Category: Foundations

Cincinnati Opera announces stars for ‘Viva Verdi!’

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Ailyn Perez and Soloman Howard – Photo by Soloman Howard

Soprano Ailyn Pérez, mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges, tenor Matthew White, baritone Michael Chioldi, and bass Soloman Howard are the international opera stars who will headline Cincinnati Opera’s “Viva Verdi!” special concert as part of its 2027 Summer Festival.

The concert, to be at 7:30 p.m. June 25, 2027 in Music Hall, celebrates a transformational $6 million gift from the Harry T. Wilks Family Foundation.

Tenor Matthew White JustJamiPhotography

 

Cincinnati Opera announced the cast this week. The cast includes some of the most sought-after voices in classical music who perform regularly with prestigious opera companies and orchestras throughout North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. (Opera fans will recognize a number of Cincinnati Opera appearances, as well.)

They will be joined by the Cincinnati Opera Chorus, under the leadership of Chorus Master Henri Venanzi, and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra conducted by Alex Amsel.

This special concert is made possible by a transformational $6 million gift from The Harry T. Wilks Family Foundation, led by trustees Nanci Wilks Lanni and Barbara Wilks.

The gift was first announced from the Music Hall stage during Cincinnati Opera’s July 2026 performances of Carmen. It will establish The Harry T. Wilks Family Foundation Fund for Leading Artists, an endowed fund that will provide Cincinnati Opera with ongoing support for the presentation of singers of the highest quality, beginning in 2027 and continuing with key principal artist engagements in seasons to come.Read More »

Cincinnati arts in top 20 of U.S. communities

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CCO musicians performing at Pyramid Hill sculpture park, Hamilton
May Festival Chorus

A new report from the National Center for Arts Research names Cincinnati in the top 20 of large communities for arts vibrancy. The report takes “a data-driven approach to assessing characteristics that make up a community’s vibrancy rather than base the ranking on our own opinion about locations or on a popular vote.” Four measures were analyzed: supply, demand, and public support for arts and culture on a per capita basis.

It’s interesting that such a report would come out during a pandemic, when most arts organizations closed their doors in March, and have been struggling to survive ever since. The reason, the report says, it offers the report “as a celebration and reminder of the arts’ enduring importance, resiliency, and vibrancy.

“We should not forget the essential role that the arts play in fueling community development, emotional health, cultural literacy, social cohesion and integration, and creative expression. Ultimately, the communal nature of arts participation will be a strength to communities hungry to come together again and affirm existential meaning after prolonged isolation, trauma, and polarization.”

Indeed.Read More »

Library of Congress commissions 10 musical works in response to Covid pandemic

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Illustration from a medieval manuscript
Public Domain. Bibliotheek, K. (2020, April 01). Giovanni Boccaccio & Florentines Who Have Fled from the Plague. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.ancient.eu/image/12052/

The Black Plague of the 14th century had Giovanni Boccaccio’s The Decameron, a literary masterpiece about 10 Florentine authors, holed up in quarantine, who entertained themselves by telling stories. The result was 100 tales.

Now, the Library of Congress announced today it will premiere a series of 10 commissions of new music from composers across America in The Boccaccio Project, a musical response to our current plague.

That early moment in history parallels the quarantine and social distancing phenomena we have been experiencing worldwide in recent months, the Library of Congress news release stated.

Curators in the Library’s Music Division asked 10 pairs of composers and performers to write brief solo works to be premiered over the course of 10 days — June 15 to June 26. The composers and performers are working remotely, and once the new commissions have been recorded, they will be released on the Library’s digital platforms and by the artists.

The release of the commissions over 10 days is a nod to the “Decameron’s” structure, the release said.

Since the Library’s concert series was founded in 1925, more than 600 works have been commissioned under the auspices of the Library’s gift funds.Read More »

In memoriam: Don Siekmann

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Don Siekmann, immediate past president of the Society for the Preservation of Music Hall, had a big smile and a booming voice. A champion of Music Hall, he was most enthusiastic about the Mighty Wurlitzer Theater Organ, and established a concert series in the Ballroom, a popular series still sells out quickly.

Mr. Siekmann died on Nov. 14.

Born in 1938 in St. Louis, Mr. Siekmann was the longtime managing partner of Arthur Anderson & Co.. His involvement with Cincinnati arts and civic groups was widespread. Besides, SPMH, Mr. Siekmann served as president of the Greater Cincinnati Arts and Education Center (the organization led by Erich Kunzel that spearheaded the new School for Creative and Performing Arts) and was a Cincinnati United Way Campaign chair.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Linda, and son Brian, as well as a sister, Ruth Ann Yorg and two grandchildren.

Visitation is 5 pm to 8 pm Nov. 19 at Spring Grove Funeral Homes, 4389 Spring Grove Ave. Services are at 10:30 am Nov. 20 at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Milford, preceded by visitation at 9 am.

To read more, visit bizjournals.com/cincinnati.

Big crowds for concerts by Ono Brothers, Ariel Quartet, pianist Roman Rabinovich

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UC President Santa Ono with his brother, pianist virtuoso Momoro Ono
UC President Santa Ono with his brother, piano virtuoso Momoro Ono

I have enjoyed some excellent concerts this month in smaller venues outside of Music Hall, and each was unique and impressive. On Nov. 1, I was in a large audience at the Xavier Piano Series in Gallagher Theater for the series debut of pianist Momoro Ono. And incidentally, part of the program included his brother, cellist and University of Cincinnati President Santa Ono. It was definitely a family affair — the Ono brothers’ parents were also in attendance.Read More »

Cincinnati’s philanthropy: Why do people give to the arts?

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  • There have been some astonishing stories in the past week or two about Cincinnati’s support for the arts. The Lindner family is giving $10 million to the Music Hall renovation project. The CSO has raised $26 million, which will both build back the orchestra to 90 players and balance the books. Read how the orchestra turned itself around in six years.
  • And the ArtsWave campaign hit a new high.
  • On Friday, a visitor from New York asked me why there is such passion for the symphony, opera, ballet, museums and theater in such a small market? And why do people care enough to give and keep giving?
  • I said I think it goes back to those German immigrants of the 19th century– it’s in the DNA.
  •  What do you think?

    CSO officials annouce $26 million in gifts on Thursday in Music Hall

    joshua Bell signs autographs

    A fan takes a selfie

    Louie Langree and orchestra taking bows

Read More »

Three shows in two days

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Or, how I spent my weekend… Last night, I took in a ravishing concert by the Vocal Arts Ensemble in Memorial Hall. Here’s a teaser:

The Vocal Arts Ensemble’s survey of American music on Saturday night was a journey of pristine singing and expressive beauty. But it was the final group of spirituals — when the chorus whooped it up in “Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel” and “Battle of Jericho” — that galvanized listeners, and we came to know the range of possibilities under new director Craig Hella Johnson. Read the full review here.

Soon, I’ll be heading down to the Aronoff to see “Peter Pan” with Cincinnati Ballet, danced to a sweet score by Carmon DeLeone. Then I’m hopping over to CCM to see the Academy of Ancient Music perform Bach’s Orchestral Suites.

By the way, did you see the story about the Corbett Foundation’s final gift? $1 million is going to CCM’s Opera Department.

Other news last week:

Cincinnati is in the running for a major conference of international museums.

The Cincinnati Pops is getting ready to go on the road in December.

And Jake Heggie and his creative team will be in town next week to workshop his new opera. “Great Scott.”