I hope you were able to attend the opening concerts of the CSO last weekend, which welcomed Cristian Măcelaru as the orchestra’s 14th music director. Here’s my review of his program, with thanks to the Cincinnati Business Courier. And before opening night, he offered a few of his thoughts as he embarks on his new chapter with the CSO.
Christian Reif and soprano Julia Bullock in CSO Proof concert, 2023/ photos provided by CSO
Today, the May Festival announced that Măcelaru will also conduct the opening weekend of the Cincinnati May Festival. In its third year of a new artistic model, the festival welcomes Julia Bullock as Festival Director. I think you’ll find her programs fascinating. Director of Choruses Matthew Swanson is co-curator and will also be conducting one evening. Here are the details.
Don’t forget, you can read reviews, articles and arts news free on the Business Courier’s Arts Front. (You may need to provide your info for a FREE subscription.)
Mezzo-soprano Megan Moore with pianist Francesco Barfoed; photo by Gayna Bassin
Mezzo-soprano Megan Moore brought a substantial, varied program to Matinee Musicale on Oct. 12 in Memorial Hall. It was her professional recital debut in the Queen City, although the singer, a native of West Chester and a Lakota West and Miami University grad, sang on Cincinnati Music Hall’s stage at age 14 with the May Festival Youth Chorus under the baton of James Conlon. “I thought I was a rock star,” she said, praising the foundation in the arts that she had received here. Now she enjoys an international career, which includes singing Rosina in “The Barber of Seville” with Seattle Opera and the Metropolitan Opera, and her company and role debut this season as Octavian in “Der Rosenkavalier” at New Orleans Opera.
Her exellent piano collaborator was Danish-born Francesco Barfoed, whom she met when both were at Juilliard. Their program included the second performance of a new song cycle by Jake Heggie, which, she told me later, he tailored to her voice. They gave its world premiere in April at the Morgan Library in New York, presented by the George and Nora London Foundation for Singers.
This was Moore’s first recital since having a baby via C-section seven weeks ago, which was an astonishing feat considering the control needed and the artistry she displayed. A large contingent of friends and family (and baby, too) were on hand, including former high school and college teachers.Read More »
Brianna Matzke interviewed composer Dai Fujikura after the performance of his “Borrowed Landscape”
I witnessed an extraordinary work of “performance art” on Monday night (Sept. 29). The Cincinnati ensemble concert nova, now led by Brianna Matzke, presented the Cincinnati premiere of “Borrowed Landscape” by Dai Fujikura, to texts by the German playwright duo Tauchgold, at the Mercantile Library. Concert nova presented it as a memorial to the 80th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, in partnership with the Peace Resource Center at Wilmington College.
“Borrowed Landscape” tells the stories of three remarkable instruments and their owners, all connected to the war. There was a famous Stradivarius violin, which had gone silent in Budapest, a double bass from Poland, which was being restored years after its former owner had fled the Holocaust, and a Baldwin upright piano, which had survived the bombing of Hiroshima, although its young owner, Akiko, had not. Fujikura orchestrated his piano trio for violin, bass and piano according to their stories.Read More »
A previous concert by Musica Sacra at the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption/ photo provided
The choral ensemble Musica Sacra has commissioned a new work in honor of its 60th anniversary. Directed by Dr. L. Brett Scott, Musica Sacra will perform the world premiere of “Receiving” by award-winning composer Jessica French, 3 p.m. October, 26, 2025 at the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption in Covington, KY. The program also includes Haydn’s “Harmoniemesse.”
Musica Sacra is second only to the Cincincinnati May Festival as the oldest continually operating community choral group in Cincinnati. It was founded in 1965 by Helmut Roehrig, whose vision was to create an ensemble for performing sacred choral literature in the spaces for which they were intended, accompanied by an orchestra, and at no charge to the public. He led the group for 50 years.
The Seattle-based composer will attend the performance. During the week, she’ll work with students at the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, where Scott is Professor of Ensembles and Conducting. French’s work has been commissioned by BBC Singers, the St. Olaf Cantorei and Orchestra; the St. Thomas Choir of Men and Boys (NYC), and the Choir of Trinity Church Wall Street (NYC) among others.Read More »
Claire Huangci wowed in transcriptions and rarities/ photo by Gayna Bassin
The fall season is here, and on Sept. 7, I took in one of the first offerings of the classical music season. American pianist Claire Huangci stepped in on about a week’s notice to perform a recital for Matinée Musicale of virtuoso piano transcriptions by Czerny, Ravel, Earl Wild and Gershwin, and rarely heard pieces by Khachaturian and Florence Price in Memorial Hall.
Although her program seemed to be mostly all that glittered, it was a treat to hear some rarely heard works, such as Price’s Fantasie Negre No. 2 in G Minor, and familiar works in less-played arrangements — such as Rhapsody in Blue for piano solo only. And best of all, she spoke about each piece from the stage, which earned points from the audience.
She told listeners that Cincinnati has a special meaning to her, because in 1999 she participated in the (now defunct) World Piano Competition here. Since performing for Matinée twice before, in 2015 and 2017, she has developed a very busy international career. She is the winner of numerous competitions, and her technical prowess was on display in this program.
The pianist opened with Beethoven’s “Moonlight” Sonata. I enjoyed her singing tone and wonderful way of conjuring atmosphere. Czerny’s Fantasie Brillante sur “Le Nozze di Figaro” was an enchanting journey on tunes from the opera through brilliant technical feats. She summoned orchestral sonorities in Khachaturian’s Adagio of Spartacus, a score heard in movies. And Ravel’s “La Valse” (in the composer’s piano solo version) was a mesmerizing tour de force, with impeccable voicing amidst cascades of filigree, performed with arms and hair flying.
The second half of this substantial program similarly involved spectacular feats, starting with Florence Price’s Fantasie Negre No. 2 in G Minor (she wrote 4 of them). There were four Virtuoso Etudes on some of Gershwin’s most irresistible tunes, including “I’ve Got Rhythm,” arranged by Earl Wild. Huangci finished with Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, playing both the piano and orchestra parts. She took it at an extremely fast tempo, and I wondered how she had any energy left at all after what seemed to be an endurance test of a concert.
Sometime, I’d like to hear this pianist play Beethoven again. For an encore, she treated with a charming tune from the film “Amélie,” released in 2001.
Coming up, Matinée presents Cincinnati native Megan Moore, a lyric coloratura mezzo-soprano, in a wide-ranging program that you can see here. The collaborative pianist is Francesco Barfoed. It’s at 3 p.m. Oct. 12 in Memorial Hall. Ticket info: matineemusicalecincinnati.org/recitals
One of the world’s finest young string quartets is right here in Cincinnati. On Aug. 31, the Poiesis String Quartet, graduate string quartet-in-residence at the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, won the Grand Prize in the prestigious 15th Banff International String Quartet Competition. The prize includes $500,000 CAD in cash, prizes, and career development opportunities, including touring and recording and three-year custom artistic and career development program.
The quartet is currently being mentored at CCM by the Ariel Quartet. Its members are: Sarah Ying Ma on violin, Max Ball on violin, Jasper de Boor on viola, and Drew Dansby on cello. They are graduates of Oberlin College & Conservatory.
Nine international string quartets competed this year, in what is described as “one of the most competitive in the competition’s four-decade history.” The competition reports that competitors travelled to Banff from their home bases in Asia, Europe, and North America, with players hailing from 14 different countries.
The name Poiesis derives from ancient Greek and means “to make.” The ensemble focuses on expanding the quartet repertoire with new works by emerging composers.
Competition jury members include Marie Chilemme, Jonathan Crow, Eugene Drucker, Honggang Li, Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt, Eckart Runge, and David Ying.
The quartet will present their fall recital at 6:45 p.m. Oct. 2 in Werner Recital Hall. Free.
Claire Huangci will step in to perform the season opener for Matinee Musicale/ photo by Mateusz Zahora
Matinée Musicale has just announced that the Japanese pianist Manami Suzuki will not be able to perform in Cincinnati on Sunday, September 7th due to visa issues. Instead, American pianist Claire Huangci has agreed to perform this concert to kick off Matinee Musicale’s 112th season. The series takes place in Memorial Hall.
Huangci performed for
Matinée in 2015 and 2017 and she has gone on to enjoy an impressive international performance career. Her program includes Beethoven’s Sonata Op. 27, No. 2, “Moonlight,” Ravel’s “La Valse,” Florence Price’s “Fantasie Nègre” No. 2 in G minor, and lots of Gershwin, include Earl Wild’s Gershwin-inspired Virtuoso Etudes.
It was to have been Suzuki’s U.S. debut, and the organization hopes to be able to present her next season.
Vincent Dubois comes to Cincinnati Museum Center in October
Many of us were riveted when the great organ of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, was rescued after the fire, refurbished and rededicated at the reopening. Cincinnati Museum Center’s Music in the Museum series will open its season on Oct. 29 with Vincent Dubois, titular organist at the Cathedral of Notre-Dame, where he serves alongside Olivier Latry and Philippe Lefebvre. He is also Professor of organ interpretation and improvisation at the Hochschule für Musik (University of Music), Saarbrücken, Germany.
He has performed in major concert venues throughout Europe, North America, Asia and the Pacific. Dubois’ program will include: Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 582, J. S. Bach; Choral No. 1 in E major, Franck; Prelude in C sharp minor Op.3, Rachmaninoff; Menuet and Rigaudon from Le Tombeau de Couperin, Ravel; Sonata on the 94th Psalm in C minor, J. Reubke; and Carillon de Westminster, Op. 54, No. 6, Vierne.
He’ll also collaborate with University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music Professor of Percussion, Russell Burge in Boléro sur un thème de Charles Raquet, P. Cochereau; Fanfare for the Common Man, A. Copland; and Les sauvages from Les Indes galantes by Rameau.
The 1929 Grand E.M. Skinner Concert Organ is the centerpiece for Music in the Museum, a concert series hosted three times a year at Cincinnati Museum Center.
The rest of the series looks great, too:
Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
Presenting Johannes Skoog, Organist. Johannes Skoog is winner of the First Prize and the Bach Prize at the 2024 Canadian International Organ Competition and he is one of Sweden’s brightest young organists. He will collaborate with the combined Choirs of Christ Church Cathedral, Stephan Casurella, Director and St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Carlton Monroe, Director.
Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
Presenting Isabelle Demers, Organist. Isabelle Demers is Associate Professor of Organ at McGill University. Her programs includes arias and other numbers in collaboration with University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music Professor of Voice, Tenor, Daniel Weeks. You don’t want to miss “Nessun dorma”!
Cincinnati Ballet announced a new music director via social media today. Alyssa Wang will succeed music director emeritus Carmon DeLeone, who served more than 50 years and still conducts the ballet on occasion. She is a “triple threat” — a conductor, composer and violinist. Alyssa is the recipient of the 2024 New Music USA Creator Fund, the 2023 Solti Foundation Career Assistance Award, and the 2022 St. Botolph Emerging Artist Award.
An accomplished violinist, she is the newest member musician of the Boston Chamber Music Society, and has been featured in numerous contemporary recording projects, such as Carlos Simon’s Grammy-nominated album, Requiem for the Enslaved (Decca).
As a composer, she premiered her own violin concerto, Swept Away, with the Chamber Orchestra of Pittsburgh, who commissioned the work, in February 2023. Her latest composition project is a string octet for Boston Chamber Music Society that will premiere in May 2026.
Alyssa earned her bachelor’s degree from Carnegie Mellon University under the tutelage of Andrés Cárdenes, and a master’s degree at the New England Conservatory where she studied with Malcolm Lowe. Read more here.
Jose Maria Condemi
The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music welcomed two new faculty members to succeed two of the eight who are retiring by the end of this semester.
UC College-Conservatory of Music Dean Pete Jutras has just announced the appointment of JoseMariaCondemi, who earned his Master of Fine Arts degree in direction at CCM, as CCM’s new Associate Professor of Opera. His faculty appointment officially begins on Aug. 15.
“Jose Maria Condemi brings inspiring creative vision to CCM, along with a long and distinguished record of directing at the worlds’ major opera houses. He is no stranger to Cincinnati, and we are thrilled to welcome him to the CCM Opera Department,” said Jutras, in a statement. “I am grateful to our search committee chair Amy Johnson and committee members ThomasHase, KirillKuzmin and KennethShaw for their efforts with this successful search.”
Condemi has been a director and producer of opera and theater of exceptional artistic quality for over two decades, both in the United States and internationally. Upcoming directing engagements include Rigoletto for San Francisco Opera, Tosca for Cincinnati Opera and Alcina for the Trentino Music Festival.
In Cincinnati, you may also recall his work in Ainadamar, Don Giovanni, La Traviata, Tosca and Lucia di Lammermoor for Cincinnati Opera.
He has a long relationship with San Francisco Opera, where he has directed several mainstage productions and two world premieres, and he’s directed at other major opera houses across the country and internationally. Please click here to read more about him.
Brian Hong
In addition, violist Brian Hong is CCM’s new Assistant Professor of Viola. His appointment begins on Aug. 15.
“Brian Hong’s extensive performance experience, chamber music career, and innovative work in the non-profit and community arts sectors will bring great value to CCM’s esteemed String area,” said Dean Jutras. “I am grateful to our search committee chair Rachel Calin and committee members Aik Khai Pung and Catharine Lees for their efforts with this successful search.”
As the violist of the Grammy-nominated Aizuri Quartet from 2023-2025, he premiered major new works on nationally renowned chamber music series and conducted residencies at universities across the United States. He has performed as soloist with many orchestras and has participated in festivals such as Marlboro and the Perlman Music Program. Prior to his CCM appointment, Hong served on the viola and chamber music faculties at Bard College Conservatory of Music.
Hong is a graduate of Juilliard’s Artist Diploma program. He also holds a master’s degree from the Juilliard School, where he was awarded a prestigious Kovner Fellowship. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the New England Conservatory of Music. He’s also a successful music administrator. He is the program manager for the Vital Sounds Initiative of Project: Music Heals Us, a nonprofit dedicated to providing musical education, access and healing to marginalized populations. He is also a co-artistic director of NEXUS Chamber Music Chicago in Illinois, an artist-driven collective of musicians. Read more about him here.
As usual, the spring season is packed with concerts, events and exhibitions. Last weekend, Jaap van Zweden made his first visit to the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and wowed attendees with his interpretation of Mahler’s Sixth. Here’s my review of that concert on April 25.
On Sunday, I visited the new home of Cincinnati Public Radio. It was inspiring to see its halls, airy offices, performance spaces and grounds packed with people and many families enjoying food trucks and instrument petting zoos. Outside, Cincinnati Public Radio President, GM and CEO Rich Eiswerth was directing traffic. Inside, I heard Matthew Swanson lead members of the May Festival Chorus in “Everything’s Coming up Roses,” and indeed, it was.
Also last weekend, I heard a farewell concert on April 26 in Corbett Auditorium at CCM in honor of two CCM faculty members, Distinguished Teaching Professor of Music Theory and Composition Miguel Roig-Francoli and Professor of Voice and Dieterle Chair of Music Karen Lykes, both retiring after careers of some 30 years each.
The opening work was Red River Variations, consisting of a theme penned by Roig-Francoli, followed by eight variations written by his colleagues and current and former students, in his honor. I marveled at the inventive and varied contributions, performed by the CCM Concert Orchestra conducted by its music director Aik Khai Pung. It was fun to see the fine work by this orchestra, which featured in the concertmaster chair Roig-Francoli’s son, Rafael.
And how inspiring it was to hear opera soprano Joélle Harvey return to perform Samuel Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915, in honor of Karen Lykes. Harvey’s reputation has soared since graduating from CCM, with performances on the world’s most important stages, from the Met to Teatro La Fenice. I enjoyed her beauty of phrasing and expressive power. It was a sublime tribute to her teacher.
The evening ended with the orchestra’s performance of Roig-Francoli’s own Sinfonia, “De profundis,” in its North American premiere. Its four well-crafted movements ranged from highly dramatic to light and gleaming with color.
Earlier this year, I enjoyed another farewell performance. Professor of Opera Robin Guarino directed her final production at CCM, Benjamin Britten’s “Midsummer Night’s Dream,” before retiring at the end of this semester. Here’s the review of that enchanting performance.
In fact, eight CCM faculty members, plus one staff member, will be retiring this academic year. I’m assured that searches are currently taking place for their successors.
Here’s the list, with thanks to these superb artist-teachers, and all that they have given to the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, their students and the arts community.Read More »
