21st Century Consort: An Unsecret Garden
The 21st Century Consort presents *An Unsecret Garden*, a concert exploring the relationship between nature, art, memory, and imagination. The program was created in anticipation of the Hirshhorn’s newly revitalized Sculpture Garden opening at the end of October and includes music inspired by gardens, birds, landscapes, and visual art.
The performance features Arnold Schoenberg’s *The Book of the Hanging Gardens* and Helen Grime’s *Aviary Sketches*, inspired by Joseph Cornell’s *Untitled: Aviary with Yellow Birds*, which is on view in *Revolutions: Art from the Hirshhorn Collection, 1860–1960*. Consort director Christopher Kendall will lead a preconcert discussion about the program’s themes and music.
When: October 3, 2026
Showtimes: A preconcert talk begins at 4:00 p.m., followed by the performance at 5:00 p.m. The performance is scheduled to end at 7:00 p.m.
Tickets: Free. Advance Insider tickets become available Friday, September 18, at noon EST, and general tickets become available Monday, September 21, at 7:00 p.m. The museum strongly recommends reserving a ticket because the in-person program is expected to reach capacity.
Preconcert Talk: Christopher Kendall leads a discussion at 4:00 p.m. Registration is required.
Program: Arnold Schoenberg’s *The Book of the Hanging Gardens* (1908–1909), for mezzo-soprano and piano; Helen Grime’s *Aviary Sketches* (2014), for string trio, after Joseph Cornell; Caroline Shaw’s *Plan & Elevation* (2015), for string quartet; Pēteris Vasks’s *Landscape with Birds* (1980), for solo flute; Mikhail Johnson’s *Wach Ya Haydn* (2020), for solo piano; and Paul Novak’s *Entwining* (2021), for clarinet, violin, cello, and piano. An intermission is included.
Run time: Approximately two hours, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Performers: The 21st Century Consort performs under the direction of founder and conductor Christopher Kendall. Its artists include principal players from the National Symphony Orchestra and other prominent chamber musicians from Washington, DC, and elsewhere.
About the Consort: Founded in 1975, the 21st Century Consort became the Smithsonian Institution’s resident contemporary-music ensemble in 1978. Its Hirshhorn concerts connect contemporary music with museum exhibitions and feature works, including world premieres, by a diverse range of living composers. The ensemble received the Smithson Medal in 1990 for its longstanding association with the Smithsonian.
Venue: Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Independence Avenue SW and 7th Street SW, Washington, DC 20560.
Contact: For event questions, email HirshhornExperience@si.edu or call 202-633-1000.