Cincinnati Creates "Erich Kunzel Way"
Erich Kunzel's way with symphonic pops was through entertainment, erudition and erasing boundaries.
Now there is going to be an official Erich Kunzel Way.
Cincinnati City Council voted unanimously Sept. 9 to name the portion of Elm Street in Over-the-Rhine between Central Parkway and 14th Street “Erich Kunzel Way.”
The unveiling ceremony for the new street sign will take place at 7 p.m. September 12 on the steps of Music Hall prior to the scheduled Cincinnati Pops concert (to be led by guest conductor Jack Everly with Anthony Daniels of “Star Wars”/C 3-PO fame).
In attendance at the community event will be Cincinnati Pops members and fans, Mayor Mark Mallory, Council member Roxanne Qualls and Jonathan Futch, principal of the School for Creative and Performing Arts. Students from SCPA will perform.
The legendary Cincinnati Pops conductor is being memorialized in a way superbly befitting his 44-year sojourn in Cincinnati. From his first “8 O’Clock Pops” concert at Music Hall, to his inspirational leadership in making the new SCPA south of Washington Park a reality, he graced the OTR neighborhood with music and civic pride.
Kunzel died September 1 after a four-month battle with cancer and tributes have poured in ever since:
- More than 450 people have left comments at the Pops online web site and many more signed a memorial book on the steps of Music Hall September 2-5.
- Naomi Lewin of WGUC, FM 90.9, has prepared a radio portrait of the popsmeister, “The Spectacular Life of Erich Kunzel,” to be aired at 7:30 p.m. September 13. The program will include remembrances by Dave Brubeck, Doc Severinsen, Keith Lockhart, Frederica von Stade, Michael Feinstein, members of the CSO and the Cincinnati community, plus excerpts from Cincinnati Pops albums.
- There will be a free concert honoring Kunzel’s life and legacy at 7 p.m. October 19 at Music Hall. On the podium will be Boston Pops conductor Lockhart, New York Pops music director Steven Reineke and CSO assistant conductor Vincent Lee, all protégés of Kunzel, as well as CSO music director Paavo Järvi and Cincinnati May Festival director of choruses Robert Porco. Famed mezzo-soprano von Stade, who sang Maria on the Pops’ Grammy-nominated album “The Sound of Music,” will perform along with the May Festival Chorus and students from SCPA. There will be a video tribute prepared by CET. Though this is a free event, tickets are necessary. They will be offered by invitation to current Cincinnati Pops subscribers and special guests, then to the general public, beginning October 12, on a first-come, first-served basis at the CSO box office at Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., or by calling (513) 381-3300.