Embassy Series Preview Concert Program Offers Wide Selection of Performances by Gary Tischler On the occasion of its 20th anniversary season, the Embassy Series, founded and run by noted baritone Jerome Berry, adds content and theme from Singapore, Israel, Mexico, Lithuania, Austria, Germany, Ecuador, Romania, France, Poland and Hungary. Barry launched the series and often performs in its programs. After nearly two decades, the series has become a Washington cultural institution. The series provides world-class music, matched with world-class performers in a setting of embassies and cultural centers all over Washington, D.C. The season kicks off Sept. 7 and Sept. 8 at the Embassy of Singapore with a performance by Siow Lee-Chin, the virtuoso violinist who is a frequent guest with the Singapore Symphony. She will be performing works by Schumann, Strauss, Schonenberg, Dvorak and Ravel. On Oct. 25, it’s on to the Embassy of Israel, where Israel’s Silver and Garburg piano duo will perform a program that includes works by Brahms, St. Saens, Beethoven and Liszt. On Nov. 3, pianist Guadalupe Parrondo will perform at the Mexican Cultural Institute. On Nov. 8, the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania will be the site of a special program commemorating the Vilna Ghetto on the evening of the anniversary of Kristallnacht. The program will include songs and music from the Vilna Ghetto, featuring Jerome Berry, pianist Jeffrey Chappell and violinist Petr Sirotin. On Nov. 15 and 16, pianist Christoph Berner, winner of the 1995 Bosendorfer Competition, will perform at the Embassy of Austria. On Dec. 6 and 7, soprano Karen Kohler and pianist Jeffrey Chappell will perform at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in a program celebrating the 100th anniversary of German and American film legend Marlene Dietrich. At the Embassy of Ecuador, guitarist Julio Almeida will perform a virtuoso program on Dec. 15. On Jan. 25, it will be an evening of Schubert and Mozart at the Embassy of Austria with the Mendelssohn Trio. Also at the Embassy of Austria, pianist Ann Schein will perform Jan. 26 with a program of Chopin and Schubert. "Enescu and Friends" will be the theme at the Embassy of the Republic of Romania with Karen Johnson on flute, Brian Ganz on piano, and baritone Jerome Berry on March 1. On March 28, La Maison France will be the site of another performance by the Mendelssohn Trio, performing the works of French romantics St. Saens and Faure. On March 18 and 19, pianist Kevin Kenner, a top-prize winner at the international Chopin Competition, will present an all-Chopin program at the Embassy of Poland. Also at the Embassy of Poland, Levine School of Music students will present a rising star program on March 23. An all-French program will be featured at Le Maison Francaise April 19, with pianist Carlos Cesar Rodriguez, flautist Karen Johnson, pianist Gregory Sioles, and Soprano Kerry McCarthy. On May 3, pianist Mimi Tung, cellist Paige Riggs and violinist Katherine Winterstein will perform at the Embassy of Hungary. Finally, on May 23 and May 24, the Embassy of Austria will be the appropriate site for evenings of opera and operetta, with soprano Elizabeth Starzinger and baritone George Nigl. For information on tickets, programs and reservations, call (202) 625-2361. The series Web site address is www.embassyseries.com. Gary Tischler is the arts reviewer for The Washington Diplomat.