"Morning Star" Makes History

Posted: Jul 3, 2015 - 3:43:08 PM in: reviews_2015

You may not have gotten all the ins and outs of the complex plot, but composer Ricky Ian Gordon's "Morning Star" with libretto by William H. Hoffman, made a fine impression July 2 in Corbett Theater at the School for Creative and Performing Arts in Cincinnati. The music is attractive and very singable and the talented cast brought it compellingly to life. It was the first world premiere by Cincinnati Opera in over half a century.
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Singing Central to "Il Trovatore"

Posted: Jun 19, 2015 - 2:19:14 PM in: reviews_2015

Jamie Barton as Azucena in Cincinnati Opera's "Il Trovatore"

Verdi's "Il Trovatore" is all about singing and Cincinnati Opera got the best of it to open its 95th season June 18 at Music Hall.
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Ukrainian Wins Cincinnati World Piano Competition

Posted: Jun 14, 2015 - 12:41:12 PM in: news_2015, reviews_2015

Artem Yasynskyy

Ukraine took the gold in the Cincinnati World Piano Competition July 13 in Corbett Auditorium at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Winning $20,000 in cash and a solo recital in New York City was Ukrainian born Artem Yasynskyy, 26, with a performance of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1. First published for the Cincinnati Enquirer at www.cincinnati.com - [Read more]

Russian Night Provides Sirring End to 2015 May Festival

Posted: Jun 1, 2015 - 1:06:59 PM in: reviews_2015

James Conlon leads the 2015 Cincinnati May Festival

The conclusion of the 2015 Cincinnati May Festival was all-Russian, with monumental works by Shostakovich, Mussorgsky and Tchaikovsky. Digital cannon shots closed Tchaikovsky's "1812" Overture, which brought the Festival to its rousing end. May Festival music director James Conlon led the May Festival Chorus, directed by Robert Porco, and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, with Georgian bass-baritone Mikhail Kolelishvili as soloist.
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Berlioz Requiem Returns to the May Festival

Posted: May 30, 2015 - 12:51:00 PM in: reviews_2015

James Conlon

The second weekend of the 2015 Cincinnati May Festival opened with Berlioz' Requiem May 29 at Music Hall. May Festival music director James Conlon led an ensemble of 238 (109 in the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, 129 in the combined May Festival Chorus and Vocal Arts Ensemble) in a performance of precision and deep feeling.
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May Festival Continues with Handel, Vaughan Williams

Posted: May 24, 2015 - 2:52:07 PM in: reviews_2015

Robert Porco

"Rule Britannia!" was the theme of the second night of the 2015 Cincinnati May Festival May 23 at Music Hall. In addition to three of Handel's Coronation Anthems, the program included Ralph Vaughan Williams' massive "A Sea Symphony." Director of choruses for the May Festival, Robert Porco, observing his 25th anniversary with the May Festival, was on the podium
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Haydn's "Creation" Fitting Opening for May Festival

Posted: May 23, 2015 - 3:47:34 PM in: reviews_2015

Haydn’s oratorio “The Creation," a hardy perennial at the Cincinnati May Festival, returned Friday night (May 22) at Music Hall to open the 2015 Festival. With three fine soloists, the 110-voice May Festival Chorus and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra led by music director James Conlon, it was a splendid event.
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Linton Caps Season with Baroque

Posted: May 18, 2015 - 3:37:30 PM in: reviews_2015

Johann Sebastian Bach

Linton Music tuned into baroque to close its 2014-2015 season at First Unitarian Church in Avondale. Bach and Telemann shared the marquee.
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CSO Season Finale Features "Sheherazade"

Posted: May 17, 2015 - 12:18:08 PM in: reviews_2015

Michelle DeYoung

A trip to the orient via "The Arabian Nights" comprised the final concert of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra's 2014-2015 season May 17 at Music Hall. Featured work was Rimsky-Korsakov's "Sheherazade." Soloist in Ravel's song cycle "Sheherazade" was mezzo-soprano Michelle DeYoung.
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Yo-Yo Ma Packs Them in at Music Hall

Posted: May 14, 2015 - 9:07:14 PM in: reviews_2015

Yo-Yo Ma

Cellist Yo-Yo Ma packed them in at Cincinnati's Music Hall May 13 with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra led by music director Louis Langrée. On the menu were Tchaikovsky's Variations on a Rococo Theme and Andante Cantabile for Cello and Strings, while the CSO served up favorites by Bizet ("Carmen" Suite) and Ravel ("Bolero").
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Sherrill Milnes, A Voice That Still Rings

Posted: May 11, 2015 - 6:36:47 PM in: reviews_2015

Sherrill Milnes

At age 80, Sherrill Milnes, an internationally known operatic baritone, is still active in his career. In an appearance entitled "An Evening with Sherrill Milnes" on May 4 in Cincinnati Opera's Opera Rap Series at Music Hall, Milnes talked about his career and current projects.
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Catacoustic Consort Mixes It Up

Posted: Apr 27, 2015 - 9:30:45 AM in: reviews_2015

Michael Maniaci

The Cincinnati early music ensemble Catacoustic Consort took its listeners through five centuries of writing for the viola da gamba April 26 at the Church of the Redeemer in Hyde Park. Heard were works ranging from Gesualdo to Elvis Costello.
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CCM Dance Concert Features Stravinsky's "Les Noces"

Posted: Apr 26, 2015 - 2:04:12 PM in: reviews_2015

The spring dance concert at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music April 23-25, featuring Stravinsky's "Les Noces," was a special event.
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Sinaisky, Levit, CSO Combine for Evocative Concert

Posted: Apr 24, 2015 - 6:45:54 PM in: reviews_2015

Igor Levit

Vassily Sinaisky

A happy pairing, guest conductor Vassily Sinaisky and pianist Igor Levit, guest artists with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra April 24 at Music Hall, brought a program of Beethoven, Elgar and Vaughan Williams vividly to life.
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Adams' "Scheherazade.2" Resonates with the CSO

Posted: Apr 19, 2015 - 4:22:11 PM in: reviews_2015

John Adams

Composer John Adams led his own "Scheherazade.2" for the first time as guest conductor with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra April 17 and 18 at Music Hall. Soloist was violinist Leila Josefowicz. The concert (April 18), which also included Respighi's "Pines of Rome" and Anbatoli Liadov's "The Enchanted Lake," was immensely colorful and well-received.
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