May in Cincinnati begins with "Mozart in the Cathedral," a performance by the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra and Chorus of Mozart's Solemn Vespers, K.339, at St. Peter in Chains Cathedral in the context of a Vespers service, as it was originally conceived. Also on the calendar are the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra's annual "side by side" concert with the Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra, Aaron Copland's Symphony No. 3 to close the CSO's 2012-13 Music Hall season and, of course, the Cincinnati May Festival in its annual blossoming at Music Hall.
Ahead in May:
John Morris Russell and William White, conductors
May 1 -- 10:30 a.m.
Music Hall
The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra
present their annual "side by side" concert. Members of the Youth
Orchestra with join their counterparts in the CSO -- over 200 musicians
in all -- in music by Howard Hanson
(Prelude to Act II and Maypole Dances from "Merry Mount Suite"), Debussy
("Fetes" from Three Noctures for Orchestra), Tchaikovsky (Variations on
a Rococo Theme for Cello and Orchestra) and Dvorak ("Carnival"
Overture). Soloist in the Tchaikovsky is cellist Benjamin Fryxell, 18, winner of the CSYO Concerto Competition. CSO assistant conductor/CSYO conductor William White and Cincinnati Pops conductor John Morris Russell will conduct. Tickets are $10 at the CSO box office or by visiting www.cincinnatisymphony.org/csyo
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Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, KSO Chorale and Voices of the Commonwealth
"Mozart in the Cathedral"
James R. Cassidy, conductor
May 2 -- 7:30 p.m.
St. Peter in Chains Cathedral, downtown (vespers service)
May 3 -- 7:30 p.m. (concert only)
St. Mary's Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington, Kentucky
The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, KSO Chorale and Voices of the Commonwealth will perform Mozart's Solemn Vespers, K. 339, in the context of a vespers service May 2 at St. Peter in Chains Cathedral in downtown Cincinnati and in a concert-only format May 3 at St. Mary's Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption in Covington, Kentucky May 3. KSO music director James R. Cassidy will conduct. Prelude and Postlude selections will be Mozart's Symphony No. 25 in G Minor, K. 183, and "Lacrimosa" from his Requiem, K. 626, respectively, followed by the second movement of his Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor, K. 466. Tickets are $9.50-$35 at www.kyso.org/amadeus-at-vespers/
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Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
"Fanfare for Cincinnati"
Robert Spano, guest conductor
Garrick Ohlsson, piano
May 3 and 4 -- 8 p.m.
Music Hall
In observance of Cincinnati's 225th birthday, the CSO will close its 2012-13 Music Hall season with an all-American program comprising "All Things Majestic" by Jennifer Higdon, Samuel Barber's Piano Concerto featuring pianist Garrick Ohlsson and the Symphony No. 3 by Aaron Copland. Higdon's work will be accompanied by a multi-media presentation of Cincinnati images. On the podium will be guest conductor Robert Spano. Tickets begin at $10. Call (513) 381-3300 or order online at www.cincinnatisymphony.org
Note: May 3 only there will be a special bike ride through Over-the-Rhine preceding the concert. The
ride will begin and end in Washington Park and will last from 6:50-7:30
p.m. A free bike valet will be available, courtesy of Queen City Bike.
Meet at Washington Park between 6 and 6:15 p.m. In addition, there will
be a party after the concert in Washington Park from 10-11 p.m. with
food trucks and music by The Young Heirlooms. Admission is free. For
full "Music Ride" details, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/390965341002569/
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Washington Platform Jazz Series
May 3 -- 9 p.m. to midnight
The Faux Frenchmen
Washington Platform Restaurant
Elm and Court Streets
downtown
The
Washington Platform Friday Night Jazz Series
presents The Faux Frenchmen -- Brian Lovely and George Cunningham,
acoustic guitar, Don Aren, acoustic bass, and Paul Patterson, violin. No cover. $10 food and drink minimum. Kitchen open 8:30-11 p.m. Bar open until midnight. Call (513) 421-0110 for reservations.
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North American New Opera Workshop
Douglas Pew, "A Game of Hearts"
May 3 -- 7:30 p.m., St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Terrace Park
May 4 -- 7:30 p.m. Clifton Cultural Arts Center, Clifton
Cincinnati's NANOWorks Opera was founded in 2012 by composer Jennifer
Jolley and librettist Kendall A, with the goal of presenting short (25
minutes or less), small ensemble operas in English on contemporary
themes and subject matter by emerging North American composers and
librettists. The company will present the Cincinnati premiere of Douglas Pew's one-act "A Game of Hearts" about three widows contemplating (and plotting) future love lives over a game of cards. Also on the program is Samuel Barber's "A Hand of Bridge" and works by Jolley and Charles Halka. Admission is $20, $12 for students. Further information at www.nanoworksopera.co____________________________________________________________________________
Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra
Vocal Arts Ensemble
Donald Nally, conductor
May 5 -- 2 p.m., Covenant First Presbyterian Church,
717 Elm Street, downtown, and 7:30 p.m., Anderson Center, 7850 Five Mile Rd., Anderson Township
The annual collaboration by the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra and Vocal Arts Ensemble will be led by VAE music director Donald Nally
in his final appearance with the VAE before leaving to become director
of choral activities at Northwestern University. On the program are Benjamin Britten's "Cantata Misericordium," Mendelssohn's Psalm 42, "Wie der Hirsch schreit," and Handel's "Dixit Dominus." Tickets are $10-$30. For Covenant First Presbyterian, call (513) 744-3505, or visit www.vaecinci.org. For Anderson Center, call (513) 723-1182, or visit www.ccocincinnati.org
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Cincinnati Civic Orchestra
Spring Concert
"Scandinavia -- Many Cultures, Many Melodies"
May 5 -- 3 p.m.
Norwood Masonic Temple
2020 Hopkins Ave., Norwood
On this Nordic-flavored program are the Symphony
No. 4 by Niels Gade, "Finlandia" by Sibelius, "Wedding Day at
Trodhaugen" and "Peer Gynt Suite" by Grieg and "Two Icelandic Melodies"
and "Swedish Coronation March" by Johann Svendsen. Admission is free. Further information at (513) 861-9978.
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Opera Rap
"'Aida': A Grand Opera"
May 6 -- 7 p.m.
Taft Museum of Art
316 Pike St., downtown
Musicologist and author Philip Gossett discusses Verdi's "Aida,"
to be presented by Cincinnati Opera in July at Music Hall. Admission is
free, but reservations are required. Call (513) 241-2742.
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Society for the Preservation of Music Hall
"Steamboat Bill, Jr."
Clark Wilson, organist
May 9 -- 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Music Hall Ballroom
Theater organist Clark Wilson plays the "Mighty Wurlitzer" to accompany a showing of the 1928 silent film classic "Steamboat Bill, Jr.,"
starring Buster Keaton. The "Mighty Wurlitzer" series is presented by
the Society for the Preservation of Music Hall in cooperation with the
Ohio Valley Chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society. Admission is
$25, $ 20 for seniors, students and groups of ten or more. Free popcorn.
Tickets available at the Aronoff Center and Music Hall ticket offices,
call (513) 621-2787, or visit CincinnatiArts.org
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Cincinnati May Festival
May Festival Chorus and Youth Chorus
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
James Conlon, conductor
May 10 -- 8 p.m.
Music Hall
The 2013 Cincinnati May Festival (May 10-18) opens with sacred music by Mozart and Alexander Zemlinsky. On the program are Zemlinsky's Psalm 23, "The Good Shepherd," and Psalm 13 ("How long will you forget me?") and Mozart 's Requiem. Soloists with the May Festival Chorus and Youth Chorus and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra will be soprano Janai Brugger, mezzo-soprano Daniela Mack, tenor Richard Croft and bass Jordan Bisch. May Festival music director James Conlon will conduct. There will be a pre-concert recital by soprano Brugger at
7 p.m. in the Music Hall auditorium, free to May Festival ticket
holders. Single tickets begin at $25. Subscription packages are also
available, beginning at $45. Call (513) 381-3300, or order online at www.mayfestival.com
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Washington Platform Jazz Series
May 10 -- 9 p.m. to midnight
Washington Platform Restaurant
1000 Elm Street
downtown
The
Washington Platform Friday Night Jazz Series
presents music from the Three Voices' "Transitions," featuring Kim
Pensyl, trumpet, Rusty Burge, vibes and Michael Sharfe, bass. Special
guest is Marc Wolfly on drums. No cover. $10 food and drink minimum. Kitchen open 8:30-11 p.m. Bar open until midnight. Call (513) 421-0110 for reservations.
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Cincinnati May Festival
May Festival Chorus
Cincinnati Children's Choir
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
James Conlon, conductor
Benjamin Britten, War Requiem
May 11 -- 8 p.m.
Music Hall
The second night of the 2013 May Festival features Benjamin Britten's War Requiem. Soloists Christine Brewer, soprano, Alek Shrader, tenor, and Phillip Addis, baritone, perform with the May Festival Chorus, Cincinnati Children's Choir and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, led by May Festival music director James Conlon. There will be a pre-concert recital by soprano mezzo-soprano Daniela Mack at
7 p.m. in the Music Hall auditorium, free to May Festival ticket
holders. Single tickets begin at $25. Subscription
packages are also available, beginning at $45. Call (513) 381-3300, or
order online at www.mayfestival.com
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Xavier University Classical Piano Series
Edward Neeman
May 12 -- 2:30 p.m.
Gallagher Student Center Theater
Xavier University
Xavier University closes its 2012-13 Classical Piano Series with Edward
Neeman, a student of James Tocco at the University of Cincinnati
College-Conservatory of Music, who is stepping in for previously
announced Kotaro Fukuma. Tickets
are $19 (keyboard side) and $17 (right side), $16 and $14 for seniors,
$3 for students. Information at (513) 745-3161, or visit www.xavier.edu/musicseries
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Classical Revolution Cincinnati
May 12 -- 8 p.m.
Northside Tavern
Northside
For
its regular second Sunday event at Northside Tavern, Classical
Revolution presents cellist Coleman Itzkoff and the Ohio River Brass
Quintet. The Quintet will perform music by John Cheetham, Darius
Milhaud and Joaquin Nin-Culmell. Hear also local composer Peter Dayton's
"Red Bird Etudes" for solo clarinet, inspired by the work of
Cincinnati-based artist Charley Harper, and Dayton's Suite for Flute and
B-flat Clarinet. Admission is free. Information at
www.classicalrevolutioncincinnati.com
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Cincinnati May Festival
May Festival Chamber Choir
May Festival Youth Chorus
Robert Porco and James Bagwell, conductors
May 12 -- 8 p.m.
Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption
Covington, Kentucky
The May Festival's annual non-subscription concert at Covington's Cathedral of the Basilica comprises short sacred works sung by the May Festival Youth Chorus and Chamber Choir led by James Bagwell and Robert Porco, respectively. On the program are "Sing Joyfully" by William Byrd, "Hosanna to the Son of David" by Thomas Weelkes, Te Deum in C by Benjamin Britten (May Festival Youth Chorus) and "Totus
Tuus" by Henryk Gorecki, "Zwei slawische Psalmen" (Psalms 117 and 131)
by Arvo Pärt, "Ubi Caritas" by Ola Gjeilo, "Rosa Mystica" from "Ad
Majorem Dei Glorium" by Britten, "Ave Maria" by Morten Lauridsen and
"Data est mihi omnis potestas" from "Strathclyde Motets" by James
MacMillan (May Festival Chamber Choir). Tickets are $36, $12 for students. Call (513) 381-3300 or order online at www.mayfestival.com
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Cincinnati Opera
Opera Rap
"'Galileo Galilei' and the Music of Philip Glass
May 13 -- 7 p.m.
President's Garret
Corbett Opera Center
Music Hall
Cincinnati Opera artistic director Evans Mirageas discusses the musical themes and characters of Philip Glass' "Galileo Galilei," to be presented by Cincinnati Opera in July. Admission is free, but reservations are required. Call (513) 241-2742.
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Washington Platform Jazz Series
May 17 -- 9 p.m. to midnight
Kim Pensyl, pianist/trumpeter
Washington Platform Restaurant
Elm and Court Streets
downtown
The
Washington Platform Friday Night Jazz Series
presents composer, pianist and trumpeter Kim Pensyl, professor of jazz
studies at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Appearing
with Pensyl and performing his original compositions will be Reggie
Jackson of Columbus on drums and Michael Sharfe on acoustic and electric
bass. No cover. $10 food and drink minimum. Kitchen open 8:30-11 p.m. Bar open until midnight. Call (513) 421-0110 for reservations.
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Cincinnati May Festival
May Festival Chorus
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
James Conlon, conductor
May 17 -- 8 p.m.
Music Hall
The second weekend of
the 2013 Cincinnati May Festival opens with the May Festival Chorus and
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra led by May Festival music director James Conlon in works by Stravinsky, Debussy and Ravel. Hear Stravinsky's
oratorio "Oedipus Rex," "La demoiselle elue" ("The Blessed Damozel")
and "Sirenes" from "Nocturnes" by Debussy and Ravel's "Daphnis et Chloe"
Suite No. 2. Soloists will be soprano Tracy
Cox, mezzo-soprano Ronnita Nicole Miller (Jocaste in "Oedipus Rex"),
tenor Rodrick Dixon (Oedipus), baritone Donnie Ray Albert (Creon) and
bass Richard Bernstein (Tiresias). Joneal Joplin will narrate, with
stage direction by Ed Stern. There will be a pre-concert recital by Albert at 7
p.m. in the Music Hall auditorium, free to May Festival ticket holders. Single tickets begin at $25. Call (513) 381-3300, or
order online at www.mayfestival.com
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Cincinnati May Festival
May Festival Chorus
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
James Conlon, conductor
May 18 -- 8 p.m.
Music Hall
The 2013 May Festival closes with choruses and scenes from operas by Wagner and Verdi. James Conlon conducts. Hear Freudig begrussen wir die edle Halle from "Tannhauser," Treulich gefuhrt from "Lohengrin," Brunnhilde and Wotan's scene from act III of "Die Walkure," Wachet auf, es nahet gen den Tag and the finale from act III of "Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg" by Wagner, plus the March, triumphal scene, ballet music and chorus from act II of "Aida," Gli arredi festivi and chorus from act I of "Nabucco," Va pensiero from act III of "Nabucco," Patria oppressa from act IV of "Macbeth," Fuoco di gioia from act I of "Otello," O splendide feste from "I Vespri Siciliani" and Si celebri alfine tra canti from act IV of "I Vespri Siciliani," all by Verdi. Soprano Tracy Cox will present a pre-concert recital at 7 p.m. in the Music Hall auditorium, free to May Festival ticket holders. Single tickets begin at $25. Call (513) 381-3300, or
order online at www.mayfestival.com
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Music and Afternoon High Tea
May 19 -- 3 p.m.
Peterloon Estate
6605 Hopewell Rd.
Indian Hill
An afternoon of high tea and music at Peterloon Mansion sponsored by the Rafael and Kimberly de Acha Family Foundation. Hear performances by musicians from MYCincinnati, concert:nova and Queen City Chamber Opera. There will also be tours of the Peterloon Estate, a raffle and silent auction. All proceeds benefit the participating organizations. Tickets are $60, available online only at www.peterloontea.eventbrite.com
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Linton Music Series
May 19 -- 4 p.m., First Unitarian Church, Avondale
May 20 -- 7:30 p.m. Congregation Beth Adam
10001 Loveland-Madeira Rd., Loveland
The Linton Chamber Music Series closes its 2012-13 season with former
members of the Guarneri Quartet, violinist Arnold Steinhardt, violists
Michael Tree and John Dalley and cellist Peter Wiley, joined by
violinist Ida Kavafian. On the program are Mozart's
Quintet for Two Violins, Two Violas and Cello in C Major, K. 515,
Bartok's Duos for Two Violins and the Quintet for Two Violins, Two
Violas and Cello in E-flat Major, Op. 97, by Dvorak. Tickets are $30, available by calling (513) 381-5858, or online at www.lintonmusic.org
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Classical Revolution Cincinnati
May 20 -- 8 p.m.
1215 Wine Bar and Coffee Lab
Over-the-Rhine
Classical Revolution Cincinnati present composer/bassist Frank Proto and guitarist Tim Berens in arrangements of jazz and classical music. Free. Information at
www.classicalrevolutioncincinnati.com
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An Evening of French Chamber Music
May 21 -- 7:30 p.m.
St. John's Unitarian Universalist Church
320 Resor Ave., Clifton
Hear
music of Cesar Franck, Gabriel Faure, Maurice Ravel, Francis Poulenc
and Robert Schumann performed by flutist Thomas Prevost, violinist
Sumiko Hama and pianist Albert Lotto. Admission is $12, $10 for seniors,
$5 for students at the door or call (513) 961-1938. Information at www.stjohnsuu.org
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Washington Platform Jazz Series
May 24 -- 9 p.m. to midnight
The Options Jazz Quartet
Washington Platform Restaurant
Elm and Court Streets
downtown
The
Washington Platform Friday Night Jazz Series
presents The Options Jazz Quartet, with special guest Steve Hoskins on
saxophone, sitting in for Garin Web. Featuring the music of Chick Corea
to Joe Lavano. No cover. $10 food and drink minimum. Kitchen open 8:30-11 p.m. Bar open until midnight. Call (513) 421-0110 for reservations.
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Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra
May 27 -- 3 p.m.
Seasongood Pavilion
Eden Park
The Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra performs its annual Memorial Day concert in Eden Park's Seasongood Pavilion. CSYO conduct William White will conduct. Admission is free and open to the public.
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Opera Rap
May 30 -- 7 p.m.
President's Garret
Corbett Opera Center
Music Hall
Cincinnati Opera hair and makeup designer James D. Geier will discuss the techniques behind creating a theatrical look for the operatic stage. Admission is free, but reservations are required. Call (513) 241-2742.
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