One to Go: Paavo Järvi's Ninth Season in Cincinnati

(part nine of a continuing series)

CSO program cover, 2009-2010 season

In January, 2010 Paavo Järvi announced that he would not renew his contract with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra when it expired at the end of the 2010-2011 season  The news was met with sadness, but for the Estonian born conductor, who had forged a relationship with five orchestras, something had to go.

video screen in Marktplatz in Bonn, Germany, September, 2009

Pre-CSO-season activities took Järvi to the Beethoven Festival in Bonn, Germany in September, where he conducted a complete cycle of the Beethoven symphonies with the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen. Because of overflow crowds at Beethovenhalle, there were "public viewings" of the concerts in the Marktplatz.

Järvi with Lang Lang, Music Hall, September, 2009

The CSO season opened with a sold-out gala concert September 17 featuring pianist Lang Lang.

L to R: CSO/Pops assistant conductor Vincent Lee, Järvi, soprano Kathleen Brett, Keith Lockhart, Steven Reineke, Robert Porco at Music Hall, October, 2009

In October, Jarvi joined Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart, New York Pops conductor Steven Reineke, May Festival Chorus director Robert Porco and CSO/Pops assistant conductor Vincent Lee in a memorial concert at Music Hall for Cincinnati Pops conductor Erich Kunzel, who died of cancer September 1.

CSO in Suntory Hall in Tokyo, November, 2009

The Japan tour in November was a triumphant return for Järvi and the CSO, who performed a live concert on Japanese television during their visit.

CSO at Carnegie Hall, February, 2010

In February, they returned together to Carnegie Hall.  Guest artist was pianist Radu Lupu.

Järvi addressing 2010 Opus luncheon in the Music Hall Ballroom via Skype from Paris, France.

Icelandic volcano Ejafjallajõkull kept Järvi in Europe in March, forcing cancellation of his CSO concerts April 23-25 (when he was replaced by Julian Kuerti) and necessitating his "appearance" at the orchestra's annual Opus luncheon for CSO subscribers via Skype. 

Järvi with (left) recording producer Philip Traugott at the Funkhaus in Berlin, April, 2010

Jarvi's recording activities with the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen took him to Berlin in April for a recording session at Berlin's historic Funkhaus (former home of East German Radio).  Here he is with producer Philip Traugott at a playback session.