*Please Note: Severe winter weather is currently expected to arrive in our area Saturday evening (1/24). Before making plans to attend any event listed in FanFare and the WDAV Events Calendar this weekend, check the organizer’s website and social pages for cancellation updates. Get ready, stay safe, and stay warm!
Tuesday, January 27th is the 270th anniversary of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s birth and you’ll see a few Mozartian events below, including a film screening of one of his beloved operas. There’s also some Motown in this edition of FanFare. Imagine if Mozart had worked with Berry Gordy at Motown. He could have written hits like “Mein Girl” or “I Heard it Through the Weinrebe.” But I digress…
CSO + Motown*
The irresistible pop sounds of 1960s and ‘70s Detroit are coming to the Queen City as the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra* brings The Music of Motown to Knight Theater (430 S. Tryon Street, Charlotte) on January 23rd and 24th. Resident conductor Christopher James Lees and the CSO are teaming up with vocalists Chester Gregory, Michael Lynche, and Shayna Steele to deliver the uplifting harmonies and driving beats of the Temptations, Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and more. January 23-24.
Haggis in Huntersville
Historic Rural Hill’s (4431 Neck Road, Huntersville) annual Burns Night Supper returns January 23rd and 24th. This formal, immersive experience is a chance to honor Scotland’s beloved bard, Robert Burns, and celebrate Scottish culture through poetry, food, and libation. The traditional three-course Scottish dinner includes the dramatic “Piping in of the Haggis” and ceremonial Address to a Haggis, followed by a toast to the memory of Robert Burns with a complimentary pour of fine Scotch whisky. January 23-24.
Family Matters
Theatre Charlotte (501 Queens Road, Charlotte) continues its 98th season with the hilarious and heartwarming Over the River and Through the Woods, January 23rd through February 8th.Written by Joe DiPietro, the play tells the story of Nick, a New Yorker who crosses the river to New Jersey every Sunday to have dinner with both sets of his Italian-American grandparents. When Nick announces that he’ll be relocating to Seattle for work, his elders lovingly set about to derail his plans. January 23-February 8.
Orchestra Games
With the 2026 Olympic Winter Games about to begin in Italy, the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra* is getting in on the thrill of competition with The Orchestra Games at Knight Theater (430 S. Tryon Street, Charlotte) on Saturday, January 24th at 11 a.m. Resident conductor Christopher James Lees leads this fun Family Series concert that will feature the CSO’s musicians competing in events such as the low-note limbo, the fast-note dash, and the endurance marathon. January 24.
Let Freedom Sing!
In honor of MLK Day (1/19), 7th Street Concerts* is presenting Freedom in the Air atSt. Peter’s Episcopal Church (115 W. 7th Street, Charlotte) on Saturday, January 24th at 6 p.m. This powerful program blends American spirituals, folk songs, and fiddle tunes with Baroque and Classical music traditions to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Featured performers include countertenor Patrick Dailey and Charlotte-based soprano Sequina DuBose. The event will begin at 5:30 with complimentary pre-concert refreshments. January 24.
The World of Eric Carle
In 1969, The Very Hungry Caterpillar was published, and its appeal has never waned. The Children’s Theatre of Charlotte is bringing Eric Carle’s beloved picture book to the stage in The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show at ImaginOn (300 E. 7th Street, Charlotte), January 24th through February 8th. Featuring more than 75 colorful puppets, the 45-minute production also includes three of Carle’s other stories: Brown Bear, 10 Little Rubber Ducks, and The Very Lonely Firefly. January 24-February 8.
270 Candles
University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA)* is marking Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s 270th birthday (1/27) with two upcoming concerts at Watson Hall (1533 S. Main Street, Winston-Salem). First, faculty artists will be presenting an array of Mozart’s chamber music on Sunday, January 25th at 3 p.m. Then, the piano duo of Dmitri Vorobiev and Polina Khatsko will perform Mozart’s Sonata for Two Pianos in D major, along with two suites by Sergei Rachmaninoff on Tuesday, January 27th at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for each concert are $25 for adults and $20 for students. January 25 & 27.
Mozart at the Movies
The Appalachian Theater of the High Country (559 W. King Street, Boone) is celebrating Mozart’s birthday with an encore screening of the Metropolitan Opera’s abridged, English-language production of The Magic Flute on Sunday, January 25th at 1 p.m. This version directed by Julie Taymor, the Tony Award–winning director of Broadway’s The Lion King, features colorful sets, costumes, and puppetry that make the experience perfect for audiences of all ages. January 25.
Classics On Tap
Grab a cold one with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra* at Lenny Boy Brewing (3000 S. Tryon Street, Charlotte) on Tuesday, January 27th at 7:30 p.m. The CSO’s On Tap series continues with chamber performances of Aaron Copland’s rollicking Hoe-Down, Franz Josef Haydn’s “Farewell” Symphony, as well as works by Julia Perry, Zhou Tian, and North Carolina’s own Terry Mizesko. January 27.
Warm Sounds for Winter
Bach Charlotte* is launching its first-ever Bach Charlotte WinterFest at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church (1001 Queens Road, Charlotte) and Myers Park Presbyterian Church (2501 Oxford Place, Charlotte), January 28th through February 1st. But it’s so much more than Johann Sebastian. The theme of the inaugural event is “Voices of the Baroque and Beyond,” with chamber, orchestral, choral, and organ programs that pair beloved masterworks with fresh perspectives. The schedule includes works by JS Bach, Handel, Brahms, CPE Bach, Telemann, Vivaldi, Heinichen, Mendelssohn, and Franck. January 28-February 1.
Jazz Photos & Favorites
The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture (551 South Tryon Street, Charlotte) is currently presenting Jazz Greats: Classic Photographs from the Bank of America Collection through April 26th. In conjunction with the exhibit, you can hear The Charles Craig Trio (Ron Brendle, bassist; Tim Scott Jr., drummer; and Charles Craig, pianist) at the Gantt Center on Wednesday, January 28th from 6 to 8 p.m. The group will perform a set of classic jazz favorites by Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, John Coltrane, and more. January 28.
Have a great week, and don’t forget to check out our WDAV Events Calendar often for even more fun and interesting things to do!
FanFare is made possible in part by:
*Disclosure: Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, Theatre Charlotte, 7th Street Concerts, UNCSA, and Bach Charlotte are WDAV underwriters.