Music in Cincinnati

"Margaret Garner" Rivets Cincinnati

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:33:23 PST

The brand new "Margaret Garner" by Richard Daniepour and Toni Morrison was a sensation at its Cincinnati premiere July 14 at Music Hall. Not only is it the first commissioned work in Cincinnati's Opera's 85-year history, but the events in the opera transpired in Cincinnati. About a real-life slave who escaped her master then killed her child when she was re-captured, the opera had some slow spots and the words and music didn't always connect, but the overall effect was profoundly moving. Heading the excellent cast was mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves as Margaret Garner, with baritone Rod Gilfrey as the slavemaster Gaines, Gregg Baker as Robert Garner and soprano Angela Brown as Cilla.

CSO in Sapporo

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:22:12 PST

The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra began its first international tour with music director Paavo Järvi in Sapporo, Japan this week after crossing ten time zones and arriving "tomorrow." Opening concert at Sapporo's "Kitara" Concert Hall Nov. 6 featured violinist Akiko Suwanai in Brahms' Violin Concerto and Berlioz' "Symphonie fantastique."

Detroit Symphony Raises the Roof

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:07:27 PST

Detroit Symphony music director Neeme Järvi took his orchestra to the max -- the DSO's new Max M. Fisher Music Center -- Saturday night in Detroit. American music, a specialty of Järvi's since he came to Motor City, took center stage for the opening of the $60 million facility with resident composer Michael Daugherty's "Raise the Roof," Duke Ellington's "Harlem," Leslie Bassett's Concerto for Orchestra and Detroit native James Carter performing Roberto Sierra's Concerto for Saxophones.

Trolling for Peer Gynt

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 23:55:15 PST

Paavo Jarvi and the Estonian National Orchestra score again with a stunning new release of Grieg's "Peer Gynt" on Virgin Classics. Hear 20 of the 26 numbers the composer wrote for Ibsen's play about the rakish Peer, with baritone Peter Mattei, soprano Camilla Tilling, mezzo Charlotte Hellekant, the Ellerhein Girls' Choir and Estonian National Male Choir.

Järvi Takes CSO to the Edge

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 23:45:54 PST

Paavo Järvi and the Cincinnati Symphony closed their third season together with Beethoven's Seventh Symphony and it was anything but business as usual. Call it bouyant, boisterous, even balletic. Guest artist Yefim Bronfman put in his hand(s), too, with a knockout performance of Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 2

Mozart Sings, Brahms Zings

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 23:32:46 PST

A gypsy rondo, a military retreat and some elegant Mozart featuring pianist Emanuel Ax made for a tasty concert by Paavo Jarvi and the Cincinnati Symphony Sept. 24 at Music Hall.

Know Paavo by His Recordings

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 23:10:59 PST

Cincinnati Symphony music director Paavo Järvi's fast growing discography is a way to keep up with him when he is not conducting the CSO live at Music Hall. He has made four CDs with the CSO since becoming music director in 2001 and many others with orchestras such as the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, of which he is artistic director, and the Estonian National Orchestra where he serves as artistic adviser. His newest CSO CD, the complete ballet suites from Prokofiev's "Romeo and Juliet" will be on sale at CSO concerts next week and in record stores Tuesday.

Rare Bird in the Tristate

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 22:54:21 PST

Opera is largely a summer species in Cincinnati, with Cincinnati Opera's summer festival occurring in June and July. Ever seeking to increase musical opportunities in the tristate, Kentucky Symphony Orchestra music director James R. Cassidy hit upon concert opera. Not only that, but he has expanded the KSO's reach to Central Kentucky by collaborating with the University of Kentucky Opera Theatre in Lexington. The first performance will take place this Friday at the KSO's performance home, Greaves Concert Hall at Northern Kentucky University, the second on Sunday at the Singletary Center in Lexington. "It will be our first bus and truck show," said Cassidy, since it marks the orchestra's first venture beyond Greater Cincinnati.

Conlon's Long-Term Love Affair

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 22:42:33 PST

For conductor James Conlon, the Cincinnati May Festival is an affair of the heart. Now celebrating his 25th anniversary season as May Festival music director, Conlon considers it a part of his personal as well as his professional life.

Some Burning Questions for the Arts in Cincinnati

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:44:23 PST

What can Cincinnati's arts organizations do to help themselves and each other during these straitened economic times? Much, based on a simple premise: connect the dots. Some thoughts and observations on how it could have and might still be done.

Cincinnati Opera Festival Format Expands

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:30:26 PST

Cincinnati Opera is spicing up its Summer Festival format with special events this season, including theater, concerts, film, lectures and an art exhibit. Partners will be the Ensemble theater of Cincinnati, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Cincinnati Film Society and the Ethics Center at Hebrew Union College. The season itself comprises Donizetti's "Daughter of the Regiment," a double bill of Viktor Ullmann's "The Emperor of Atlantis" and Peter Bengtson's "The Maids," Mozart's "Don Giovanni" and Bizet's "Carmen." It's all part of Opera artistic director Nicholas Muni's attempt to enhance the festival format by giving local audiences "a fuller experience" and providing a greater incentive for out-of-towners to sample Cincinnati Opera, he said.

Odd Couple at Cincinnati Opera

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:16:27 PST

An allegory about Adolph Hitler and the real life story of the Papin sisters, who murdered their mistress in France in 1933, will share the marquee at Music Hall this week. Presented by Cincinnati Opera, the two one-acters, Viktor Ullmann's "The Emperor of Atlantis" and Peter Bengtson's "The Maids," couldn't be more different except for one thing: Hitler came to power in the same year the sisters committed their crime. Opera artistic director Nicholas Muni will direct the double bill.

Why Don Giovanni?

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:54:39 PST

Like all villains, Don Giovanni has an irresistible attraction for audiences. Is it power, charisma, the attraction of evil? All of the above, perhaps, says stage director Paula Williams, who directs Mozart's opera at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music this month.

Forbidden Sounds at the Art Museum

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 00:05:43 PST

So-called "degenerate art," banned in Nazi Germany, meant more than Jews and Judaism, but encompassed anything presumed to be non-Aryan, said Racelle Weiman, director of the Center for Holocaust and Humanity Education at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati. In observance of Holocaust Awareness Weeks 2004, the CHHE will partner with the Cincinnati Art Museum and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music in a multi-media program at the Museum sampling arts works, readings and music proscribed by the Nazis.

Old Friend Returns to Cincinnati

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 23:50:26 PST

Music director emeritus Jesus Lopez-Cobos returns to the Cincinnati Symphony with Brahms' "Schicksalslied" and Nanie" featuring the May Festival Chorus this weekend. He will celebrate his birthday (64) with friends while he is here. Returning to full-time opera conducting -- he is the new music director of Madrid's Teatro Real and guest conducts at the world's major opera houses -- has been like "seeing an old friend after so many years," he said.

To Sleep Perchance?

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 23:38:14 PST

After spending ten hours in Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport, half of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra was ready to sleep upon their arrival in Vienna, first stop of the CSO's European tour. Others climbed to the top of St. Stephen's Cathedral, shopped, sought out the best wienerschnitzel and won a few euros at the casino.

Olari Elts is Estonian

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 23:30:10 PST

Estonia is in the hearts of all Estonians, no matter how far away. "It's the mentality of a small country," says Estonian conductor Olari Elts, who guest conducts the Cincinnati Symphony this week. "If we are not thinking about those things, who is?"

CSO Turns Heads in Europe

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 23:16:06 PST

How do you measure the success of a tour? The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra counts the ways on its just-completed tour of Europe with music director Paavo Järvi.

Next Stop Europe

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 23:02:51 PST

The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra will travel 11,800 miles with 100 musicians, 10 staff members, three crew members, one doctor and 18,509 lbs. of instruments and equipment on its upcoming two-week, five-country tour of Europe.

Reunion in Madrid

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 22:43:26 PST

On hand to greet the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra on its visit to Madrid this week was music director emeritus Jesus Lopez-Cobos, now music director of Madrid's Teatro Real. CSO players milled around him and hugs were exchanged at a pre-concert rehearsal at the Auditorio Nacional del Musica and Lopez-Cobos occupied a choice seat behind the orchestra for their concert that night. He will return to Cincinnati to conduct the CSO in Bruckner's Symphony No. 8 in October, 2005.