"One Small Step for Man," 2,036 Hits for the Don

Cincinnati Pops conductor Erich Kunzel opens the Pops’ 2009 Riverbend season with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir at 8 p.m. June 18 at Riverbend Music Center on the Ohio River.

    That would be advertisement enough, but special guest for the one-time-only concert is Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong, first man on the moon, who will help celebrate the 25^th anniversary of Riverbend with a narration of the finale of Copland’s “A Lincoln Portrait.” 

Neil Armstrong on the Moon in 1969 (NASA photo)

Singing the National Anthem and “God Bless America” will be Cincinnati Bengals tight end Ben Utecht, who has just released an album of contemporary Christian music.

   Kunzel and Mormon Taberncle Choir director Mack Wilberg will share conducting duties.

   Tickets are $60 and $75 for the pavilion (half-price for children 12 and under), $25 for the lawn (children 12 and under free with a ticketed adult).  Get them at the Music Hall box office, (513) 381-3300, or online at www.cincinnatipops.org

   Lock up your daughters.  The serial seducer is back.

   Mozart’s “Don Giovanni,” known for his 2,065 “hits,” closes the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra's 35th anniversary season at 7:30 p.m. June 20, with repeat at 2 p.m. June 21 in Patricia Corbett Theater at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.  CCO music director Mischa Santora will conduct.

Second and final installment of the CCO's "Spanish Legends" mini-series, the opera will be performed in a semi-staged version featuring an outstanding cast of young singing actors headed by baritone Corey Crider as the Don.

Corey Crider (Don Giovanni)

   Cast members also include sopranos Megan Monaghan, Melody Moore and Angela Mannino as Donna Elvira, Donna Anna and Zerlina (all victims of the Don),

Megan Monaghan (Donna Elvira)

Melody Moore (Donna Anna)

bass Jason Hardy as Giovanni’s servant Leporello,

Jason Hardy (Leporello)

tenor Steven Sanders and bass-baritone Jonathan Lasch as Don Ottavio and Masetto (Donna Anna and Zerlina's significant others)

Steven Sanders (Don Ottavio)

and bass Gustav Andreassen as Donna Anna’s father the Commendatore, who drags the Don to Hell at the end.

Gustav Andreassen (Commendatore)

   Special guest Evans Mirageas, artistic director of Cincinnati Opera, will present a pre-concert discussion of "Don Giovanni" at 1 p.m. June 21 in PCT.

   Thanks to an anonymous gift, all remaining tickets are $10.  Call (513) 723-1182 ext.102 and ask for the Opera Special, or order by e-mail at keeelison@ccocincinnati.org.