Constella Festival Fulfills Promise with Expanded Season
Mary Ellyn Hutton
Posted: Jun 20, 2012 - 12:37:28 AM in
news_2012
Jean-Yves Thibaudet
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Talk about growth. For Cincinnati’s new Constella Festival of Music and Fine Arts, you can tell it by the numbers.
The 2012 Festival has grown by nearly 70 percent over last year, its inaugural season. There were 13 events in 18 days in 2011, presented by Constella and eight partner organizations. There will be 37 in 38 days this year and the number of Festival partners has doubled, to 16.
A propos its name (from constellation, as in stars), the 2012 festival has a glittering cast, with a “Constella Presents” guest list including French pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet in an all-Debussy recital, American violinist Anne Akiko Meyers, Anthony McGill, principal clarinetist of New York’s Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and jazz trumpeter Lew Soloff. McGill will open the Festival September 30 in Robert J. Werner Recital Hall at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.
All of the 2011 Festival partners are returning this year, namely Catacoustic Consort, Chamber Music Cincinnati, concert:nova, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Chamber Players, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, Linton Chamber Music Series, Vocal Arts Ensemble and Classical Revolution. Chamber Music Cincinnati will present the Tokyo String Quartet in its final concert in Cincinnati (the famed quartet is disbanding next year). Performing for Linton will be the Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio -- pianist Joseph Kalichstein, violinist Jaime Laredo and cellist Sharon Robinson (Laredo and Robinson are co-artistic directors of Linton).
New in 2012 are the Bi-Okoto Cultural Institute, Blue Wisp Jazz Club’s Blue Wisp Big Band, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company (which will present “Romeo and Juliet”), Hebrew Union College, Manuel D. and Rhoda Mayerson Jewish Community Center and University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.
The number of venues is up from 10 to at least 14 throughout Greater Cincinnati, from Northside Tavern in Northside to the Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center in Covington, Kentucky. An exciting new venue is the electronically enhanced Digitorium at Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights. Additional locations will be announced later.
There will be four world premieres and two Cincinnati premieres. The world premieres include “August Music” by Mark Adamo, a work by Nico Muhly for strings and electronics and a pair of brand new choreographies by Missy Lay Zimmer and Andrew Hubbard, co-founders/artistic directors of Exhale Dance Tribe. Receiving their Cincinnati premieres will be “Lullaby for Natalie” by John Corigliano and “The Wreck of the Umbria” for solo violin and electronics by Polish composer Jakub Ciupiński.
In addition to traditional chamber music, vocal music, jazz, dance and (new this year) drama, visual art is an important component of the Constella Festival. Artists and galleries to be featured in 2012 include Jordan Munson, Stewart Goldman, Sandra Gross, the Dorothy W. and C. Lawson Reed Jr. Gallery of the College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning at the University of Cincinnati, 5th Street Gallery and The Carnegie Galleries featuring FotoFocus, a regional celebration of the art of photography. Education is an element of Constella, too, and there will be three events just for children during the Festival, Berman said.
Tatiana Berman
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Some of Constella’s best numbers pertain to the bottom line, since the Festival finished its first season in the black. Also, fund-raising is running ahead of last year, said founder/artistic director Tatiana Berman.
“This time people know we can do it and what we are all about. All major sponsors are returning, plus new ones are joining. The fact that, based on last year’s success, so many more groups will participate validates two key aspects of our mission, to showcase groups here and attract new audiences to them.” An international violinist in her own right, Berman believes that “Constella will present to the world that Cincinnati is one of the top artistic metropolitan regions in the United States.”
Tickets for Constella events are available online at
www.constellafestival.org, at the Cincinnati Arts Association box office in the Aronoff Center for the Arts on Walnut St. downtown, or call (513) 621-ARTS (2787). Tickets for events presented by Festival partners may be purchased at their individual web sites. Visit www.constellafestival.org for direct links to Festival partner sites.
The 2012 Constella Festival of Music and Fine Arts
Sept. 30 – 2 p.m.
Constella Presents
Anthony McGill, clarinet
Robert J. Werner Recital Hall, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
Clifton
John Corigliano, Soliloquy. Mark Adamo, “August Music” (world premiere). Anthony McGill,
principal clarinet of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and former associate principal clarinet of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, is well known for his performance at President Obama’s inauguration with Yo Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman and Gabriela Montero. He performs here with flutists Randy Bowman and Nina Perlove, violinist Tatiana Berman and cellist Ilya Finkelshteyn (Bowman and Finkelshteyn are principal flute and cello, respectively of the CSO). There will be a reception afterwards at the Dorothy W. and C. Lawson Reed Jr. Gallery of U.C.’s College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning. Tickets at www.constellafestival.org
Oct. 3 – 8:30 p.m.
Blue Wisp Jazz Club Presents
Blue Wisp Big Band
Blue Wisp Jazz Club
700 Race St., downtown
The Blue Wisp Jazz Club has been a widely recognized jazz destination since its founding in 1980. Its marquee ensemble, the
Blue Wisp Big Band, performs Wednesday evenings at the Club. Drummer/bandleader John von Ohlen, professor of jazz percussion at CCM, previously toured with the Stan Kenton Orchestra. Information at http://www.thebluewisp.com
Oct. 5 – 7:30 p.m.
CSO Chamber Players presents
"Chamber Sunrise"
Mayerson Theater, School for Creative and Performing Arts
108 W. Central Parkway, downtown
Haydn, String Quartet in B-flat Major, Op. 76, No. 4 ("Sunrise"). Beethoven, Septet in D-flat Major, Op. 20.
The CSO Chamber Players is made up of members of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Information at http://www.cincinnatisymphony.org/content.php?id=87
Oct. 7 -- 3 p.m.
VAE: Cincinnati’s Vocal Arts Ensemble presents
"A Procession Winding Around Me"
Vocal Arts Ensemble
Patrick Dupre, guest conductor
Memorial Hall
Led by guest conductor Patrick
Dupre of Miami. Florida’s Grammy-winning ensemble Seraphic Fire, the 24-voice
VAE will perform Morten Lauridsen’s “Midwinter Songs,” Ingram Marshall’s “Hymnodic
Delays” and Jeffrey Van’s “A Procession Winding Around Me” for guitar and
choir. Tickets and information at
http://www.vaecinci.org/concerts.html
Oct. 7 – 2 p.m.
Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion presents
Chamber Music by American Composers
Constella Trio
Hebrew Union College
3101 Clifton Ave., Clifton
Chamber music by American composers.
The Constella Trio comprises violinist Tatiana Berman, violist Yael Senamaud-Cohen and cellist Ilya Finkelshteyn. In addition to founding Constella, Berman is a founding member of Cincinnati’s concert:nova. Senamaud-Cohen is principal violist of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra. Finkelshteyn is principal cellist of the CSO. For information about HUC-JIR, visit http://huc.edu/
Oct. 7 – 8 p.m.
Classical Revolution presents
Classical Revolution
Northside Tavern
4163 Hamilton Ave., Northside
Classical Revolution
is an international movement to bring classical music to the people. Professional musicians and conservatory students perform in bars and cafes, creating an informal atmosphere and encouraging communication between musicians and audiences. Performances are generally free, with donations suggested. The Cincinnati chapter sponsors an event every second Sunday of the month at Northside Tavern, as well as special events. Information at http://www.facebook.com/groups/96468908247/
Oct. 9 – 7:30 p.m.
Constella presents
“Organically Charged”
Nico Muhly, pianist and composer
Digitorium, Northern Kentucky University
Highland Heights, Kentucky
Program to feature acoustic instruments and voices, pre-recorded electronics and visuals for a multi-sensory experience, including a
world premiere composed and performed by pianist Muhly. Joining him onstage will be tenor Grant Knox, violinist Tatiana Berman, violist Joanne Wojtowicz and students from the NKU department of music. Visuals will be provided by visual/electronics artist Jordan Munson. The performance will take place in the Digitorium, NKU’s new, electronically enhanced performance space. Tickets at www.constellafestival.org
Oct. 13 – 5 p.m.
Bi-Okoto Cultural Institute presents
Bi-Okoto Cultural Institute
7030 Reading Rd.
Bi-Okoto Cultural Institute is a
professional African dance company with a mission to preserve, promote and share the cultural heritage of Africa and Africans, using drums, dance and other arts. Information at http://www.bi-okoto.com/
Oct. 13 – 7:30 p.m.
Catacoustic Consort presents
Catacoustic Consort
"Poise and Passion"
Mt. Auburn Presbyterian Church
Cincinnati’s early music ensemble Catacoustic Consort led by founder/artistic director Annalisa Pappano opens its 2012-2013 season with music of the French baroque for two violas da gamba, harp, and theorbo (think Marin Marais). Information at http://www.catacoustic.com/season.html
Oct. 14 – 1 p.m.
Manuel D. and Rhoda Mayerson Jewish Community Center presents
"Daniel Pearl World Music Day"
Constella Trio
Manuel D. and Rhoda Mayerson Jewish Community Center
8485 Ridge Rd., Amberley
Mayerson JCC presents the
Constella Trio, violinist Tatiana Berman, violist Yael Senamaud-Cohen and cellist Ilya Finkelshteyn in a program of world and classical music. The concert honors the memory of reporter Daniel Pearl, kidnapped and murdered in Pakistan in 2002. Admission is free. For information about the Center, visit http://www.mayersonjcc.org/
Oct. 14 – 4 p.m.
Linton Music presents
Linton Chamber Music Series
Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio
Nokuthula Ngwenyama, viola
First Unitarian Church
536 Linton St., Avondale
Mozart, Quartet for Piano, Violin, Viola and Cello in E-flat Major, K. 493. Richard Danielpour, “A Child’s Reliquary.” Schumann, Quartet for Piano, Violin, Viola and Cello in E-flat Major, Op. 47.
The Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio -- pianist Joseph Kalichstein, violinist Jaime Laredo and cellist Sharon Robinson -- will be joined by violist Nokuthula Ngwenyama in the Mozart and Schumann quartets. (Laredo and Robinson are co-artistic directors of the Linton Chamber Music Series.) With the slogan “music making among friends,” the 32-year-old Linton Series brings together regional, national and international artists (often guests of the CSO) to create ensembles, with performances held in the intimate environment of the historic First Unitarian Church sanctuary. Tickets at the door, or call (513) 381-6868. Information at http:/lintonmusic.org/season-announcement, or call (513) 381-6868.
Oct. 18 – 6:45 p.m. concert, 7:30 p.m. show
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company presents
“Romeo and Juliet”
Sarah Clark, Sherman Fracher, Annie Fitzpatrick, Billy Chace
Brian Isaac Phillips, director
Cincinnati Shakespeare Theatre
719 Race St., downtown
This will be a contemporary staging, designed to give continuing relevance to Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy. Production sponsor is Rippe & Kingston. The design is sponsored by Raymond James. A concert will precede the show. Information and tickets at
http://cincyshakes.com
Oct. 19 – 7:30 p.m.
Constella presents
“Fragile Elements”
Exhale Dance Tribe
Missy Lay Zimmer and Andrew Hubbard, choreographers
Sandra Gross, visual artist
Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center
1028 Scott St., Covington
Dancers from
Exhale Dance Tribe will perform world premiere choreographies by Exhale artistic directors Missy Lay Zimmer and Andrew Hubbard, set to Tchaikovsky's“Souvenir d’un lieu cher" and Henryk Górecki's Symphony No. 1, performed by local musicians. The backdrop will be created by Cincinnati artist Sandra Gross. A reception will follow at the Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center Gallery, showcasing FotoFocus, a biennial, city-wide celebration of the art of photography. Tickets at www.constellafestival.org
Oct. 19 and 21 -- 7:30 p.m.
concert:nova presents
“Frankenstein!!”
concert:nova
Peter Haberkorn, visual artist
Emery Theatre, downtown
H.K. Gruber, “Frankenstein!!”
Concert:nova,
Cincinnati’s boundary-bending chamber ensemble, plays to form with
Austrian composer Gruber’s self-described “pan-demonium” for chansonnier
(vocalist/narrator) and chamber orchestra (1976-77). Based on
children’s verses about popular heroes and villains, “Frankenstein!!” is
a set of songs and dances utilizing colorful percussion and toy
instruments. Peter Haberkorn, a
Cincinnati artist who creates three-dimensional collages using found
materials, will provide original artwork to go with the music.
Information about concert:nova at http://concertnova.com/
Oct. 20 -- 8 p.m.
Constella Presents
Lew Soloff, trumpet
Cincinnati Contemporary Jazz Orchestra
Harriet Tubman Theater
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
Jazz great
Lew Soloff and the newly-formed Cincinnati Contemporary Jazz Orchestra will perform Miles Davis and Gil Evans' "Porgy and Bess" and "Sketches of Spain." They will use charts Evans wrote for their important recordings, which were among the first to fuse classical music and jazz. Information and tickets at www.constellafestival.org
Oct. 23 – 8 p.m.
Chamber Music Cincinnati presents
Tokyo String Quartet
Robert J. Werner Recital Hall
University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
Clifton
Haydn, String Quartet in D Major, Op. 20, No. 4. Kodály, Quartet for Strings, Op. 10, No. 2. Ravel, String Quartet in F Major.
The famed Tokyo String Quartet will hang up their bows after next season. Critics agree that they are retiring at the top of their game, so this final opportunity to hear them in Cincinnati makes this a choice Constella event. Tickets and information at www.cincychamber.org, or call (513) 345-6870.
Oct. 26 – 7:30 p.m.
Constella presents
“Opera appasionata”
Marco Panuccio, tenor
Kara Shay Thomson, soprano
Warren Jones, piano
Memorial Hall
1225 Elm St., downtown
Opera solos and duets.
Trained at CCM, tenor Marco Panuccio sings leading roles with opera companies worldwide, including Chicago Lyric Opera and Teatro Comunale in Bologna, Italy. Soprano Kara Shay Thomson has sung with New York City Opera and as a soloist with the Cincinnati May Festival. The concert will be followed by a reception and art show featuring artists from Cincinnati’s 5th Street Gallery. Tickets at www.constellafestival.org
Oct. 27 – 7:30 p.m.
Constella presents
“Anne under the Stars”
Anne Akiko Meyers, violin
Wendy Chin, piano
Harriet Tubman Theater
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
50 East Freedom Way, downtown
John Corigliano, “Lullaby for Natalie” (world premiere). Jakub Ciupiński, “The Wreck of the Umbria” (world premiere)
. Violinist Anne Akiko Meyers and pianist Wendy Chen will perform under the starlit ceiling of Harriet Tubman Theater at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. There will be a reception afterwards and an instrument exhibition by Paolo Alberghini , with over 20 instruments on display, from Stradivari to the present day. Tickets at www.constellafestival.org
Oct. 28 – 2 p.m.
Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra presents
Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra
Alex Kerr, violin
Eric Kim, cello
Orion Weiss, piano
Mischa Santora, conductor
Corbett Theatre, School for Creative and Performing Arts
108 W. Central Parkway, downtown
Beethoven, Concerto for Violin, Cello and Piano, Op. 56
. Music director Mischa Santora leads the opening concert of the CCO season in the orchestra’s new performance home at the School for Creative and Performing Arts. Information and tickets at http://www.ccocincinnati.org
Nov. 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Constella presents
“Divine Debussy”
Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano
Memorial Hall
1225 Elm St., downtown
French superstar
Jean-Yves Thibaudet will close the 2012 Constella Festival with an all-Debussy recital in honor of the composer’s 150th anniversary. There will be a post-concert reception and an art show by prominent Cincinnati visual artists. Tickets at www.constellafestival.org
Date, time and location to be announced
concert:nova presents
“Frankenstein!!”
concert:nova
Peter Haberkorn, visual artist
H.K. Gruber, “Frankenstein!!”
Concert:nova,
Cincinnati’s boundary-bending chamber ensemble, plays to form with
Austrian composer Gruber’s self-described “pan-demonium” for chansonnier
(vocalist/narrator) and chamber orchestra (1976-77). Based on
children’s verses about popular heroes and villains, “Frankenstein!!” is
a set of songs and dances utilizing colorful percussion and toy
instruments. Peter Haberkorn, a
Cincinnati artist who creates three-dimensional collages using found
materials, will provide original artwork to go with the music.
Information about concert:nova at http://concertnova.com/
Updates and information about the 2012 Constella Festival will be posted as they become available at
www.constellafestival.org
