December 21, 2011 Public Events at the Library of Congress, January through April 2012

Events subject to change. All telephone numbers are 202 area code. All events are free and open to the public.

January 2012

Monday, Jan. 2
NEW YEAR’S HOLIDAY
All Library buildings and services, including reading rooms and exhibitions, will be closed to the public in observance of the federal New Year’s Day holiday. Contact: 707-8000.

Thursday, Jan. 5
FILM
“St. Louis Blues” (Paramount, 1958). 7:30 p.m., Packard Campus Theater, Culpeper, Va. Contact: 707-9994.

Friday, Jan. 6
FILM
“The Concert for Bangladesh” (20th Century-Fox, 1972). 7:30 p.m., Packard Campus Theater, Culpeper, Va. Contact: 707-9994.

Saturday, Jan. 7
FILM
“Pinocchio” (Disney, 1940). 2 p.m., Packard Campus Theater, Culpeper, Va. Contact: 707-9994.

Tuesday, Jan. 10
CEREMONY
The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress announces the 2012-2013 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature in a special ceremony at 11 a.m. in LJ 119. Contact: 707-5221.

Thursday, Jan. 12
FILM
“The Great Caruso” (MGM, 1951). 7:30 p.m., Packard Campus Theater, Culpeper, Va. Contact: 707-9994.

Wednesday, Jan. 18
BOOKS & BEYOND
Kenneth D. Ackerman discusses “J. Edgar Hoover & the Library of Congress” based on his book “Young J. Edgar: Hoover, the Red Scare, and the Assault on Civil Liberties” at noon in the West Dining Room. Contact: 707-5221.

Thursday, Jan. 19
FILM DOUBLE FEATURE
“Twist” (Triton Pictures, 1992) and “Theremin: An Electric Odyssey” (Orion Classics, 1994). 7:30 p.m., Packard Campus Theater, Culpeper, Va. Contact: 707-9994.

Friday, Jan. 20
FILM
“The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez” (Embassy Pictures, 1982). 7:30 p.m., Packard Campus Theater, Culpeper, Va. Contact: 707-9994.

Saturday, Jan. 21
FILM
“Performance” (Warner Bros., 1972). 7:30 p.m., Packard Campus Theater, Culpeper, Va. Contact: 707-9994.

Thursday, Jan. 26
BOOKS & BEYOND
Mark Stein discusses and sign his new book “How the States Got Their Shapes Too: The People Behind the Borderlines” at noon in the Mumford Room. Contact: 707-5221.

Thursday, Jan. 26
BENJAMIN BOTKIN LECTURE
Ginger Cucolo discusses her book “Dog Tags: The History, Personal Stories, Cultural Impact and Future of Military Identification” at noon in the Mary Pickford Theater. Contact: 707-5510.

Thursday, Jan. 26
KLUGE CENTER LECTURE
Anastasia Kalyuta, Kislak Fellow in American Studies, presents "Who Really Owned the Estate in the 'Place of Dog Tail?': Land Tenure Patterns Among the Pre-Hispanic Aztec Nobility in the Late 15th – Early 16th centuries” at noon in LJ 119. Contact: 707-3302.

Thursday, Jan. 26
FILM
“Funny Girl” (Columbia, 1968). 7:30 p.m., Packard Campus Theater, Culpeper, Va. Contact: 707-9994.

Friday, Jan. 27
FILM
“Follow the Boys” (Universal, 1944). 7:30 p.m., Packard Campus Theater, Culpeper, Va. Contact: 707-9994.

Saturday, Jan. 28
FILM
“King: A Filmed Record … Montgomery to Memphis” (Marion Films 1970). 7:30 p.m., Packard Campus Theater, Culpeper, Va. Contact: 707-9994.

Saturday, Jan. 28
CONCERT
Featuring the Library’s 1708 viola da gamba, made by Pieter Rombouts, Paolo Pandolfo plays J. S. Bach’s "Six Suites for Unaccompanied Cello" at 8 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. Tickets are required. Contact: 707-5502.

February 2012

Wednesday, Feb. 1
POETRY EVENT
Poets Delores Kendrick and Evie Shockley celebrate the birthday of American poet Langston Hughes by reading selections from his work and discussing his influence on their own writing at noon in the Whittall Pavilion. Contact: 707-5394.

Thursday, Feb. 2
LECTURE
Author and fashion historian John Tiffany discusses his book "Eleanor Lambert: Still Here” at 11:30 a.m. in the Mary Pickford Theater. Contact: 707-5664.

Friday, Feb. 3
PRECONCERT PRESENTATION
Composer Harold Meltzer talks about his new work with Cygnus Ensemble founder William Anderson at 6:15 p.m. in the Whittall Pavilion. Contact: 707-5502.

Friday, Feb. 3
CONCERT
The Cygnus Ensemble, featuring the Library’s Guarneri del Gesù violin, formerly owned by Fritz Kriesler, peforms works by Kriesler and Harold Meltzer, including "Kreisleriana" (World Premiere – Library of Congress McKim Fund commission), at 8 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. Tickets are required. Contact: 707-5502.

Saturday, Feb. 4
CONCERT
The U.S. Army Band "Pershing’s Own" explores the big-band music from the era of Ella Fitzgerald and Nelson Riddle at 8 p.m. at the Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H Street NE. Tickets required; Call the Atlas Box Office at 399-7993. Contact: 707-5502.

Tuesday, Feb. 7
BOOKS & BEYOND
Elizabeth Dowling Taylor discusses and signs her new book “A Slave in the White House: Paul Jennings and the Madisons” at noon in the Mumford Room. Contact: 707-5221.

Thursday, Feb. 9
LECTURE
Kevin LaVine of the Music Division presents “Music of the Russian Imperial Collection” at noon in the Whittall Pavilion. Contact: 707-5502.

Tuesday, Feb. 14
LECTURE
Jacob Bleacher of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center presents a talk on NASA’S Desert Rats at 11:30 a.m. in the Mary Pickford Theater. Contact: 707-5664.

Tuesday, Feb. 14
LECTURE
Michael David-Fox discusses and signs his new book “Showcasing the Great Experiment: Cultural Diplomacy and Western Visitors to the Soviet Union, 1921-1941” at noon in the Mumford Room, Madison Building. Contact: 707-5221.

Thursday, Feb. 16
EXHIBITION OPENING
“Politics and the Dancing Body,” on view through July 28, explores how American choreographers between World War I through the Cold War used dance to celebrate American culture, to voice social protest, and to raise social consciousness. The exhibition also examines how the U.S. government employed dance as a vehicle for cultural diplomacy and to counter anti-American sentiment. The exhibition features materials drawn mostly from the extensive dance, music, theater and design collections of the Music Division of the Library of Congress. The exhibition is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday, in the Performing Arts Reading Room, located on the first floor of the James Madison Building. Contact: 707-4604.

Saturday, Feb. 18
CONCERT
The Carolina Chocolate Drops perform jigs, reels, ballads, blues and worksongs from the pre-Civil War South to songs by Tom Waits and Blue Cantrell at 2 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. Tickets are required. Contact: 707-5502.

Thursday, Feb. 23
LECTURE
Sharon McKinley of the Music Division presents “It’s Show Time: Sheet Music From Stage and Screen” at noon in the Whittall Pavilion. Contact: 707-5502.

Friday, Feb. 24
PRECONCERT LECTURE
The Music Division’s Larry Appelbaum dialogues with the members of the Saiyuki Trio at 6:15 p.m. at the Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H Street NE. Contact: 707-5502.

Friday, Feb. 24
CONCERT
The Saiyuki Trio with Rudresh Mahanthappa, alto saxophone, perform music from pieces inspired by Jimi Hendrix to the traditional music of Viêtnam at 8 p.m. at the Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H Street NE. Tickets required; Call the Atlas Box Office at 399-7993. Contact: 707-5502.

Wednesday, Feb. 29
BOOKS & BEYOND
Simine Short discusses her book “Locomotive to Aeromotive: Octave Chanute and the Transportation Revolution” at noon in the Mary Pickford Theater. Contact: 707-5221.

March 2012

Thursday, March 1
POETRY EVENT
The works of Ralph Ellison will be celebrated at noon in the Whittall Pavilion. Contact: 707-5394.

Friday, March 2
BOOKS & BEYOND
Sarah Wadsworth and Wayne Wiegand discuss and sign their new book “Right Here I See My Own Books: The Woman’s Building Library at the World’s Columbian Exposition” at 3 p.m. in LJ 119. Contact: 707-5221.

Saturday, March 3
JAPANESE CULTURE DAY
In conjunction with the exhibition “Sakura: Cherry Blossoms as Living Symbols of Friendship” opening March 20, Japanese Culture Day features origami demonstrations, a theater presentation, a kimono display and other activities from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Young Readers Center. Contact: 707-1950.

Tuesday, March 6
LECTURE
Ronit Seter gives an illustrated lecture on "Israeli Women Composers” at noon in the African and Middle Eastern Division Reading Room. Contact: 707-3779.

Wednesday, March 7
CONCERT
"Ohio Impromptu," by Samuel Beckett, features actor Ted Van Griethuysen and the Cygnus Ensemble performing works by Dina Koston, Chester Bisardi, Ferruccio Busoni, David Claman and Mario Davidovsky at 8 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. Tickets are required. Contact: 707-5502.

Thursday, March 8
LECTURE
Elizabeth Aldrich of the Music Division and Victoria Phillips Geduld present a talk titled “Dance and Democracy: Politics and Protest, World War I through the Cold War” at noon in the Whittall Pavilion. Contact: 707-5502.

Thursday, March 8
PRECONCERT LECTURE
Leon Fleisher and soprano Phyllis Bryn-Julson talk about their long friendship with Dina Koston and the history of the Theater Chamber Players at 6:15 p.m. in the Whittall Pavilion. Contact: 707-5502.

Thursday, March 8
CONCERT
Pianists Leon and Katherine Fleisher, along with musicians from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, present works by Brahms, Dina Koston and Ligeti at 8 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. Tickets are required. Contact: 707-5502.

Friday, March 9
CONCERT
Con Gioia with soprano Julianne Baird and Preethi de Silva on harpsichord and fortepiano commemorate an "Originalgenie: A Birthday Tribute to Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach" at 8 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. Tickets are required. Contact: 707-5502.

Monday, March 19
PRECONCERT PRESENTATION
Alberto Manai, director of the Italian Cultural Institute, is the featured guest speaker at 6:15 p.m. in the Whittall Pavilion. Contact: 707-5502.

Monday, March 19
CONCERT
L’Arpeggiata with Christina Pluhar, artistic director, and vocalist Lucilla Galeazzi performs Pluhar’s "La Tarantella," which explores the southern-Italian myth that the bite of the tarantula could be cured only when the sufferer was exposed to certain types of music at 8 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. Tickets are required. Contact: 707-5502.

Tuesday, March 20
EXHIBITION OPENING
The exhibition “Sakura: Cherry Blossoms as Living Symbols of Friendship,” coinciding with the city-wide centennial celebration of Japan’s 1912 gift of cherry trees to the nation’s capital, uses the Library’s collections to illuminate the story of these landmark trees, the historical significance of cherry blossoms in Japan, and their continuing resonance in American culture and for Washingtonians in particular. Highlights include watercolor drawings of blossom varieties among the original trees, Japanese color-woodblock prints and books, and an array of photographs as well as editorial cartoons, posters and ephemera. The exhibition is on view through Sept. 15 in the Graphic Arts Galleries on the ground level of the Library’s Thomas Jefferson Building. The galleries are open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Contact: 707-4604.

Wednesday, March 21
LECTURE
Jane Rigby of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center discusses the James Webb Space Telescope at 11:30 a.m. in the Mary Pickford Theater. Contact: 707-5664.

Thursday, March 22
LECTURE
The Music Division’s Daniel Walshaw discusses Schoenberg and early music at noon in the Whittall Pavilion. Contact: 707-5502.

Friday, March 23
CONCERT
The Modigliani String Quartet performs works by Arriaga, Beethoven and Dohnányi at 8 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. Tickets are required. Contact: 707-5502.

Monday, March 26
POETRY EVENT
William Jay Smith will read selections from the work of Tennessee Williams at 6:30 p.m. in the Montpelier Room. Contact: 707-5394.

Wednesday, March 28
SYMPOSIUM
The Manuscript Division presents “Jung and Aging” from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Mumford Room. Advance registration is required; Contact: jungsymposium@loc.gov.

Wednesday, March 28
GALLERY TALK
Curators lead a special tour and other focused talks through the exhibition “Sakura: Cherry Blossoms as Living Symbols of Friendship” at noon in the Graphic Arts Galleries. Contact: 707-9203.

Wednesday, March 28
PRECONCERT PRESENTATION
Daniel Walshaw and Barbara Karpetova of the Embassy of the Czech Republic present "Czech Music Then and Now” at 6:15 p.m. in the Whittall Pavilion. Contact: 707-5502.

Wednesday, March 28
CONCERT
The Elias Quartet with pianist Jonathan Biss presents selections by Suk, Janácek and Dvorák at 8 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. Tickets are required. Contact: 707-5502.

Thursday, March 29
LECTURE
Thomas Brothers, professor of Music at Duke University, discusses "Louis Armstrong, Composer of King Oliver's 'Dipper Mouth Blues'” at noon in the Coolidge Auditorium. Contact: 707-5502.

April 2012

Wednesday, April 4
GALLERY TALK
Curators lead a special tour and other focused talks through the exhibition “Sakura: Cherry Blossoms as Living Symbols of Friendship” at noon in the Graphic Arts Galleries. Contact: 707-9203.

Thursday, April 5
LECTURE
Daniel Boomhower of the Music Division speaks on the chamber music in Berlin, ca. 1750, at noon in the Whittall Pavilion. Contact: 707-5502.

Thursday, April 5
POETRY EVENT
U.S. Poet Laureate Philip Levine introduces the 2012 Witter Bynner Fellows at 6:30 p.m. in the Montpelier Room. Contact: 707-5394.

Thursday, April 5
FILM
American Musical Theater at the Library of Congress Film Series – Concerts from the Archives: "Stephen Sondheim 70th Birthday Concert" (presented 5/22/2000). 7 p.m., Mary Pickford Theater. Contact: 707-5502.

Tuesday, April 10
CONCERT
John Cage Centennial: The Arditti String Quartet with guest pianist Stephen Drury celebrates the John Cage Centennial with a performance of his "Two4" (McKim Fund commission), along with works by Berg, Bartók and Beethoven at 7 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. Tickets are required. Contact: 707-5502.

Wednesday, April 11
GALLERY TALK
Curators lead a special tour and other focused talks through the exhibition “Sakura: Cherry Blossoms as Living Symbols of Friendship” at noon in the Graphic Arts Galleries. Contact: 707-9203.

Wednesday, April 11
FILM
“Bach and Friends” features reflections and performances by more than two dozen world-class artists, including Philip Glass, Joshua Bell, Simone Dinnerstein, Edgar Meyer, Bela Fleck, Jake Shimabukuro and Hilary Hahn. 7 p.m., Mary Pickford Theater. Contact: 707-5502.

Thursday, April 12
FILM
American Musical Theater at the Library of Congress Film Series – Concerts from the Archives: "American Creativity: The Composer-Lyricist Jonathan Larson" (presented 10/23/2006). 7 p.m., Mary Pickford Theater. Contact: 707-5502.

Friday, April 13
CONCERT
Quatuor Diotima performs pieces by Schubert, Beethoven and Smetana at 8 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. Tickets are required. Contact: 707-5502.

Saturday, April 14
JAPANESE CULTURE DAY
In conjunction with the exhibition “Sakura: Cherry Blossoms as Living Symbols of Friendship,” Japanese Culture Day features origami demonstrations, a theater presentation, a kimono display and other activities from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. in the Young Readers Center. Contact: 707-1950.

Saturday, April 14
PRECONCERT PRESENTATION
Marimbist Pius Cheung gives a performance at 6:15 p.m. in the Whittall Pavilion. Contact: 707-5502.

Saturday, April 14
CONCERT
Juilliard Baroque celebrates the works of J.S. Bach with performances of his Concerto in A minor for flute, violin and harpsichord, BWV 1044; from "A Musical Offering," BWV 1079: 3-part ricercare for solo harpsichord, canons, 6-part ricercare; and Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D Major, BWV 1050 at 8 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. Tickets are required. Contact: 707-5502.

Tuesday, April 17
BOOKS & BEYOND
Sam Watters discusses his new book “Gardens for a Beautiful America, 1895-1935, Photographs by Frances Benjamin Johnston” at noon in Dining Room A. Contact: 707-5221.

Wednesday, April 18
GALLERY TALK
Curators lead a special tour and other focused talks through the exhibition “Sakura: Cherry Blossoms as Living Symbols of Friendship” at noon in the Graphic Arts Galleries. Contact: 707-9203.

Wednesday, April 18
LECTURE
Daniel Schwartz gives a lecture on his book "The First Modern Jew: Spinoza and the History of an Image" at noon in the African and Middle Eastern Division Reading Room. Contact: 707-3779.

Thursday, April 19
EXHIBITION OPENING
The Library of Congress opens the exhibition "To Know Wisdom and Instruction: The Armenian Literary Tradition at the Library of Congress” to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the first Armenian printing press and book at Venice in 1512 and the designation of Yerevan, Armenia, as UNESCO's Book Capital of the World 2012. The exhibition features the Near East Section's collection of manuscripts, fabrics and printed books. The exhibition is on view in the South Gallery of the Thomas Jefferson Building from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Contact: 707-4604.

Thursday, April 19
LECTURE
The Music Division’s Loras Schissel and Elizabeth Aldrich discuss Martha Graham and Aaron Copland’s “Appalachian Spring” at noon in the Whittall Pavilion. Contact: 707-5502.

Thursday, April 19
FILM
"Life Begins at 8:40 – A Revue" (presented 3/22/2010). 7 p.m., Mary Pickford Theater. Contact: 707-5502.

Friday, April 20
PRECONCERT PRESENTATION
Martin Sandhoff, flutist and artistic director of Concerto Köln, is featured guest speaker at 6:15 p.m. in the Whittall Pavilion. Contact: 707-5502.

Friday, April 20
CONCERT
Concerto Köln, with cellist Jan Freiheit, continues the homage to Bach with performances of his Suite for Orchestra in C major, BWV 1066; Concerto for oboe d’amore, strings and basso continuo, BWV 1055; and "Brandenburg" Concerto no. 4 in G major, BWV 1049, at 8 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. Tickets are required. Contact: 707-5502.

Saturday, April 21
WORKSHOP
Concerto Köln presents a Bach and historically informed performance practice along with an orchestra meet-and-greet at 11 a.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. Contact: 707-5502.

Wednesday, April 25
CEREMONY
Former U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Hass hosts the River of Words awards ceremony for winners and finalists of the 2010-2011 environmental poetry and art contest for young people at 10 a.m. in LJ 119. Contact: 707-5221.

Wednesday, April 25
GALLERY TALK
Curators lead a special tour and other focused talks through the exhibition “Sakura: Cherry Blossoms as Living Symbols of Friendship” at noon in the Graphic Arts Galleries. Contact: 707-9203.

Saturday, April 28
CONCERT
Tanya Tomkins, Baroque cello, features works of J.S. Bach in two performances. Suite no. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007; Suite no. 4 in E-flat Major, BWV 1010; and Suite no. 5 in C minor, BW 1011, will be featured at noon. Suite no. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008; Suite no. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009; and Suite no. 6 in D Major, BWV 1012, will be presented at 3 p.m. All performances are in the Coolidge Auditorium. Tickets are required. Contact: 707-5502.

The Library of Congress occupies three buildings on Capitol Hill. The Thomas Jefferson Building is the original Library of Congress building; it is located at 10 First St. S.E., across from the U.S. Capitol. The John Adams Building is directly behind the Jefferson Building to the east on Second St. S.E. The James Madison Memorial Building, at 101 Independence Ave. S.E., is just south of the Jefferson Building.

Room Locations

JEFFERSON BUILDING: Coolidge Auditorium, ground floor; Whittall Pavilion, ground floor; Bob Hope Gallery of Entertainment, ground floor; LJ 119, first floor; Great Hall, first floor; Southwest Gallery and Southwest Pavilion, second floor; South Gallery, second floor; Northwest Gallery, second floor.

MADISON BUILDING: Madison Hall, first floor; LM 139, first floor; Pickford Theater, third floor; Mumford Room, sixth floor; Montpelier Room, sixth floor; West Dining Room, sixth floor; Dining Room A, sixth floor.

When attending events at the Library, allow extra time to pass through Library security. Request ADA accommodations five days in advance at 707-6362 or ADA@loc.gov.

Concerts

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 External 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, 399-7993. For further information on concerts, call the Concert Information Line at 707-5502 or visit www.loc.gov/concerts/.