Jazz Legend Chucho Valdés, The Tschaikowski St. Petersburg State Orchestra at GMU’s Center for the Arts

For those of us who can’t afford to take a mid-winter excursion, is offering up two performances this weekend that will take audiences on a thrilling journey to exotic destinations across the globe –- and you don’t even need to bring a passport!

Performing a spicy and sizzling concert of Latin music, legendary Cuban jazz pianist Chucho Valdés appears for the first time at the Center for the Arts on Friday, Feb. 3, at 8 p.m., with his band The Afro-Cuban Messengers.

The son of renowned pianist and bandleader Bebo Valdés, this celebrated artist revolutionized Latin music with his band Irakere, which became known to audiences around the world for its signature blend of jazz, rock, classical and traditional Cuban music.

In his illustrious career spanning more than 40 years, Valdés has recorded over 80 albums and earned five Grammy Awards and three Latin Grammy Awards. He has shared the stage with such jazz masters as Herbie Hancock, Dizzy Gillespie, Tito Puente, Chick Corea, and Wynton and Branford Marsalis.

In 2011, Valdés released his most recent album, “Chucho’s Steps,” which was honored with the Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album. The album features tributes to those artists who influenced Valdés, including Cole Porter, Art Tatum, John Coltrane and Branford Marsalis, among others. 

Straight from St. Petersburg, Russia, The Tschaikowski St. Petersburg State Orchestra appears at the Center for the Arts on Saturday, Feb. 4, at 8 p.m., on its inaugural North American tour.

Since its founding shortly after World War II, this esteemed orchestra has developed a diverse repertoire ranging from Baroque through 20th century music, and is known for its stunning performances of renowned works by great composers, especially those from Russia.

Under the baton of Music Director and Chief Conductor Roman Leontiev, the orchestra performs a program that includes Ravel’s “Daphnis et Chloé”: Suite No. 2 and Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Scheherazade” for Orchestra, Op. 35. Prize-winning pianist Alexandre Pirojenko is also joined by the orchestra for Prokofiev’s Concerto No. 1 in D-flat major. 

If you can’t make it out to George Mason University’s Center for the Arts this weekend, there are a number of exciting events coming up in the next several weeks: 

• The Virginia Opera brings Virginia Premiere of Philip Glass’s “Orphée” on Feb. 10 and 12;
• Music legend and counterculture icon Arlo Guthrie, joined by his son, grandson and longtime collaborator, brings a program of folk favorites and witty storytelling called “Boys’ Night Out” on Feb. 11;
• Appearing on Feb. 17, the beautiful Complexions Contemporary Ballet mixes dance techniques, styles and cultures to create a unique form of dance, and founders Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson have brought their art to prestigious venues around the globe as well as to the popular entertainment world with appearances on “So You Think You Can Dance”;
• A hit in London’s West End, “The ‘All New’ Original Tribute to the Blues Brothers ™ appears on Feb. 18, performing a fun program of classic R&B songs such as “Respect,” “Think” and “Gimme Some Loving”;
• The Grammy Award-winning Soweto Gospel Choir brings songs of hope, love, joy and peace sung in South Africa’s many languages, on Feb. 19.

For tickets, please call 888-945-2468, go online to cfa.gmu.edu or visit the Center for the Arts Concert Hall box office, open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.