Tag: Cincinnati chamber Orchestra

Soundtrack of America and much more at the CCO’s Summermusik festival

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The Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra’s 12th Summermusik festival will hail America at 250 whil it carries on the orchestra’s tradition of imaginative programs across the city and region. This summer’s festival, Aug. 4-29, will included the artist debuts of renowned cellist Zuill Bailey and Fabiola Méndez, a virtuoso of the cuatro, a Latin American string instrument.

Eckart Preu is music director of the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra

Eckart Preu, music director of the CCO, will open the mainstage season with the world premiere of  “Visions of Humanity and Unity,” featuring Bailey as soloist. The cello concerto is a tribute to America’s 250th birthday this year, and each of its five movements is composed by a different composer: Mark O’Connor, Avner Dorman, Enrico Chapela, Zhou Tian and Chanda Dancy.

Cincinnati-based opera soprano Victoria Okafor joins the CCO for a semi-staged performance of Kurt Weill’s 20th century masterpiece “The Seven Deadly Sins.” And audience favorite Roger Klug returns to The Redmoor for a Chamber Crawl highlighting the legacy of American rock legends such as Bob Dylan and the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson.

The festival will continue the successful mix of four mainstage concerts at the School for Creative and Performing Arts, as well as weeknight “Chamber Crawls” and Sunday matinees dubbed “A Little Afternoon Musik.” Read More »

My top performances in Cincinnati in 2024

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Cristian Macelaru conducting Shostakovich/Photo provided by CSO

Besides great performances in Cincinnati, 2024 was a year of anniversaries, historic firsts, farewells and new beginnings. In some instances, there was news-making connected with these performances. In chronological order:

1) Last February, when he led a thrilling and revelatory performance of Shostakovich’s monumental Symphony No. 11 with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, we didn’t yet know that Cristian Macelaru would be announced as the 14th CSO music director. The conductor riveted listeners in Music Hall when he led Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 11, “The Year 1905.” He moved little as he led Shostakovich’s vast symphonic canvas, but the sheer visceral impact of this performance lingered long afterward. The orchestra’s musicians were impressed. For Macelaru, the feeling was mutual, he said in April, when his appointment was announced. Macelaru returns for his only performances with the CSO this season in February. And in other CSO leadership news, the CSO announced that President and CEO Jonathan Martin will retire Feb. 16.  Robert McGrath, the CSO’s chief operating officer, will then step in as acting president and CEO.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 »

Chamber Orchestra announces lineup for Summermusik e-festival

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CCO musicians performing at Pyramid Hill

In lieu of its usual month-long Summermusik festival, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra has 13 virtual events on tap to enjoy at home, Aug. 8 through Aug. 29.

The Silver-Garburg Piano Duo

Three will be three “live” events — online performances in real time, with stars including the Silver-Garburg Piano Duo, who wowed us in person at the festival in 2019 (Aug. 9); the superb young cellist Coleman Itzkoff, a Cincinnati native and CCO principal violist Heidi Yenney’s son (Aug. 16); and pianist Alon Goldstein, one of the stars of the 2017 festival (Aug. 23).

Those “eConcerts” will be hosted by music director Eckart Preu, and you’ll have a chance to ask questions.

Other events include “virtual watch parties” with local collaborators, a special WGUC Music Cincinnati Broadcast (Aug. 16), and “CCO2GO Rewind” events that were taped around the region earlier this summer.

Best of all, it’s all FREE. Access begins on Aug. 8th on the CCO’s website, ccocincinnati.org. Here’s the full lineup.Read More »

Violins that saved lives, offered hope to be heard again

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The violin with a Jewish Star inlaid on the back was likely played by a Klezmer musician. Jim Nolan, photo

Avshalom “Avshi” Weinstein carefully lifted one of the violins that his family of master violin makers in Tel Aviv, Israel, had lovingly restored. Its varnish was beautiful. Turning it over, he pointed out the ornate, inlaid Star of David on its back.

“Most of these instruments were simple, because those people didn’t have much money,” Weinstein said, noting that this was not a high-quality violin.  “Many played Klezmer (music) in their ghettos. This type of instrument with the Star of David would be played by Klezmers (Jewish folk musicians). They had no money, almost nothing.”

Avshalom “Avshi” Weinstein in his workshop

That violin with the Star of David is one of nine Holocaust-era violins that Weinstein hand-carried to Cincinnati this week. They will be played on Tuesday by some of Cincinnati’s finest musicians in a special concert at Music Hall.Read More »

Clip and save: What to see this winter

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The incomparable Jamie Barton performs Jan. 26 at Memorial Hall

Baby it’s cold outside – but Winter is the season when the arts heat up. In the coming weeks, there are many tempting concerts and events to warm you up. So, bundle up, because there are a few that you won’t want to miss.

Jan. 11-12: Canticle. The Vocal Arts Ensemble reprises Kile Smith’s gorgeous “Canticle,” a setting of the biblical Song of Solomon (or Song of Songs), 7:30 p.m. Jan. 11 and 12 in Memorial Hall. Tickets start at $25. 513-381-3300, vaecinci.org.

Jan. 12-13: Conlon returns. James Conlon, music director laureate of the Cincinnati May Festival, returns to conduct the CSO in Schubert’s Rosamunde Overture and Mahler’s Symphony No. 1. Violinist Jennifer Frautschi is soloist in Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 3. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday in Music Hall. Tickets: 513-381-3300, cincinnatisymphony.org.

James Conlon at the 2016 May Festival
Photo provided

Jan. 19: Star soloist at Moveable Feast. CCM’s biggest fundraiser, this year on Friday, Jan. 19, will feature a performance by alumnus and star trumpeter Brian Newman, who will solo with the CCM Jazz Orchestra as the “opening course” in the CCM Village.  Read More »

Year in review: Classical music made news in 2017

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The orchestra is now seated on risers, shown here on the “thrust” stage.

The year 2017 was a year of big change for Cincinnati’s arts organizations. The most significant story – one that garnered a large piece in the New York Times — was about Music Hall, home to the city’s major performing arts groups, which finished up a massive, ambitious renovation costing at least $143 million.

Music Hall reopened with fanfare on Oct. 6 and 7. The weekend included a community open house that drew thousands. Opening night revelers basked in the elegant new decor and patron-friendly amenities, which include cup holders for the first time on wider seats, more bars and more restrooms.

Reuben Springer now presides over a new bar at Music Hall.

There are now more than 1,000 fewer seats and Springer Auditorium is physically smaller. The musicians sit on risers on a new “thrust” stage, 12 feet closer to the audience than before. All of that – including new materials such as concrete floors – means that the acousticians are still in the “tuning” phase of what is really a new hall-within-a-hall.

Memorial Hall’s renovation beautifully preserved the historic theater (built by Hannaford & Sons) and also enhanced the acoustics. Shown here with the Vocal Arts Ensemble. Photo by Michael T. Moore, Jr.

The renovation was just one sign of the importance of Cincinnati’s growing arts district surrounding Washington Park. Read More »

It’s almost Fall — Matinee Musicale turns 104

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I can’t believe the fall season is upon us. I am getting season lineups daily in my inbox, and I’m going to try to post many of them on this blog.

First up is the 104th season of the venerable Matinee Musicale, which has launched the Cincinnati debuts of hundreds of major artists. Mark your calendars:

Sept. 18: Cellist Amit Peled performs a Tribute to Casals. The Israeli musician will perform two recitals on his historic Gofriller cello (1733) that once belonged to the eminent Pablo Casals, loaned to him by Casals’ widow Marta.  His program features music the legendary cellist frequently performed in recitals. Sunday, Sept. 18, 3 p.m., at Anderson Town Center (7850 Five Mile Road, Cincinnati 45230),

On Monday, Sept. 19, the personable Peled will offer a lecture/recital, “Journey with My Jewishness,” discussing his personal, musical and spiritual evolution. His program will include traditional numbers as well as Max Bruch’s “Kol Nidrei,” Mark Kopytman’s “Kaddish” and Ernest Bloch’s three scenes “From Jewish Life.”  Sept. 19,  7:30 p.m., a program presented jointly with the Isaac M. Wise Center (8329 Ridge Road, Cincinnati 45236), Read More »

Everyone loves a festival

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Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra mounted an unusual season this summer/ photo thanks to Phil Groshong
Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra mounted an unusual season this summer/ photo thanks to Phil Groshong

Or so it seems for the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra. Their nearly month-long experiment, Aug. 13 to Sept. 3, was the CCO’s first-ever festival season. I have to admit, I was more than a little skeptical that it would be a success. But off the bat, the smaller events in bars and alternative venues sold out, and the four larger-scale concerts drew hundreds of fans to Corbett Theater in the School for Creative and Performing Arts.

During the season, the five finalists for music director were announced. Candidate Kelly Kuo — who is interim music director — had the home-team advantage, as he planned, conducted and even performed as pianist this season. We’ll all have to wait for next summer (to be a summer festival again) to compare the other four candidates. And then, be prepared to vote!

Do you think the Chamber Orchestra should continue the festival format after next year?

Here are some other links to my coverage in the Enquirer:Read More »

Festival frenzy

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Hilary Hahn and Hauschka appear this Friday at the Art Museum
Hilary Hahn and Hauschka appear this Friday at the Art Museum

Has anyone noticed all of the classical music festivals this year? Bryce Dessner’s MusicNOW seemed to be a huge success, with big crowds at the symphony and sell-out crowds at the smaller venues. Here are my articles about the festival:

MusicNOW: Rock, symphony and world premieres

The National, CSO electrify together

CSO, MusicNOW make cutting-edge music together

And Tatiana Berman’s Constella Festival opens on Wednesday with 10 events, as well as two “partner” events. I’m particularly interested in Friday’s concert (7 p.m. April 10), featuring superstar violinist Hilary Hahn with Hauschka ((the musical alias of Germany-based Volker Bertelmann) to give the Cincinnati premiere of their project “Silfra.”  at Cincinnati Art Museum, Fath Auditorium. Read More »