Sunday Concerts at the Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C.

Sunday afternoon concerts at the Phillips Collection are one of my favorite activities in the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington, D.C. They're a Washington tradition and they've deepened my appreciation for chamber music.

The Phillips Collection itself is remarkable. Renoir's "Luncheon of the Boating Party" may be the best known work, but there are many masterpieces in this distinctive building that blends the former family home of Duncan Phillips with extensive new galleries. The Music Room where the Sunday concerts are held is part of the original building.

The museum turned 90 this year and the concerts have been around since 1941. For decades they were free, but even now they're a bargain. Admission to each concert is $20 or $8 for general members and free for Patrons and Circle members. They begin at 4 p.m. Seating is limited and unreserved. If you want to sit up front, you need to get there early. Otherwise, the acoustics are good no matter where you sit in such a small room. Most of all, you're surrounded with great art while you listen to beautiful music. The paintings rotate but expect to see everything from Matisse and Picasso to Twachtman and Diebenkorn.

I've heard many great performances, but the most famous acts were before my time. Just like people brag about seeing Bruce Springsteen in his early days, I like to imagine what it would have been like to see stars like Glenn Gould, Jessye Norman and Emmanuel Ax. On the other hand, I have gotten familiar with many popular ensembles that return each year like The Verdehr Trio.

Some performances are also tied into special exhibits at the museum. The current "Stella Sounds: The Scarlatti K Series" is one example. Selected sonatas by the 18th-century composer Domenico Scarlatti are being performed in the exhibition space to complement the Frank Stella art works they inspired.

The Phillips music director, Caroline Mousset, often gives introductory remarks and every concert is followed by question and answer sessions. For myself, I always felt like I understood visual arts better than music so listening to chamber music regularly with a related discussion has been a profound experience.

You can see all the details for the full concert season on the Phillips Collection website. They even have podcasts of the question and answer sessions and extracts from the concerts. The Phillips Collection is located at 1600 21st Street, NW in Washington, D.C. The Sunday concerts are one more good reason to visit the Phillips.