Great Masters: Georgy Sviridov & Dmitri Shostakovich
The Russian Chamber Art Society concludes its twentieth anniversary season with a concert centered on the musical relationship between Dmitri Shostakovich and his student Georgy Sviridov. Both composers drew deeply on Russian poetry; Sviridov studied composition with Shostakovich at the Leningrad Conservatory.
The program features Sviridov’s *Petersburg*, a vocal poem based on verses by Alexander Blok that evokes a shadowy city of fog, taverns, and foreboding. Shostakovich is represented by songs and Piano Trio No. 2, Op. 67, composed in 1944 in memory of a close friend. The trio moves from a haunting cello opening to a final movement charged with intense, unsettling energy. Admission also includes a post-concert reception with wine, light hors d’oeuvres, and desserts.
When: Friday, December 4, 2026
Showtimes: Doors open at 7:00 p.m. The concert runs from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Tickets: $70
Program: Works by Georgy Sviridov and Dmitri Shostakovich, including Sviridov’s *Petersburg*, Shostakovich songs, and Piano Trio No. 2, Op. 67
Lineup: Baritone Timothy Mix, mezzo-soprano Magdalena Wor, pianists Vera Danchenko-Stern and Alexander Shtarkman, violinist Martin Beaver, cellist Suren Bagratuni, and narrator Adrienne Nelson
Run time: Approximately two hours, including the listed 7:30–9:30 p.m. event period
Reception: Admission includes a post-concert reception with wine, light hors d’oeuvres, and desserts.
Venue: La Maison Française, Embassy of France in the United States, 4101 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007
Entry requirements: Every attendee must have a reservation in their own name and present a government-issued photo ID matching the name on the ticket. Guests should bring either a printed Eventbrite ticket or a ticket ready to display on a phone. No one will be admitted without a reservation and official identification.
Security: Attendees should allow extra time for screening. Umbrellas, large bags, backpacks, animals, liquids and food, blunt objects, helmets, and other items considered dangerous by Embassy security are prohibited and may be confiscated.
Parking: There is no on-site parking. Metered parking is available on Reservoir Road for $2.30 per hour, with a four-hour maximum until 10:00 p.m. Garage parking is available at Georgetown MedStar Health via Entrance No. 2 at 2800 Reservoir Road NW, at approximately $25 for up to three hours.
Photography: By registering, attendees consent to being photographed or recorded and authorize the organizers to use their image and likeness for promotional and archival purposes.
Organizer: The Russian Chamber Art Society