transcending social divides with her offer of love and deep sense of humanity.

Pan American Symphony Orchestra’s lavish, energetic performance of music inspired by Spanish traditions will leave you warmly inspired.

The LA Times named Kenny Barron “one of the top jazz pianists in the world” and Jazz Weekly calls him “the most lyrical piano player of our time.” The NEA Jazz Master—along with his trio featuring bassist Kiyoshi Kitagawa and drummer Savannah Harris—brings soul, grace, wit, and an unmatched ability to mesmerize audiences with elegant playing and infectious rhythms.

Join us for an unforgettable evening uniting three world-class musicians: mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton, violist Matthew Lipman, and pianist Tamar Sanikidze.

Comprising titled musicians of the National Symphony Orchestra, this acclaimed ensemble presents chamber music classics.

Be there for the world premiere of three one-act operas staged in a concert performance, with talented Cafritz Young Artists among the casts.

Dusky-voiced Samantha Hankey is a staple performer of German mezzo-soprano repertoire, recently portraying Octavian (Der Rosenkavalier) at the Metropolitan Opera for which she was cited by the New York Times as having “tireless energy and dramatic skill.” 

Honoring composer Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate with PCE's American Roots Artist Award, PCE’s seasonal tradition of ringing in the New Year with Amazing Grace returns! This celebration of the universal expression of the human spirit through music includes work by Tate, Samuel Barber, and Sergei Prokofiev.

Miró Quartet is one of America’s highest-profile chamber groups, captivating audiences around the world with its thoughtful expressivity and imaginative interpretations.

Our colorful family opera steps into the jungle to find courage and friendship.

Your favorite holiday classics as you’ve never heard them! The Kennedy Center and NPR present A Jazz Piano Christmas, the annual sell-out event featuring jazz-infused renditions of the season’s most-loved tunes performed by Grammy Award^®–winning pianist Kris Davis, 2023 Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition winner Jahari Stampley, and Cuban sensation Roberto Fonseca.

Grammy Award winner Kathy Mattea brings her deep acoustic music roots to an original and traditional holiday music program. 

The Jasper String Quartet is praised for its compelling, thought-provoking programs, which connect the music of underrepresented and living composers to canonical repertoire.

You’ve seen him on The Daily Show as a senior correspondent and frequent host. Now he shares his observational, irreverent stand-up LIVE on the Terrace Theater stage!

Powerhouse ensembles Imani Winds and Harlem Quartet, along with orator and poet A. B. Spellman, present Jeff Scott’s Passion for Bach and Coltrane, the 2024 Grammy Award^® winner in the Classical Compendium category.

The year 2024 marks the 200th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United States and Brazil. Join PCE this November for a bicentennial celebration that showcases two centuries of incredible music from South America.

A captivating blend of musical traditions, featuring a rich tapestry of American and African folk songs alongside timeless classics from the Italian tenor repertoire. Audiences will be treated to the evocative melodies of Donizetti, Rossini, Bellini, and Tosti, showcasing Hallam's versatility and depth as a performer.

Comprising seven titled musicians of the National Symphony Orchestra, this acclaimed ensemble presents an evening of exquisite chamber music classics: Mozart’s Flute Quartet in D major, Barber’s Dover Beach for baritone and string quartet, and Brahms’ Piano Quintet in F minor.

As the First-Prize winner and recipient of the Audience Prize in the 2024 Washington International Competition for Piano British pianist, Dominic Doutney, is presented in recital through the generous support from the Alice and Arthur Nagle Fund.

After headlining RIOT! Funny Women Stand Up in 2024, Zarna Garg returns to the Kennedy Center. With her unique blend of humor, wit, and fearless social commentary, Garg has emerged as a comedic trailblazer. Celebrate Diwali with this inimitable performer!

Isidore String Quartet, winners of the 2023 Avery Fisher Career Grant and the 14th Banff International String Quartet Competition in 2022, makes its Terrace Theater debut.

Celebrate the milestone 100th anniversary of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with Maestro Sergio Alessandro Buslje and the Pan American Symphony Orchestra with Sean Mahon on piano. The same year Gershwin died, the Ukrainian composer Nikolai Kapustin was born in the Donetsk province of the Ukraine.

The prolific comedic essayist Sloane Crosley talks about her new book, and how humor can help us get through difficult times. Moderated by New Yorker writer Rachel Syme.

Pianist Danilo Pérez, bassist John Patitucci, and drummer Brian Blade—the three remaining members of Wayne Shorter’s legendary quartet—bring a lifetime of genre-blending and electrifying experimentation to the stage. Joined by special guest saxophonist Mark Turner, Legacy of Wayne honors the Shorter’s pivotal contributions to jazz through new interpretations of the late saxophonist’s iconic compositions.

Witness this bold and innovative program of authentic cultural reclamation by the lauded Ensemble Amedyez and Kalanidhi Dance Company.

In a special event by journalist and author Alex Prud’homme and Chef Kwame Onwuachi, explore the impact of food and its uses in cultural diplomacy across history and into the present. Moderated by Dr. Johanna Mendelson Forman.

The vibrant self-conducted string orchestra Sphinx Virtuosi returns. Heralded for its kaleidoscopically varied repertoire, the group brings another bold thematic program, featuring percussion soloist Josh Jones.

In partnership with Bold Fork Books, join a special panel conversation with authors, journalists, and recipe developers about food’s power to comfort our bodies and minds.

This year, Japan Society’s annual Kennedy Center presentation highlights traditional Japanese puppet theater through the National Theatre, which for the first time in nearly two decades returns to the U.S. See two quintessential masterpiece scenes from the Theatre’s repertoire.

Comedian Kanan Gill brings his world tour to D.C.! Having already asked Is This It? on his previous stand-up special, Gill now asks an equally relevant and insightful question: What Is This? The show is about nothing at all… so far.

Lucas Meachem’s vigorous baritone makes him exceptionally suited to his signature roles of Escamillo (Carmen), Il Conte di Almaviva (Le nozze di Figaro), and the title role in Don Giovanni, the latter in which he was extolled for being “Fabio-like in size, presence, beauty and personality” (Bachtrack) in a production with LA Opera.