Polish Concert and Cuisine with a French Accent

Thomas Pandolfi, concert pianist

In the spirit of ingenuity and creativity that has been central to our events since June 20, 2020, we have reimagined our Savory Soiree on Sunday, Febrary 27. After careful consideration of current circumstances – and in recognition that so many are looking forward to this event to offer good cheer, champagne and Chopin against the bleakness of January – we are rescheduling this event can proceed with elegance and an additional touch of adventure on February 27.

Featuring the music and food of Poland - with a French accent - enjoy an opulent 3-course menu of culinary delights, accompanied by French champagne, wine, and vodka.

“The musicians were brilliant, the staff responsive and lovely, and the gorgeous rectory garden with socially distanced seats and space heaters was luxurious, but above all, magical!”

Musical Program

Thomas Pandolfi joins us for the second time at The Rectory on Princess Street. He will debut our 1928 Grand Haines Piano in our beautiful glass-enclosed atrium!

Musical works by Frédéric Chopin

Polonaise in A Major, Op. 40, No. 1 (“Military”)

Etude in A-Flat Major, Op. 25, No. 1 (“Aeolian Harp”)

Fantasy-Impromptu in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 66

Etude in C Minor, Op. 10, No. 12 (“Revolutionary”)

Waltz in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 64, No. 2

Cantabile in B-Flat Major

Polonaise in A-Flat Major, Op. 53 (“Heroic”)

Nocturne in E-Flat Major, Op. 9, No. 2

Click here to preview the program

Event presented by Musical Movements for Change

Menu

Opener

Red borscht

Traditional beet soup

Uszka

“Little ears,” small mushroom dumplings

Fine French Wine Pairings

Main

Pierogi

A selection of dumplings stuffed with cheese & potato, beef

with green mixed salad

Fine French Wine Pairings

Dessert

Szarlotka

Homemade apple cake

Chopin Vodka

*Vegetarian options available upon request

Dinner catered by Creative European Cooking

THOMAS PANDOLFI is one of the leading pianists of our time, hailed a “phenomenon.” He began his career early on while at The Juilliard School (BM & MM) where the young prodigy caught the influential ear of Vladimir Horowitz, who would become his mentor, and legendary composer, Morton Gould. Since then he has been an audience favorite, selling out the world’s most prestigious stages, including Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, Strathmore, The Kennedy Center, Kiev Opera House, Bucharest’s Romanian Athenaeum, London’s Cadogan Hall, and many others.

DC Metro Arts calls him, “exhilarating… a rare mix of technical accuracy and cool confidence.” “His artistry and technique were simply astonishing,” said the Metropolitan Arts Reviews. The Washington Post boasted he is a “master of both the grand gesture and the sensual line… Pandolfi's large-scale pianism seemed under tight control yet in no way muted the passion of his performance… projected with an exquisite sense of lyrical gesture.” “A standout among today's young pianists... His virtuosity and strength… might have had some believing that Liszt himself had taken over the keyboard,” said the Asheville Citizen-Times. “The mastery of the scores, the precision of the playing, and the finesse of the expression were all simply spectacular. It was a truly bravura performance, both in the virtuosic and in the reflective pieces, yet one completely without gratuitous exaggerated display,” acclaimed The Boston Musical Intelligencer.

In addition to being recognized as one of the greatest interpreters of the Polish masters such as Chopin, Paderewski, and Godowsky, this versatile pianist has received accolades from everything from Bach to Gershwin, with Morton Gould saying, “It’s the finest performance of Gershwin I have heard since the composer himself.” His original and virtuosic transcriptions of popular works, such as West Side Story and Phantom of the Opera, are one-of-kind, jaw-dropping, and dramatic encores that keep audiences of all ages returning to his performances again and again.

Mr. Pandolfi is a Steinway Artist and will begin recording for Steinway Spirio later this year. Mr. Pandolfi’s performances have been broadcast by PBS, WETA (Washington, DC), WQXR (NYC), WRCJ (Detroit), DCN TV (China), The Sound (DC), and many others worldwide. During his 2019-2020 season, he will complete a 20-state tour of the USA, his fourth tour in China, third tour of the UK, and seventh tour of Romania and Moldova.

Born in Washington, DC into a musical family, Pandolfi began his studies with his father and continued on with principle teachers Sasha Gorodnitzki , Adele Marcus, Gyorgy Sandor. He holds a BM and MM from The Juilliard School. Maestro Pandolfi is available for recitals, concertos, and masterclasses.

Dinner is served outdoors in our beautiful Secret Garden at 5:45pm, on Saturday, January 22.

Seating will begin 15 minutes before; service will begin promptly and there will be no late admission.

Classical Movements will take precautions to limit the risk as much as within our power and requests the cooperation of the audience in these preventative measures. This event will take place indoors at the Rectory. Proof of vaccination will be required. Audience members are required to wear masks except when seated for dining. Staff and musicians will wear masks when not performing.

Due to COVID, guests are strongly encouraged to avoid using public restrooms. If needed, restrooms will be available upon request.

Vegetarian or gluten-free meals will be available upon request in advance. For special requests and wheelchair accessibility; please contact: Alessandra@ClassicalMovements.com or call (703) 683-6040 x203.

Tickets are non-refundable.

We discourage you from using the on-street parking. To ensure legal parking, read all posted signs before parking.

Limited off-street private parking is available on a first-come-first-serve basis at the following locations:

Classical Movements, 711 Princess Street, Alexandria, VA 22314

Fitness Together Alexandria’s main entrance, 300 N Washington Street building, Alexandria, VA 22314

Seasons Culinary Services, 715 Princess Street, Alexandria, VA 22314

About the Rectory

Built in 1785 and the home of Classical Movements’ offices since 2014, the building formerly served as the rectory of the nearby historic Christ Church, once the church of George Washington. Since then, it has been owned by several distinguished Virginians and has been a commercial space since the 1960’s.

Located in the heart of beautiful Old Town Alexandria at 711 Princess Street, the Rectory is minutes away from the shops and restaurants of bustling King Street and is easily accessible by bus and metro.

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