Sir John's Desserts, Horn Bands and Lorca
Sir John, the KSO Boogie Band and a peek at Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca are on the music calendar this week.
Giuseppe Verdi’s “Falstaff,” the composer’s last work and his only comic opera, closes the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music’s main stage season May 14-17 in Corbett Auditorium.
With an assist from Shakespeare (“The Merry Wives of Windsor,” “Henry IV”), librettist Arrigo Boito fashioned a farce around Sir John Falstaff, the aging courtier who seeks to avail himself of the assets of a pair of noblemen’s wives, both physical and monetary. Naturally, he is no match for their cunning and gets his just desserts.
Directed by CCM’s new opera department chair Robin Guarino, the opera will be sung in Italian with English supertitles. Mark Gibson, music director of CCM’s Philharmonia Orchestra, will conduct.
Performances are 8 p.m. May 14, 15 and 16 and 2:30 p.m. May 17 in Corbett Auditorium.
Tickets are $26 (matinee) and $28 (evenings), $15 and $17 for students. Call (513) 556-4183.
Speaking of opera, Cincinnati Opera will present a panel discussion of the life and poetry of Spanish writer Federico Garcia Lorca” at 7 p.m. May 13 at the Taft Research Center in Clifton. Lorca is the subject of the opera’s July production of Osvaldo Golijov’s “Ainadamar” at Music Hall.
Panelists include U.C. professors Maria Paz Moreno, Daniel Walker and Alfredo Sosa-Velasco and CCM doctoral candidate Sonia Rodriguez Bermejo. Bermejo also will perform.
The discussion will be led by Rick Pender, director of institutional advancement for Cincinnati Opera.
Admission is free, but reservations are suggested. Call (513) 241-2742 for reservations and information.
For that boogie beat, head to Northern Kentucky University’s Greaves Concert Hall at 8 p.m. May 15 and 16 for “Down to the Nightclub,” a salute to the horn bands of the 1970.
Performing will be the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra Boogie Band led by KSO music director James R. Cassidy.
Hear 20 songs by 16 of the leading horn bands of the 70s, including Earth Wind and Fire, Blood Sweat and Tears, Weather Report, Manhattan Transfer, Spyra Gyro, James Brown, Average White Band, Chase, Chicago, Stevie Wonder, Tower of Power, Ides of March, Chuck Mangione and the Doobie Brothers.
The band will perform authentic orchestrations by Terry LaBolt. To sample the popular Boogie Band, visit http://www.kyso.org/songs/WhatisHip.mp3
Featured singers include Rick Marksberry, Stuart Anthony, Troy Hitch and Steve Brun.
Admission is $28 and $23, $18 for seniors, $10 for students. Call (513) 431-6216 or visit www.kyso.org
Note: The concert will be recorded on jump drives for sale following the performance.
In the news.
Julie Montgomery has been named executive director of Linton Chamber Music effective June 1.
The appointment, announced by the Linton board of directors earlier this week, welcomes someone familiar with the workings of Linton into the fold. Montgomery, who is also manager of artistic planning for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, has been instrumental in arranging for CSO guest artists to extend their stay in Cincinnati and perform on Linton concerts. This has been a popular feature of the Linton series since its founding 30 years ago.
Montgomery joins newly appointed artistic directors Jaime Laredo and Sharon Robinson at the helm of the organization. Susan Pace continues as project director.