Variations in Verse: Gala Dinner and Concert
Arts Club of Washington
2017 I Street Northwest
Washington, DC, 20006
Thursday May 1, 2025
Cocktails begin at 6:30 pm
Three course dinner begins at 7:15 pm, concert at 7:45 pm
EVENT DETAILS:
Join us for our inaugural gala in celebration of the success of our inaugural season of concerts! This intimate evening will begin with a cocktail hour in the Monroe Parlor at the Arts Club of Washington, proceed to a seated dinner, and feature a concert of violinist Zino Bogachek and Classical Arts director and pianist, Christopher Schmitt, performing works based on poetry and variation by Schumann, Ravel and Beethoven. A silent auction will also be held for various offerings from Cafe Milano, Capital Laser, and Total Wine, and unique music experiences from Classical Arts Society of Washington. The benefit will support our upcoming seasons of monthly classical music performances and educational outreach initiatives in Washington, and share a special preview for our upcoming concert season, 2025-2026.
Musically, the evening will be like no other, highlighting Robert Schumann’s touching wedding gift for his wife Clara took the form of music; a song for piano and voice set to the poetry of Friedrich Rückert, beginning: “You my soul, you my heart.” Maurice Ravel’s beautiful, yet chilling depiction of love and mortality in “Ondine,” based on Aloysius Bertrand’s eponymous poem will be paired with variations from Beethoven’s masterpiece, the Kreutzer Sonata, the subject of Leo Tolstoy’s controversial novella, and the concert will end with the Hungarian inspired “Gypsy Fantasie,” a nod to our May 22nd season finale.
To preserve the intimacy of the evening, space is limited, but we hope to share this special experience with as many of you as is possible, thanking you for your invaluable support over the past year.
Concert Program:
Robert Schumann, “Widmung”
Maurice Ravel, Gaspard de la Nuit; “Ondine”
L. V. Beethoven, “Kreuzter Sonata,” Andante con variazioni
David Rubinoff, “Gypsy Fantasy”
FEATURED ARTISTS