October (2013) is . . .

October in Cincinnati is the Constella Festival of Music and Fine Arts. Now in its third year, Constella adds its own blend of music, art and dance to the new season. Look also for the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestras as they move further into 2013-2014 and debuts by the Linton Music Series, Chamber Music Cincinnati and the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra.

Here's what autumn  in Cincinnati will bring:

Constella Festival
Chamber Music Cincinnati
Miro Quartet
Oct. 1 -- 7:30 p.m.
Werner Recital Hall
University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music

Chamber Music Cincinnati opens its new season with the Miro Quartet. Hear Schubert's Quartettsatz in C minor, D. 703, Schubert's String Quartet No. 14 in D minor, D. 810, “Death and the Maiden" and Beethoven's String Quartet in B-flat Major, Op. 130, with Grosse Fuge, Op. 133. Tickets are $25 at www.cincychamber.org
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Constella Festival
concert:nova
Harmonic Brass of Munich, Germany
Oct. 2 -- 7:30 p.m.
St. Mary’s Church
Over-the-Rhine

This "Music of Two Cities" concert features the brass of concert:nova and the Harmonic Brass of Munich, Germany. On the program are (for double brass quintet) are "Rejoice" for Four Trumpets by William Byrd (arr. Lindsay), “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring,” Gabrieli, Canzona by Gabrieli and "The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba." Selections by the Harmonic Brass include Fuge in g, Adiemus, O Fortuna, Triumphal March from “Aida,” themes from “Ben Hur” by Miklos Rozsa (arr. Lindsay), “Sabre Dance,” “Root Beer Rag,” “Black or White,” and A Tribute to Frank Sinatra. Tickets are $20, $12 for students, at www.concertnova.com

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Constella Festival
“Fiesta Mojo”
 Jimmy Heath, saxophone
Cincinnati Contemporary Jazz Orchestra
 Scott Belck, director
Oct. 3 -- 7:30 p.m
Corbett Auditorium
University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music

Jazz legend Jimmy Heath, saxophone, and the Cincinnati Contemporary Jazz Orchestra open the Constella-produced portion of the 2013 Constella Festival. Their program will include music from Heath’s Grammy-nominated “Little Man, Big Band” album, new and classic arrangements of jazz classics by Heath and Heath's own compositions. Tickets are www.constellafestival.org
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Constella Festival
Linton Music Series
Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio
Oct. 6 -- 4 p.m. First Unitarian Church, Avondale
Oct. 7 -- 7:30 p.m.
Congregation Beth Adam
Loveland

Joseph Kalichstein, piano, Jaime Laredo, violin, Sharon Robinson, cello, aka the Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio open the Linton Series 2013-2014 season with winds and strings of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Hear Beethoven's Quintet for Piano, Woodwinds & Horn in E-flat Major. Stanley Silverman's Trio No. 2, “Reveille” and Dvořák's Quintet for Piano and Strings in A Major. Tickets are $30, $10 for students (in advance) at www.lintonmusic.org

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Constella Festival
Miguel A. Roig-Francoli and Friends
Oct. 8 -- 8 p.m.
Corbett Auditorium
University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music

Composer Miguel Roig-Francoli, professor of music theory and composition at CCM, celebrates his 60th birthday with a concert of his chamber music performed by CCM colleagues, friends and his wife Jennifer Roig-Francoli. On the program are his Sonata, for cello and piano (1985), Songs of the Infinite for Violin and Piano (2010), Cinco Canciones con los Ojos Cerrados (2011), Suite Apócrifa (1978) and Songs of Light and Darkness for Piano Trio (2011). Performers also include cellist Ilya Finkelshteyn, pianists James Tocco, Michael Chertock, and Edward Neeman and soprano Abigail Santos Villalobos. Admission is free.

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Constella Festival
Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra
Mischa Santora, conductor
Time for Three, guest artists
Oct. 9 -- 7:30 p.m.
Corbett Theater
School for Creative and Performing Arts

The Chamber Orchestra led by Mischa Santora opens its 40th anniversary season with the classical fusion trio Time for Three (Zachary DePue and Nicolas Kendall, violins and Ranaan Meyer, double bass). Their program, sure to be stimulating, includes Dan Visconti's “Black Bend,” Grieg's "Holberg Suite," Charles Ives' Four Ragtime Dances (Nos. 1 and 3), Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings and numerous surprises by the trio. For tickets, visit http://www.ccocincinnati.org

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Constella Festival
“Queen City Connections"
Tatiana Berman, violin
Paavo Järvi, conductor
Oct. 10 --7:30 p.m.
Memorial Hall

Constella Festival artistic director/violinist Tatiana Berman will perform the world premiere of New York composer Charles Coleman's Violin Concerto, written for and dedicated to her. Former Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra music director Paavo Järvi will conduct the Constella Festival Ensemble. Also on the program are Stravinsky's “Apollon Musagete” and Mozart's Symphony No. 33, K. 319. Admission is $20 at www.constellafestival.org

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Washington Platform Jazz Series
Big Groove, Melodic Music for Piano, Bass and Drums
Oct. 11 -- 9 p.m. to midnight
Washington Platform restaurant
1000 Elm St.
downtown

Appearing at Washington Platform this week will be Big Groove -- Kim Pensyl, piano, Michael Sharfe, bass and John Taylor, drums -- in music by Pensyl. 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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University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
CCM Philharmonia Orchestra
Mark Gibson, conductor
Oct. 12 -- 8 p.m.
Corbett Auditorium
University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music

Mark Gibson, director of orchestral activities at CCM, leads the Philharmonia Orchestra in a 200th anniversary tribute to composer Richard Wagner. The concert will include selections by Wagner featuring faculty artists Amy Johnson, soprano, Tom Baresel, tenor and Kenneth Shaw, bass. The concert will include images from the Tony Palmer film, "Wagner," starring Richard Burton. Tickets are $12, $6 for non-UC students, UC students free, at the door or visit www.ccm.uc.edu
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Constella Festival
Children's Concerts
Oct. 13 -- 1 and 3 p.m.
Cincinnati Art Museum

Constella artistic director/violinist Tatiana Berman, cellist Nathaniel Chaitkin, pianist Rosemary Hyler-Ritter and narrator Jenny Trier will perform music for children. Hear Anne Dudley's “Little Red Violin and the Big, Bad Cello” for narrator, violin, cello and piano (text by Steven Isserlis). Libby Larsen's “Stone Soup” for narrator, three medium voices, and piano (text based on the book by Marcia Brown). The program will include interactive discussions with the audience. Admission is free on a first-come, first-served basis.
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Bach Vespers at St. Thomas
Oct. 13 -- 6 p.m.
St. Thomas Episcopal Church
100 Miami Ave.
Terrace Park

Bach Vespers at St. Thomas, a worship service featuring music of Johann Sebastian Bach and his musical ancestors and heirs in the context for which they were written, continues its new season with Bach's cantata "Am Abend aber desselbigen Sabbatas," BWV 42, sung by members of the Cincinnati Bach Ensemble led by Carlton Monroe. There will be a prelude recital at 5:45 p.m. by Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra principal oboist Dwight Parry. Further information at https://www.facebook.com/events/237883219695904/

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Constella Festival
Classical Revolution
Oct. 13 -- 8 p.m.
Northside Tavern
4163 Hamilton Ave.
Northside

Price Hill String Quartet, violinist Tatiana Berman, NANOWorks Opera (performing "The Bubble," a short, one act opera about the housing bubble), Il Troubadore Klingon Music Project (variety band), sax duo Brickmeat (Jonathan Brink and Woody Chenoweth) and the Allan Pray Ensemble (chamber folk music) will perform for this informal event. Admission is free.

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Constella Festival
"New Classical"
Missy Mazzoli, composer
Oct. 15 -- 7:30 p.m.
Digitorium, Griffin Hall
Northern Kentucky University

Hear music by New York composer Missy Mazzoli, composer-in-residence with the 2013 Constella Festival in a program of her works in the technologically enhanced Digitorium at Northern Kentucky University. On the program, to include video projections, are “Dissolve, O my Heart” (2011) for solo violin. “Tooth and Nail” (2010) for viola and electronics. “Lies You Can Believe In” (2007) for string trio. Excerpts from “Song from the Uproar” for mezzo-soprano, flute, clarinet, electric guitar, piano and double bass. “Set That on Fire” (2013) for flute, clarinet, violin, trumpet and piano. “Magic with Everyday Objects” (2009) for flute, clarinet, electric guitar, piano and double bass. Tickets are $25 at www.constellafestival.org

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Constella Festival
University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
"Cafe Momus with Missy Mazzoli"
Oct. 16 -- 7:30 p.m.
Patricia Corbett Theater
CCM

Composer Missy Mazzoli visits CCM. Program to be announced. Admission is free.

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Cincinnati Opera
Season preview
Oct. 16 -- 7 p.m.
Corbett Tower
Music Hall

Cincinnati Opera artistic director Evans Mirageas hosts a preview of Cincinnati Opera's 2014 summer festival. Hear season highlights from Bizet's "Carmen," Kevin Puts and Mark Campbell's "Silent Night," Cavalli's "La Calisto" and Puccini's "Madame Butterfly." Free. For reservations, call (513) 241-2742.

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Music at Ascension
Price Hill String Quartet
Oct. 19 -- 7:30 p.m.
Ascension Lutheran Church
7333 Pfeiffer Rd.
Montgomery

Ascension Lutheran Church in Montgomery presents the Price Hill String Quartet, violinist Scott Jackson, violinist Rachel Frankenfeld, violist Stephen Goist and cellist Laura Jekel. They will perform the first and last movements of Joseph Haydn's String Quartet, Op. 74, No. 2, in F Major, Bedrich Smetana's String Quartet in E Minor, "From My Life," and Astor Piazzolla's "Four for Tango."  Free will donation accepted.
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Constella Festival
"Spellbound: Three Centuries, Three Summits"
Stewart Goodyear, piano
Oct. 19 -- 8 p.m.
Memorial Hall

Pianist Stewart Goodyear performs music of three B's. Hear Alban Berg's Piano Sonata, J. S. Bach's French Suite No. 5 in G major and Beethoven's“Diabelli” Variations. Art exhibit by Brazee Street Studio artists. Tickets $24.50-$65 at www.constellafestival.org

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Musica Sacra
Brett Scott, conductor
Oct. 20 -- 3 p.m.
Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption
1400 Madison Ave.
Covington, Ky.

Musica Sacra opens its 48th season devoted to the performance of sacred repertoire with Schubert's Mass No. 3 in B-flat Major and "Laudate Pueri" and "Nisi Dominus" by Handel. Brett Scott will conduct. Free will offering. Information at www.musica-sacra.org
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Constella Festival
Hebrew Union College Concerts on Clifton
Oct. 20 -- 4 p.m.
Scheuer Chapel
Hebrew Union College

Hebrew Union College opens it series, Concerts on Clifton, with violinist Tatiana Berman, violist Yael Senamaud-Cohen, cellist Nathaniel Chaitkin and pianist Julie Spangler in Mahler's Piano Quartet in A minor, Mendelssohn's Piano Quartet in B minor, Op. 3, and the Piano Quartet ("Carolina Reveille") by Paul Schoenfield. Admission is free.

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Constella Festival
Catacoustic Consort
Catherina Meints, viola da gamba
Oct. 25 -- 7:30 p.m.
Church of the Advent
Walnut Hills.

This performance by Catherina Meints on viola da gamba will include an exhibition of fine period instruments. Tickets are$25 at www.Catacoustic.com

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Washington Platform Jazz Series
Dan Drees, tenor saxophone
Oct. 25 -- 9 p.m. to midnight
Washington Platform restaurant
1000 Elm St.
downtown

Appearing at Washington Platform this week will be tenor saxophonist Dan Drees, with Art Gore drums, Michael Sharfe bass and Dan Karlsberg piano. 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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Hamilton-Fairfield Symphony Orchestra and Chorale
Tillmann Memorial Concert
John Paul Stanbery, conductor
Oct. 26 -- 8 p.m.
St. Maximillian Kolbe Catholic Church
5720 Hamilton Mason Rd.
Liberty Township

The Hamilton-Fairfield Symphony Orchestra's annual Tillman Memorial Concert led by HFSO music director John Paul Stanbery will feature Beethoven's Symphony No. 9. Performing the "Ode to Joy" finale will be soprano Samatha Staton, alto Laura Adkins, tenor Scott Wyatt and bass-baritone Robert Kerr, with the HFSO Chorale and the Mason Chorale (Karen Mail, director). Also on the program is "Dream of a Soldier" by Edward Santoro. Admission is free.
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Constella Festival
"Exhilarating Arias"
Oct. 26 -- 8 p.m.
Memorial Hall

Soprano Jessica Rivera, mezzo-soprano Kelly O’Conno and pianist Robert Spano will perform newly commissioned song cycles by David Bruce and Jonathan Leshnoff. Art exhibition by Carl Solway Gallery. Tickets $24.50-$65 at www.constellafestival.org

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Cincinnati Civic Orchestra
Laurence Bonhaus, music director
Oct. 27 -- 3 p.m.
Glendale Lyceum
865 Congress Ave.
Glendale

The Cincinnati Civic Orchestra led by music director Laurence Bonhaus opens its 85th season with music of Beethoven. On the program are his Symphony No. 1, Romance in G Major, Overture to "King Stephen," "Consecration of the House" Overture, Contra Dance No. 1 for String Orchestra and The European Anthem ("Ode to Joy"). Admission is free. For additional information, call (513) 861-9978.

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Matinee Musicale
Kara Shay Thompson, soprano
Oct. 30 -- 11 a.m.
Anderson Center
7850 File Mile Rd.
Anderson

Soprano Kara Shay Thompson continues Matinee Musicale's 101st season with her Cincinnati debut in a recital accompanied by pianist Donna Loewy.  Program tba. Tickets are $15 at the door.

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Constella Festival
“Inspired Improvisations and Stravinsky"
Oct. 30 -- 7:30 p.m.
Harriet Tubman Hall
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center

Cincinnati Ballet dancers join Constella Festival musicians in the world premiere of choreographer Heather Britt's Improvisation and Jimmy Cunningham's "Suite Italienne" for violin and piano (both by Stravinsky). Also on the program are Gabriel Gaffney Smith's “Habitual” and Peter Adam's "All Too Wonderful" with choreography by Britt. Art installation by sculptor Sandra Gross. Art exhibition by Cincinnati Art Museum. Tickets are $25 at www.constellafestival.org