Tag: WVXU

Covid-19 update: Pianist to stream Global Concert of Hope today

janellegelfandLeave a comment
Pianist Jeffrey Beigel

As the song says, “we need a little Christmas.” You may see lights up in your neighborhood. Now New York-based pianist Jeffrey Biegel is offering a little cheer himself.

At 5 p.m. today (March 21), Biegel will be streaming Christmas in March: A Concert for Hope on Facebook Live and YouTube. He says:

“Please join me in a global effort to share music for love, peace and goodwill toward humanity. Music shares a common bond that will always unite during times like these. It will be on Facebook Live and, for the global public at the YouTube link listed below.”

His playlist will include music and arrangements by: Matt Edwards, Ann Hampton Callaway, Carolyne McGougan Taylor, David Foster, popular titles like “My Grown Up Christmas List”, “Christmas Lullaby”, “The Christmas Song”, “Auld Lang Syne”, and classical composers Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin, Debussy, Percy Grainger, Grieg, Handel, Haydn, Liszt, Reger, Saint-Saëns and Tchaikovsky.

Many are brilliant fusions of ‘Classical Carols’ by Carolyne McGougan Taylor combining best-loved carols with classical composer’s music.

Says Biegel: “Join me; prayers to everyone, wash your hands more than ever, and please be safe.”

As all theaters, museums close, Zoo closes and Aquarium is next in precautionary measures against COVID-19

janellegelfandLeave a comment

 

With museums, theaters and even the Zoo closed, and the Aquarium closing Monday, I’ll be posting some virtual entertainment options. Cincinnati Museum Center, above, is also closed.

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden announced yesterday that it will be completely closed for the foreseeable future due to Covid-19, starting today, for the safety of the public, staff, volunteers and also the animals. Click here for more info.

“We know you have concerns about our staff and animals and want to reassure you that our animal team will continue to provide excellent care for our animals,” Zoo Director Thane Maynard said in a news release. “We have a surplus of food and essential medical supplies, so we can take care of them while we’re closed.”

​In an effort to keep its loyal members and community connected to their favorite animals while the Zoo is closed, Home Safari Facebook Live sessions will be offered weekdays starting on Monday, March 16 at 3 p.m.  Each session will highlight an animal and provide an activity that you can do at home.  The first safari will feature everyone’s favorite hippo, Fiona.

At the same time, the Newport Aquarium, another big draw for families, announced that it is OPEN TODAY but will close tomorrow, March 16, through March 27. The Aquarium’s website has information on refunds if you have already purchased tickets. Click here for more information.

Of course, all of Cincinnati’s theaters and museums are closed, too. (Scroll down this blog to see the major announcements.)

So — I’ve been listening to a lot of Cincinnati Public Radio — WGUC-FM 90.9 classical radio and WVXU 91.7 and WMUB 88.5. You can live-stream it at cinradio.org.

Watch for my upcoming posts about VIRTUAL OPTIONS of concerts and operas that are being aired to the international community to watch during the pandemic.

COVID-19 derails Carnegie Hall debut for local musicians

janellegelfandLeave a comment
Howard Helvey and choir rehearsing for Carnegie Hall debut. They are hopeful that it will be rescheduled.

Perhaps you saw this article in yesterday’s Business Courier, which says:

“Many musicians dream of performing at Carnegie Hall, America’s legendary concert hall in New York. This weekend, Cincinnati conductor and composer Howard Helvey will realize that dream when he leads members of the Choir of Calvary Episcopal Church and the Varsity Ensemble of Winton Woods High School in eight of his own works at Carnegie Hall. Helvey will lead a festival chorus of more than 150 singers – including the Cincinnati ensembles – in his music on March 15 in Stern Auditorium.”

Of course, that is not happening. I reached out to Howard to find out what happened.Read More »

Watch for updates: Coronavirus causing cancellations in Cincy’s concert season

janellegelfandLeave a comment
From a recent Linton Chamber concert. Linton has canceled concerts this weekend.

You’ve probably seen the cancellations across the country due to COVID-19 — of sporting events, parades and arts presentations in large theaters — from opera and ballet to “Hamilton” (canceled in San Francisco).

Just in: The Findlay Market Opening Day Parade on March 26 will be either canceled or postponed.

As far as the arts in Cincinnati, I’ve gotten official word that the Linton Chamber Music Series concerts on March 15-16 have been cancelled this weekend. In addition, there will be no “Peanut Butter & Jam Session” this week at Mt. Washington Presbyterian Church or next week at Sycamore Presbyterian Church. Information here.

Because the University of Cincinnati is canceling in-person classes from March 14 through April 13, I’m hearing from faculty members that performances at the College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) will be canceled through the end of the semester. It’s possible that some may be live-streamed, if you interpret the UC message below: Read More »

Podcasts add insights to Beethoven’s 250th birthday

janellegelfandLeave a comment
In honor of Beethoven’s 250th birthday year (2020), local pianist Michael Chertock and Tom Hughes have produced a series of audio podcasts entitled “Beethoven: A Personal Look at the Man Behind the Masterpieces”.  

Written, narrated, and with musical excerpts performed by Michael, five podcasts take the listener through Beethoven’s life from his childhood through his final works.
 
They might be enlightening for those who will be attending the Beethoven Akademie 1808 concerts at the CSO later this month.

Read More »

Year in review: Lists and more lists

janellegelfandLeave a comment
Danill Trifonov with the Ariel Quartet: For these performances, Trifonov collaborated with the celebrated Ariel Quartet, faculty quartet-in-residence at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. There was great anticipation to hear this 28-year-old Russian-born virtuoso, whose name is on everyone’s lips.

People often ask me why my reviews of local concerts are generally positive. The answer is this: The quality of Cincinnati’s performing arts compares favorably to anywhere I’ve traveled (and lived) in the world. It’s remarkable to consider the longevity of Cincinnati’s arts institutions, such as the Cincinnati Symphony, marking 125 this year, Cincinnati Opera, turning 100 this summer and the May Festival, founded in 1873.

It’s always difficult to pick just 10 memorable performances, because there were many more that should be included. You can read the list here.

There was also some arts news in 2019 — one even happened at the peak of the holiday season, when Cincinnati Opera announced that Chris Milligan will succeed Patty Beggs as general director and CEO. Click here to read the news.

And there was other arts news — such as the success of “Blink,” the four-day art and light festival in October. Looking back, several important people in the arts left us in 2019. Read that column here.

Cincinnati May Festival 2019

I hope you had a chance to catch some holiday shows this month. Some, such as Cincinnati Ballet’s magical Nutcracker, are still running. See the list here.

Handel’s ‘Messiah’ was given an intimate, authentic performance by Collegium Cincinnati.

I attended several shows. The performance I reviewed of Collegium Cincinnati’s “Messiah” performance illustrates the breadth and depth of local talent that we have across the region. Many of the performers were familiar as they appear with organizations such as Cincinnati Opera, CCM, the Vocal Arts Ensemble and the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra.

Watch for my list of upcoming performing events as well as art exhibitions that you won’t want to miss in 2020.

Don’t forget that the Business Courier’s Arts Front page is sponsored by ArtsWave, and therefore FREE to read. I’ve you’ve read three stories, you may be asked to sign up for a free subscription.

Pati, Sierra ravishing as star-cross’d lovers at SF Opera

janellegelfand1 Comment
Nadine Sierra and Pene Pati as Romeo and Juliet at San Francisco Opera. Photos provided/Cory Weaver

It’s always rewarding to see the understudy step in for the indisposed star, and become an “overnight” sensation. That is what happened at San Francisco Opera’s “Romeo and Juliet” earlier this month, when Samoan-born New Zealand tenor Pene Pati, who was scheduled to sing one performance, replaced Bryan Hymel for the entire run.

On Tuesday, I was able to catch a performance of the production, which opened the company’s 97th season in the War Memorial Opera House. I was partly interested because Cincinnati had the pleasure of being wowed by Pati in recital just last season for Matinee Musicale. But I was also interested in his Juliet — American soprano Nadine Sierra — who also performed a delicious recital for Matinee Musicale a couple of years ago. Since then, she has appeared at the Metropolitan Opera and won the 2017 Richard Tucker Award.

After the stunning performance by both of these artists on Tuesday, Cincinnatians can say, “We knew them when.”Read More »

In memoriam Christopher Rouse

janellegelfandLeave a comment
American composer Christopher Rouse

Publisher Boosey & Hawkes has just announced that American composer Christopher Rouse died today at age 70 in Baltimore.

His final work, Symphony No. 6, will have its world premiere on October 18-19 with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Louis Langrée.

A prolific composer of a wide range of acclaimed chamber and ensemble works, Christopher Rouse built a legacy as one of America’s greatest orchestral voices. His catalog of influential works is marked by extreme emotional depth and colorful orchestration, and reflected his insatiable curiosity for music from across Western music history to popular rock.Read More »

Chuck Miller, savior of Sorg Opera House, steps down

janellegelfandLeave a comment
Chuck Miller in his element, backstage at the Sorg

It took a man with a vision to see the beauty behind the dilapidated and abandoned Sorg Opera House in Middletown. Now, as John Kiesewetter reports this morning, Chuck Miller has resigned as president of the Sorg Opera Revitalization Group (SORG) to become the new executive director of the historic “State Movie Palace of Kansas,” the Fox Theatre in Hutchinson. Wife Denise Brodsky has also resigned her position on the board.

Current board members Roger Daniels and Chris Riva are stepping in to fill roles, although his successor has not been decided.

Here’s my story from about a year ago of how Chuck and his devoted board have been working — extremely hard — to restore the Hannaford-built theater to its former grandeur.

There are similarities between the Sorg Opera House (1891) and Music Hall (1878) as you can see in the balconies. Both were designed by Samuel Hannaford. The Sorg is on the National Register of Historic Places.
In the lobby
You can visit your old Music Hall seats

I’m posting a few memories of visiting the Sorg while these dedicated preservationists were at work restoring and programming a series of concerts in the hall. By the way, the acoustics are wonderful. And, for people who remember Music Hall’s old seats, you can revisit them up in Middletown.

Good luck Chuck and Denise! You’ll be missed.