Keep in Touch: Paavo Jävi's Tenth Season in Cincinnati

(part ten of a ten-part series)

L to R: Nick Tsimaras, Peter Courlas, Melody Sawyer Richardson, Järvi, Vicki Motch, David Motch, Farah Palmer, John Palmer and Jody Veith at the Song Festival grounds near Tallinn, Estonia, July, 2010

A group of Cincinnatians found the peripatetic Paavo Järvi in his native Estonia in July, 2010 preceding his final Cincinnati Symphony season.  They made the trip to hear him conduct at the Estonian National Song Festival, a once-every-fifth-year outdoor event that brings together choirs from all over the country and beyond.



 It rained on the first day of the festival, just as Jarvi was to conduct, but no one budged from their seats.

CSO program book cover 2010-2011 season

The CSO season opened with soprano Kathleen Battle in songs by Richard Strauss.  Commitments in Europe kept Jarvi away until December, when he returned to lead a program of Stravinsky ("Pulcinella" Suite), Britten (Simple Symphony), Bartok (Divertimento) and Mozart (Hilary Hahn in the Violin Concerto No. 5).  In 2011 came Faure's Requiem, Beethoven's Fifth and the Mahler Seventh before a closing stretch with Messiaen ("Turangalila" Symphony), Varese ("Ameriques"), Dvorak ("New World" Symphony") and more Mahler (Fifth Symphony).

Järvi with (right) Erkki-Sven Tüür in Tallinn, Estonia, June, 2007

 A special series of five fanfares was commissioned in honor of Järvi's 10th anniversary season.  Composers were Charles Coleman, Stewart Goodyear, Jonathan Holland, Erkki-Sven Tüür and Jorg Widmann.



There was big news from Europe in October, when Järvi was named ECHO Klassik Conductor of the Year by the Deutsche Phonoakademie for his recording of the Beethoven Symphonies No. 2 and 6 with the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen.

Järvi with Nick Clooney at Emanuel Community Center Triumph Awards, November, 2010

In November, Järvi was honored as an Outstanding Cincinnatian by the Emanuel Community Center with its Triumph Award.  Here he is with keynote speaker Nick Clooney.



Seen around town.



In January, the first CD on the orchestra's new in-house label CSO Media was released.  The all-American album, "American Portraits" contains music by Charles Coleman, Jennifer Higdon, Jonathan Holland, Carter Pann and Kevin Puts.

painting of Järvi with artist Carin Hebenstreit

Then it was into the home stretch.  A painting by Carin Hebenstreit was unveiled in March, to hang in the Music Hall foyer. Donors were Peter Courlas and Nick Tsimaras.

Järvi with young fans at Fairfield High School community concert in March, 2011

Jarvi led his last community concert in Cincinnati at Fairfield High School in March, where he drew many young fans who lined up for autographs afterward.

Järvi leading the Cincinnati Symphony and Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra in a "side by side" concert at Music Hall in May, 2011

And his last "side by side" concert with the Cincinnati Symphony and Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestras on May 4, 2011 at Music Hall

Järvi and Yo Yo Ma, Music Hall, May 3, 2011

A special gala fund-raiser with Yo Yo Ma sold out Music Hall May 3.  At this concert it was announced that Järvi had been named music director laureate of the CSO.

Järvi blowing kisses to the CSO at his final concert as their music director May 14, 2011 at Music Hall

Also a sellout was his final concert as CSO music director May 14, 2011 at Music Hall.  On the program were Erkki-Sven Tüür's Piano Concerto with Awadagin Pratt (a North American premiere) and Mahler's Fifth Symphony (given its U.S. premiere by the CSO in 1905).

CSO program book, final concerts, 2010-2011 season

Cincinnati will not forget Paavo Järvi.