February, the red-letter month, brings lots of Valentine-inspired events -- at the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Cincinnati Pops and others.  Some look on the bright side OF LOVE ("Love Notes" at the CSO), while some explore the dark side ("Don Giovanni," "The Damnation of Faust" at CCM). 
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Image from CCM's "The Damnation of Faust" shot by Raul Barcelona

In February, concert planners' thoughts invariably turn to thoughts of love.  The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music focuses on the dark side this month, with Mozart's "Don Giovanni," Berlioz' "Damnation of Faust" and Stephen Sondheim's "Into the Woods" all on the concert calendar. (first published in Express Cincinnati)
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Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos

Still without a music director since the departure of Paavo Järvi in May, 2011, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra will pursue its 2012-2013 season as it has in 2011-2012, under the guidance of three Creative Directors.  Returning to oversee the orchestra's "Masterworks" series is Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, who will conduct two of the series' ten concerts.  Taking charge of the "Ascent" and "Boundless" series, respectively, will be saxophonist-conductor Branford Marsalis and composer Jennifer Higdon, with five concertsw each.  Meanwhile the search for Järvi's successor continues.  Season details are being announced today.  (to be continued)
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The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in the thick of identifying a new music director, concert opera by the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra with “The King and I,” chamber music and much more.  Happy New Year!   - [Read more]

"ADORATION OF THE MAGI" BY HIERONYMUS BOSCH (METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART, NEW YORK)

A new "Amahl and the Night Visitors" will make its debut in December, 2012 in Cincinnati.  A really new "Amahl," in discussion for three years by Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra music director Mischa Santora and
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Marco Panuccio

Lyric tenor Marco Panuccio, 37, pursues an international career on the opera stage.  A graduate of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, he makes his home in Cincinnati where he will return Dec. 16 to sing his self-produced Christmas show "O Holy Night" at St. Peter in Chains Cathedral.
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Christmas music, holiday music, "Messiahs" aplenty, but December also brings chamber music, Russian music and the Mighty Wurlitzer.  On the guest list are conductor Andrew Grams, violinist Ray Chen, the Afiara String Quartet, Chanticleer and with the Cincinnati Pops, Sandi Patty.
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Interior, Emery Theatre, Over-the-Rhine

Cast your eye over November and you will find Russian music at the Cincinnati Symphony, a staged St. Matthew Passion (Bach) at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and  "An Emperor's Rise and Fall" (yes, Napoleon) at the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra. 
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Cincinnati's new Constella Festival of Music and Fine Arts stands to become to it what the Spoleto Festival is to Charleston.  Organized by a dynamo named Tatiana Berman (violinist), the festival comprises 13 concerts and multi-media events in 27 days.  It's a starry array, too, with violinists Hilary Hahn, Joshua Bell and Philippe Quint, pianist Alexander Toradze, saxophonist Ted Nash and male soprano Michael Maniaci.  Some of the top musical organizations in Cincinnati are also taking part, including Cincinnati Ballet, Chamber Music Cincinnati (St. Lawrence String Quartet), the Linton Music Series (pianist Menahem Pressler), Catacoustic Consort and the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra.  Art exhibits by Brazee Studios and 5th Street Gallery are also a part of the festival.  (first published in Express Cincinnati October, 2011)
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***image33*** October in Cincinnati is season-openings of all kinds.  The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra unveils its "Boundless" Series, one of five concerts curated by co-creative director Philip Glass this season. The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra goes Wagnerian and the Philharmonia Orchestra at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music goes Russian.  The first annual Constella Festival  of Music and Fine Arts debuts with violinist Hilary Hahn.  It should be quite a harvest.

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July in Cincinnati is the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, at Riverbend and on the road, the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra in Covington's Devou Park, opera, piano, singing, dancing and more.
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June is . . . bustin' out all over.  Coming up this month are Accent 11, the first of Cincinnati Opera's 2011 summer season productions, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra's own opera "production," events at Riverbend and a new "Greenacres" series by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.
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