Sunday, August 12, 2007

Starting Monday, citizens from around the globe will descend on Old Town Alexandria at the invitation of the CIA to face off against their international counterparts. But don't expect shadowy backroom espionage at this annual competition of skill. The U.S. intelligence organization isn't sending the invites; it's the Confederation Internationale des Accordéonistes.

The American Accordionists' Association and the Accordionists and Teachers Guild International are co-hosting the 60th anniversary Coupe Mondiale (World Cup) competition, which is a great opportunity to see virtuoso musicians performing at the top of their game. And though some of the proceedings will appeal strictly to CIA insiders, plenty of events -- not to mention free concerts -- should excite music enthusiasts.

You can get a day pass ($15-$20) to check out the events at the Alexandria Holiday Inn, but the best bet for the accordion-curious might be Saturday's closing concert ($20) at 9 p.m., when the 150-piece World Accordion Orchestra will perform a repertoire that includes a number of world premieres and several pieces specifically penned for accordion orchestras.

If your accordion interest doesn't justify buying a ticket, fret not: Free performances abound. Tuesday though Friday at 6 p.m., the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage will welcome such ensembles as the Air New Zealand Accordion Orchestra and the Beijing Children's Palace Accordion Orchestra. There will be another free concert Saturday at 6 p.m., when the winners from each of the Coupe Mondiale competitions will take the stage at the center.

For a different kind of show, hang out outside the U.S. Capitol around noon on Friday, when busloads of Coupe Mondiale attendees will gather on the steps for a performance of "Stars and Stripes Forever." This is bound to be a once-in-a-lifetime event for folks who prefer hand-pumped patriotic marches.

-- Justin Rude

Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites, 625 First St., Alexandria, 703-548-6300; Kennedy Center, 2700 F St. NW, 202-467-4600. For a full schedule, visit http://www.coupemondiale.org.