Highlights Include Franz Liszt Bicentenary Project, BachFest, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz Celebration, and the Inauguration of a New Fund for Contemporary Music
The 2011-2012 season of concerts from the Library of Congress presents a 30-event roster of stellar classical, jazz, pop, country, folk and world music. Concerts kick off on Saturday, Oct. 15 at 8 p.m., with an exciting opening-night show celebrating two great American entertainers, comedienne Lucille Ball and composer and bandleader Desi Arnaz.
“BABALU! Celebrating the Library’s Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz Collection” is an homage to two of America’s legendary entertainers and icons of American popular culture. Featuring their children Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz, Jr., the evening spotlights orchestrations of the Desi Arnaz Orchestra and salutes both Lucille Ball’s 100th birthday and the 60th anniversary of one of the best-loved shows in television history.
The Library’s concert series is presented free of charge to the public but requires tickets for admission. Tickets are distributed by TicketMaster at (202) 397-7328, (410) 547-7328 and (703) 573-7328. Each ticket carries a nominal service charge, with additional charges for phone orders and handling. Tickets are also available at TicketMaster outlets and online at www.TicketMaster.com. Although the supply of tickets may be exhausted, there are often empty seats at concert time. Interested patrons are encouraged to come to the Library by 6 p.m. on concert nights to wait in the standby line for no-show tickets. Tickets for events at the Atlas Performing Arts Center will be available through the Atlas Box Office, 202-399-7993. For further information on concerts, call the Concert Information Line at (202) 707-5502 or visit www.loc.gov/concerts/.