Cincinnati Pops conductor Erich Kunzel left an indelible mark on Cincinnati during his four-and-a-half decades building audiences locally and elsewhere and spreading Cincinnati's name worldwide on over 100 Cincinnati Symphony and Pops recordings.  In memory of the legendary popsmeister, who died September 1, the city is leaving its mark in return by naming a portion of Elm Street in Over-the-Rhine "Erich Kunzel Way."  Five conductors and mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade will take part in a Kunzel memorial concert Oct. 17 at Music Hall. 
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Eugene Marquis signing a memorial book for Erich Kunzel outside Music Hall September 3.

Tributes continue to roll in for Cincinnati Pops conductor Erich Kunzel, who died September 2 in Maine.  A memorial book outside Music Hall drew scores of signers September 3.
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photo from Cincinnati Opera

What a golden opportunity it seemed, almost too good to be true:  Wagner's "Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg," set in that most German of American cities, Cincinnati, Ohio.  Alas, Cincinnati Opera's plan to celebrate its 90th anniversary in 2010 with new production of "Meistersinger" updated to 19th-century Cincinnati was not to be, a victim of the economic downturn.  Replacing it will be a period set by Otto Schenk and Günther Schneider Siemssen created for Düsseldorf Opera.
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Scene from 2009 Leigo Lake Music Days

One of the more impressive experiences in my travels to hear music outside Cincinnati was at Leigo Lakes in Estonia in August, 2008.  It was a marathon event, a Järvid järvedel (järv means “lake” in Estonian) lasting from 5 p.m. until midnight.  Performing were  members of the Järvi family of Estonia (Neeme Järvi, his children Paavo, Kristjan and Maarika and numerous nieces, nephews and in-laws).  Reporting this year from Leigo is Pärnu resident Kristiina Viherpuu, who also sent fabulous photos.

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Song Festival Grounds, Tallinn, Estonia, July 4, 2009 (photo by Ants Liigus of Pärnu Postimees)

In July, 2009 a group from Cincinnati made a pilgrimage to Tallinn, Estonia for the Estonian National Song Celebration, an every-fifth-year-event that has become a powerful symbol of Estonia's national identity (see photo essay, "Re-surfacing in Cincinnati," previously filed in "Features" on this site).  Part II is an account of that trip first published in the September 09 issue of Express Cincinnati (www.expresscincinnati.com).
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Neeme Järvi signing contract to become chief conductor of the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra

Neeme Järvi, who emigrated from his native Estonia in 1980, is returning home.  As of September, 2010, he will become Chief Conductor (Music Director) of the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, stepping into the post he left in 1979 after building the orchestra into one of the finest in the former Soviet Union.  Estonia's Minister of Culture, Laine Jänes called it "one of the most important decisions in recent Estonian cultural politics."
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Tom Osterman and Alberta Marsh

One of Cincinnati's dearest arts patrons, Alberta Marsh, died July 28 at the age of 86.  In her memory, here are two articles by Jan Perry, written for The Cincinnati Post in 2003, about her beloved "Painted Violins" project, co-chaired with Joyce Holmes to benefit  Music Hall on the occasion of its 125th anniversary.
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act IV "Carmen," Cincinnati Opera, July, 2009

The conquistadors at Cincinnati Opera have overcome the difficult economy to deliver a 2009 season that not only exceeded their attendance and income goals, but outpaced results from 2008.  As a result, the Opera is projecting an operating surplus for the 20th consecutive season.    
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Cincinnati Pops conductor Erich Kunzel has been named honorary artistic director of the World Choir Games, to be held in Cincinnati in 2012.  Dubbed the "Olympics of choral music," the event takes place every two years on a different continent.  It will be the first time the competition, the largest of its kind in the world, has been hosted by a U.S. city.
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Crystal chandelier, Music Hall, Cincinnati

Allegretto grazioso marks the third movement of Johannes Brahms' Sonata in F Minor for Viola and Piano and might make a graceful heading for a blog.  It seems to fit this August 6 posting about the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra's just-concluded 2008-2009 season.
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Naimah Bilal

When Naimah Bilal left the staff of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in 2008, she was uncertain what direction she would go in the future.  "Up" was not in doubt, and she returns to the CSO this year as artistic administrator.
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Erich Kunzel leads the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra in rehearsal at Riverbend Music Center

Even the words "Rodgers and Hammerstein" sound sweet, considering all the images they conjure, musical and otherwise.   Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops present an entire evening of their songs at Riverbend August 1.  Joining them are vocalists Kathleen Brett, Daniel Narducci and Aaron Lazar, the May Festival Summer Chorus and the Cincinnati Children's Choir.  Meanwhile, also August 1, the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra's Newport Ragtime Band entertains in Devou Park Amphitheater across the Ohio River in Covington.
    
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poster image courtesy of Cincinnati Opera

Bizet's "Camen" is arguably the world's most popular opera.  It wins on its music, which is vivid and splashed with "Spanish" color, even though written by a Frenchman.  The main character, Carmen, is susceptible to many interpretations, including the contemporary emancipated woman, free to seek personal freedom as she chooses, for better or worse.
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Singing is a part of life in the small nation of Estonia (population 1.3 million).  According to figures released by the organizers of the 2009 Estonian National Song Celebration, held July 4 and 5 in Tallinn, 146,430 people participated in this year's event.  It was the largest turnout for the 140-year-old, every-fifth-year celebration since Estonia re-gained its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.  MusicinCincinnati was there and will post a story (or stories) soon.  Meanwhile, here is a photo essay, from the arrival of the flame in Tallinn Harbor July 2 (compare the Olympic torch) through the first Song Celebration concert July 4.
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