July is . . .

2012 World Choir Games poster by C.F. Payne

July in Cincinnati is singing. First the World Choir Games, which take place in Cincinnati (and for the first time in the United States) July 4-14 at  venues in the downtown area. Cincinnati Opera is very active, too, with “Porgy and Bess” and “La Traviata” at Music Hall, and in a first-ever collaboration with concert:nova and some nationally known tango dancers, “Maria de Buenos Aires” a 198 tango "operita"by Astor Piazzolla. (Fittingly enough, the performances will take place in the Music Hall Ballroom.) Orchestrally speaking, there’s the Cincinnati Pops at Riverbend with Michael Feinstein.

Details:

World Choir Games
Opening Ceremony
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra
May Festival Chorus
John Morris Russell, conductor
July 4 – 7 p.m.
U.S. Bank Arena

The World Choir Games comes to Cincinnati -- and for the first time ever to the United States -- on our nation’s birthday with a performance by The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra and the May Festival Chorus led by Pops conductor John Morris Russell.  The Peace Bell (specially created for the 2012 World Choir Games) will be rung, flags will be presented and gospel star Kirk Franklin will sing the official 2012 WCG song, “I Can” (penned by Franklin),  with the Cincinnati One in Song Choir, consisting of members of the Voices of Unity of Fort Wayne, Indiana and Cincinnati’s Peace and Serenity and Calvary Choirs.  Tickets are $25-$150.  Call (513) 977-6363, or visit www.2012worldchoirgames.com/tickets.  Note:  This event will be preceded by a procession of choirs from the main entrance of the Great American Ball Park to U.S. Bank Arena, beginning at 5 p.m.
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sold out
World Choir Games
Celebration Concert
”Global Harmony”
July 5 -- 7:30 p.m.
Cincinnati Masonic Center

A variety of musical genres will be heard on this concert, the first of eight Celebration Concerts, highlighting top choirs from around the world.  Participating will be the Capital University Chapel Choir of Columbus, Ohio, Diocesan Schools Choral Society ( Hong Kong) and Stellenbosch University Choir (South Africa). Tickets are $28-$42.  Get them online at www.2012worldchoirgames.com/tickets, by phone at (513) 977-6363, or in person at the Aronoff Center box office and at the door, one hour before the concert.
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sold out
World Choir Games
Celebration Concert
“Musica Sacra”
July 5 – 7:30 p.m.
Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption
Covington, Kentucky

The theme of the concert is sacred Christian music, featuring the Bishop’s Choir of the Cathedral Basilica, Männerstimmen (Basel, Switzerland), Nizhny Novgorod State University Choir (Russia) and Sola, Latvia.  Tickets are $28-$42.  Get them online at www.2012worldchoirgames.com/tickets, by phone at (513) 977-6363, or in person at the Aronoff Center box office.
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sold out
World Choir Games
Celebration Concert
“Pop the Night Away”
July 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Aronoff Center/Procter and Gamble Hall

Hear popular music and jazz by Human Nature (Australia), Dekoor Close Harmony (The Netherlands), Gold Company (Kalamazoo, Michigan and The π Group (China).  Tickets are $28-$42.  Get them online at www.2012worldchoirgames.com/tickets, by phone at (513) 977-6363, or in person at the Aronoff Center box office.
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sold out
World Choir Games
Celebration Concert
“Voices of Gold”
July 6 – 7:30 p.m.
School for Creative and Performing Arts

This concert features gold medal winners from previous international choral events in a variety of musical genres.  Participants include Abbellimento (Czech Republic), Manfield University Concert Choir (Mansfield, PAennsylvania), SKH Lam Woo Memorial Secondary School (Hong Kong) and Zvonky Praha (Czech Republic).  Tickets are $28-$42. Get them online at www.2012worldchoirgames.com/tickets, by phone at (513) 977-6363, or in person at the Aronoff Center box office and at the door, one hour before the concert.
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Kentucky Symphony Orchestra
 “In Perfect Harmony”
World Choir Games Friendship Concert
July 7 – 7:30 p.m.
Devou Park Amphitheater
Covington, Kentucky

The KSO opens its 2012 summer concert series in Devou Park in Covington with a World Choir Games Friendship Concert. The Pavlo Chubinsky Capella Choir (Ukraine), directed by Alexander Zyuzkin, and EDTChoir (Norway), directed by Erland Dalen and Thomas Caplin, will sing selections from their competition repertoire, and  join forces with the KSO led by music director James R. Cassidy and local choirs in an eclectic program of classics, pop tunes, national anthems and liturgical and folk music.  Admission is free.  $5 donation per person suggested.
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World Choir Games
Awards Ceremony
July 7 – 7:30 p.m.
U.S. Bank Arena

Winners in five categories will be announced:  Female Choirs, Folklore, Jazz, Mixed Choirs and Youth Choirs of Equal Voices. Admission is $15 and $20.  Call (513) 977-6363, or visit www.2012worldchoirgames.com/tickets.
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Michael Feinstein

Cincinnati Pops Orchestra
“Sinatra under the Stars”
Michael Feinstein, vocalist
John Morris Russell, conductor
July 7 – 8 p.m.
Riverbend
Michael Feinstein will perform hits by Frank Sinatra from his “Sinatra Project” albums with the Cincinnati Pops led by Pops conductor John Morris Russell.  Tickets begin at $20, children ages 12 and under free on the lawn.  Call (513) 381-3300 or order at www.cincinnatipops.org.
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World Choir Games
Awards Ceremony
July 8 – 10 a.m.
U.S. Bank Arena

Winners in six categories will be announced:  Male Choirs, Mixed Boys’ Choirs, Mixed Youth Choirs, Musica Sacra, Popular Choral Music and Young Male Choirs.  Admission is $15 and $20.  Call (513) 977-6363, or visit www.2012worldchoirgames.com/tickets.
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World Choir Games
Champions Concert
July 8 – 2 p.m.
Aronoff Center/Procter and Gamble Hall

Recently crowned champions of the 2012 WCG will perform.  Tickets are $35-$60.  Get them online at www.2012worldchoirgames.com/tickets, by phone at (513) 977-6363, or in person at the Aronoff Center box office.
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Cincinnati Opera
“Porgy and Bess” by George and Ira Gershwin
July 6 – 7:30 p.m.
July 8 – 3 p.m.
Music Hall

Cincinnati Opera presents the final performances of its first-ever production of George and Ira Gershwins’ operatic masterpiece, which opened to great acclaim June 28 at Music Hall.  Soprano Measha Brueggergosman stars as Bess, bass-baritone Jonathan Lemalu as Porgy, baritone Gordon Hawkins as Crown and tenor Vincent Cole as Sporting Life, with sopranos Jacqueline Echols and Adrienne Danrich as Clara and Serena, respectively. Lemuel Wade directs.  David Charles Abell conducts the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.  Tickets begin at $25.  Call (513) (513) 241-2742 or order at www.cincinnatiopera.org.
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World Choir Games
Celebration Concert
“Energy of Youth”
July 8 – 7:30 p.m.
Aronoff Center/Procter and Gamble Hall

Concert by youth choirs including Cincinnati Public Schools Honor Choir, Cincinnati Children’s Choir, Farnham Youth Choir (Great Britain), Guangdong Experimental Middle School Choir (China).  The CPS Honor Choir will perform a work composed for the WCG by Rollo A. Dilworth of the Boyer College of Music and Dance at Temple University. Tickets are $28-$42.  Get them online at www.2012worldchoirgames.com/tickets, by phone at (513) 977-6363, or in person at the Aronoff Center box office.
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Cincinnati Opera
“Back to the Zoo”
July 10 – 7 p.m.
Wings of Wonder Theater
Cincinnati Zoo
(re-scheduled from July 5)

Cincinnati Opera spent its first half-century (1920-1971) performing in an outdoor pavilion at the Cincinnati Zoo, where the air could be broken at any time by the sound of lions, seals and peacocks. The Opera recalls those days with a concert of opera and music theater favorites July 5 sung by soprano Kathy Lindhart, mezzo-soprano Emily Lorini, tenor Luther Lewis and baritone Luis Alejandro Orozco.  Co-hosts will be Opera artistic director Evans Mirageas and Zoo director Thane Maynard. (Expect some fur and feathers.) Free, but reservations are required.  Call (513) 241-2742
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sold out
World Choir Games
Celebration Concert
“Music of the World”
July 11 – 7:30 p.m.
Aronoff Center/Procter and Gamble Hall

Hear music of the world performed by the Collegiate Honor Choir (USA),  Gema Sangkakala Choir (Indonesia), Indianapolis Childrens’ Choir (Indianapolis, IN) and University of Newcastle Chamber Choir (Australia). The Collegiate Honor Choir will perform a work by WCG special guest Morten Lauridsen.  Tickets are $28-$42.  Get them online at www.2012worldchoirgames.com/tickets, by phone at (513) 977-6363, or in person at the Aronoff Center box office.

Princeton Unlimited Gospel Choir, Cincinnati, Ohio

World Choir Games
Celebration Concert
“Gospel and Spiritual”
July 12 – 7:30 p.m.
Music Hall

Top choirs from around the world perform gospel and traditional spiritual music. Hear the Brazeal Dennard Chorale (Detroit, MI), Marvin L. Winans Academy of Performing Arts (Detroit, MI), Princeton Unlimited (Cincinnati, OH) and Voices of Unity (Fort Wayne, IN).  Tickets are $28-$42.  Get them online at www.2012worldchoirgames.com/tickets, by phone at (513) 977-6363, or person at the Aronoff Center box office and at the door, one hour before the concert.
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sold out
World Choir Games
Celebration Concert
“Cultural Showcase”
July 12 – 7:30 p.m.
Aronoff Center/Procter and Gamble Hall

Top choirs will perform folklore of their native countries or ethnic groups, including choreography. Participating choirs include Boǧaziçi Jazz Choir (Turkey), Kearsney College Choir (South Africa), Orfeón Universitario Rafael Montaňo (Venezuela). Tickets are $28-$42. Get them online at www.2012worldchoirgames.com/tickets, by phone at (513) 977-6363, or in person at the Aronoff Center box office.
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World Choir Games
Awards Ceremony
July 13 – 7:30 p.m.
U.S. Bank Arena

Winners in seven categories will be announced: Barbershop, Female Chamber Choirs, Gospel, Male Chamber Choirs, Music of the Religions, Show Choirs and Young Children’s Choirs.  Admission is $15 and $20.  Call (513) 977-6363, or visit www.2012worldchoirgames.com/tickets.
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World Choir Games
Awards Ceremony
July 14 – 10 a.m.
U.S. Bank Arena

Winners in five categories will be announced: Children’s Choirs, Mixed Chamber Choirs, Musica Contemporanea, Scenic Folklore and Spiritual. Admission is $15 and $20.  Call (513) 977-6363, or visit www.2012worldchoirgames.com/tickets.
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World Choir Games
Champions Concert
July 14 – 2 p.m.
Music Hall

Recently crowned champions of the 2012 WCG will perform. Tickets are $28-$42.  Get them online at www.2012worldchoirgames.com/tickets, by phone at (513) 977-6363, or in person at the Aronoff Center box office and at the door, one hour before the concert.
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World Choir Games
Closing Ceremony
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra
May Festival Chorus
John Morris Russell, conductor
July 14 – 7 p.m.
U.S. Bank Arena

The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra and May Festival Chorus led by Pops conductor John Morris Russell will perform with guest artist, Idina Menzel.  There will be a presentation by the 2014 World Choir Games host city, Riga, Latvia and the Peace Bell will be rung.  A mass choir of 750 will sing to close the games. Tickets are $20-$50.  Call (513) 977-6363, or visit www.2012worldchoirgames.com/tickets.
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Hamilton-Fairfield Symphony Orchestra
Paul John Stanbery, conductor
July 22 -- 7 p.m.
Fairfield Village Green

Bring lawn chairs, blankets and picnics for the HFSO's summer outing in Fairfield.  Conductor Paul John Stanbery will lead music by Sousa, Bernstein, Copland and, of course, Tchaikovsky's "1812" Overture.  Free.  Information at www.hfso.org
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Cincinnati Opera
“Opera Goes to Temple”
July 22 – 11 a.m.
Rockdale Temple
8501 Ridge Rd., Amberley Village

Cincinnati Opera extends its popular “Opera Goes to Church” series with “Opera Goes to Temple,” featuring soprano Mary Elizabeth Southworth,  bass-baritone Thom Mariner and season artists in a mix of classical, sacred and jazz music with the Rockdale Adult Choir and the Rock Shabbat Band.  Courtis Fuller of television station WLWT in Cincinnati will host.  Free, but reservations are required.  Call (513) 241-2742.
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photo by Susana Mule

Cincinnati Opera
concert:nova
“Maria de Buenos Aires” by Astor Piazzolla
July 25 and 27 – 7:30 p.m.
Music Hall Ballroom

Argentine composer Astor Piazzolla’s 1968 tango “operita” makes its Cincinnati Opera debut in collaboration with the Cincinnati chamber ensemble concert:nova.  Colombian soprano Catalina Cuervo will sing the tempestuous Maria, with baritone Luis Alejandro Orozco in several male roles and Colombian actor Jairo Cuesta in the speaking role of Duende. Nationally known tango dancers Fernanda Ghi and Guillermo Merlo will also perform in partnership with Tango del Barrio and Patricia Paz Tango of Cincinnati. Jose Maria Condemi will direct.  Sold out.
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Cincinnati Opera
“La Traviata” by Giuseppe Verdi
July 26 and 28 – 7:30 p.m.
Music Hall

Cincinnati Opera closes its 2012 subscription season with Verdi’s five-hanky favorite.  Starring as the beautiful courtesan Violetta is soprano Ailyn Pérez, with tenor Stephen Costello as her lover Alfredo and bass Marco Caria as Alfredo’s father Germont. The lush romantic set is from Lyric Opera of Chicago. Director is Jose Maria Condemi.  Italian conductor Carlo Montanaro will make his Cincinnati Opera debut.  Tickets begin at $25.  Call (513) 241-2742, or order online at www.cincinnatiopera.org
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