Classical Revolution
The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra may be out
of town, but there's still plenty of classical music to be heard in Cincinnati.
And in the most unexpected places.
A visit to Northside Tavern November 1 found
standing-room-only for a late night concert of everything from a Handel aria to
"Mid West Tango" with saxophonist Kevin Towner.
It was revolutionary -- literally -- not really a concert per se, but a
musical happening called “Classical Revolution.”
"Classical Revolution" is a
non-profit organization founded in San Francisco three years ago to take
classical music into bars, cafes and other non-traditional venues. Cincinnati is one of eight cities to
have joined so far. Spearheading the movement locally is violist Vince Scacchetti.
Events take place on the first Sunday of each
month at Northside Tavern on Hamilton Avenue in Northside, beginning at 9 p.m. (the bar is open until 2:30 a.m.)
Admission is free and listeners may come and go as they wish -- and also
talk, eat and drink as they wish.
Visitors November 1 enjoyed complimentary barbecue and ate up performances
by coloratura soprano Alison Scherzer (“Mi palpita il cor” by Handel), tenor Nate Bick and violist Scachetti
(selections from Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Four Hymns), violinist Tatiana Berman
(Caprice No. 24 by Paganini), violist Yael-Natalie Senamaud-Cohen (Mozart Duo for Violin and Viola in G Major and "Improvisation a 2" by Jacques Chailley, both with Berman), clarinetist Sarah Todenhoft and a string quartet
comprising violinists Rachel Frankenfeld and Alex Hiew, violist Johnnia Stigall
and cellist Mark Kosmala (two movements from Mozart's Clarinet Quintet), among others.
Seen in the crowd, which spanned all ages, including a large proportion of under 40s, were Cincinnati arts supporter John Spencer and Donald Nally, newly appointed music director of the Vocal Arts Ensemble.
(They tell me the crowd would have been even larger had the CSO had been in town.)
“Classical Revolution” erupts next on
Sunday, December 6 at Northside Tavern, 4163 Hamilton Avenue, Northside. For further information, visit www.classicalrevolution.org