Music in Cincinnati

Linton Closes with Danielpour Commission

Tue, 15 May 2012 21:41:17 PST

Jaime Laredo

Sharon Robinson

Cincinnati's Linton Music Series closed its 2011-2012 season May 13 and 14 with the Cincinnati premiere of Richard Danielpour's "Inventions on a Marriage" for Violin and Cello, a work commissioned by Linton and Steven Monder as part of an eight-member consortium, and dedicated to violinist Jaime Laredo and cellist Sharon Robinson on their 35th wedding anniversary. Joining Laredo and Robinson (Linton co-artistic directors) in works by Mendelssohn and Tchaikovsky were violinist Benny Kim, violists Ida Kavafian and Steven Tenenbom and cellist Eric Kim.

Cassidy Mines Pianistic Gold from Hollywood's "Golden Age"

Tue, 15 May 2012 01:38:34 PST

The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra led by music director James R. Cassidy closed its 20th anniversary season May 12 at Florence Baptist Church at Mt. Zion with "Cinematic Piano," a painstakingly researched program of pieces composed for films during Hollywood's "golden age" (1940-60). Four local pianists joined Cassidy and the KSO in music by Richard Addinsell, Franz Waxman, Miklós Rósza, Bernard Herrmann, Ernest Gold and others in a turn-back-the-clock exploration of vintage film music.

May Festival Opener Fulfills Tradition

Mon, 14 May 2012 12:35:34 PST

The 91st edition of the 139-year-old Cincinnati May Festival (biennial until 1967) opened with a flourish May 11 in Music Hall, the imposing, neo-Gothic home built for it in 1877. Fittingly, the curtain went up with a choral blockbuster, Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana," which filled the stage with singers and instrumentalists totaling 340. Music director James Conlon, celebrating his 33rd year as leader of the May Festival, conducted the May Festival Chorus and Youth Chorus, Cincinnati Boychoir and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

Bagwell a Rising Star

Sun, 13 May 2012 16:17:44 PST

James Bagwell

The Cincinnati May Festival has helped nourish many talents over its 139 years -- and vice versa. Of those keeping its standards high, May Festival Youth Chorus director James Bagwell occupies a distinguished place. Bagwell leads his young charges in sacred motets at the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption in Covington, Kentucky, an annual May Festival event, May 13.

Stravinsky's "Rake" Renewed at CCM

Sat, 12 May 2012 14:37:30 PST

Reilly Nelson (left) and Dashiell Waterbury in "The Rake's Progress" at CCM

Cincinnati seems to like Stravinsky, especially his opera "The Rake's Progress," which has received two different presentations this spring, once in a semi-stage concert version by the Vocal Arts Ensemble and Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra (in March) and May 10-13, at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. The CCM production, designed by Paul Shortt and directed by Robin Guarino, was a highly innovative one, with digital projections by the school's E-Media division. CCM's Mark Gibson led the Philharmonia Orchestra with alternating students casts.

The Cincinnati May Festival is 139

Wed, 09 May 2012 20:43:00 PST

Herald trumpeters at the Cincinnati May Festival in Music Hall

Cincinnati's May Festival, 139 years old this season, is the oldest continuing choral festival in the Western Hemisphere. Music director James Conlon returns to lead it May 11-19 at historic Music Hall with blockbusters like Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana" and Brahms' "A German Requiem"; also music by the other two "Bs" (Bach and Beethoven), an all-French program and an evening of Tchaikovsky, including arias and choruses from his operas. The centerpiece, 130-voice May Festival Chorus will be joined by sopranos Nicole Cabell, Hana Park and Heidi Grant Murphy, tenors John Aler and Rodrick Dixon, baritones Stephen Powell and John Relyea and basses William McGraw and Yohan Yi. The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra is the official orchestra of the May Festival.

"Maria de Buenos Aires" Coming to Cincinnati

Mon, 07 May 2012 22:28:37 PST

Astor Piazzolla's "tango opera" "Maria de Buenos Aires" has been making its appearance on stages in recent years, in the United States and elsewhere. It comes to Cincinnati, co-produced by Cincinnati Opera, concert:nova and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, July 25 and 27 in, appropriately enough, the Music Hall Ballroom. Fully staged, it will feature nationally known tango dancers Fernanda Ghi and Guillermo Merlo, with Colombian soprano Catalina Cuervo in the title role.

May is . . .

Thu, 03 May 2012 22:53:40 PST

Herald trumpeters at Cincinnati May Festival

May in Cincinnati has been dominated historically by the May Festival, and the well loved songfest returns again for two weekend of choral orchestral music at Music Hall. Also on the calendar are Lang Lang at the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, opera (Stravinsky's "The Rakes's Progress") at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and music from films by the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra. To close the Linton Series 2011-2012 season, co-artistic directors Jaime Laredo and Sharon Robinson will perform the Cincinnati premiere of Richard Danielpour's "Inventions on a Marriage" for violin and cello, co-commissioned by Linton in honor of their 35th wedding anniversary.

A Valentine for Mr. Beach

Thu, 03 May 2012 21:04:49 PST

Joseph M. Beach at his home in Lexington, Kentucky (photo by Donna LaBach)

On April 27 I paid a visit to my first music teacher, Joseph Beach in Lexington, Kentucky. Mr. Beach, who taught music for 42 years and was director of the orchestra at Henry Clay High School in Lexington for 29 of them, is 93 now and still lives in Lexington. His wife Virginia passed away several years ago and he lives alone, but the joy of a life well lived and the huge flock of children (counting his many students) whose lives he has touched accompany him everywhere. There is music always playing in his house (from Lexington's classical music radio station). His son Larry drives him wherever he needs to go, including concerts by the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra, which he helped create. And yes, Brahms is still his favorite composer. (first published in The Cincinnati Post, February 14, 1996)

Introducing Louis Langrée, Cincinnati's Lucky 13

Thu, 03 May 2012 02:29:20 PST

Louis Langrée

In a wide-ranging interview following his appointment as 13th music director of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, French conductor Louis Langrée expressed his feelings about the CSO, the city and most eloquently, about music itself. His success, he said, was par volonté et par hazard ("by will and by chance") and he thanked his organist father for setting him on the path to become a musician. Announced at a press conference at Music Hall April 20, Langrée succeeds former CSO music director Paavo Järvi, who stepped down in May, 2011 after ten years with the orchestra.

VAE, Concert:nova Collaboration Artistic Event of the Season

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:36:47 PST

The Slave Pen at the Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio

Cincinnati's Vocal Arts Ensemble and the experimental chamber ensemble concert:nova presented their first collaboration April 29 in the shadow of the Slave Pen at the Underground Railroad Freedom Center on the banks of the Ohio River in Cincinnati. The program, led by VAE music director Donald Nally, was all-American, all 21st-century and all by living composers, two of them, Lansing McLoskey and Philip Lasser, present for the concert. Featured work was McLoskey's "Zealot Chronicle," based on verses by Nigerian poet, Nobel Prize winner Wole Soyinka in its world premiere. Also on the program were Lasser's "The Dream Keeper, Alvin Singleton's "Truth" and David Lang's "Statement to the Court."

Ramsay and Allen Close Matinee Musicale's 99th Season

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 02:31:16 PST

Scott Ramsay

From lieder by Richard Strauss to arias by Verdi and Massenet, lyric tenor Scott Ramsay and pianist Christopher Allen made a perfect duo for Cincinnati's Matinee Musicale April 26 at Mayerson Jewish Community Center in Amberley Village. It was splendid conclusion to the organization's 99th season.

Rach 2 Marks Polusmiak's Farewell

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 23:45:59 PST

Sergei Polusmiak

In one of the more regrettable actions on the arts and culture front in the tristate region, Northern Kentucky University has decided not to renew pianist Sergei Polusmiak's contract when it expires at the end of the spring semester. NKU music department chairman Kurt Sander calls it a "change of focus," with the school seeking someone in the area of collaborative piano. A student of Regina Horowitz in his native Ukraine, Polusmiak, 61, has been artist-in-residence and Tom and Christine Neyer Family Professor of Piano at NKU since 1998. For his final concert at NKU, Polusmiak performed Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 with the NKU Philharmonic Orchestra led by Frank T. Restesan April 24 in Greaves Concert Hall.

Louis Langrée Appointed Cincinnati Symphony Music Director

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:06:09 PST

Louis Langrée speaking at a press conference at Music Hall in Cincinnati April 24, 2012

French conductor Louis Langrée has been appointed 13th music director of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, beginning with the 2013-2014 season. Langrée, who is music director of the Mostly Mozart Festival at Lincoln Center in New York, succeeds Paavo Järvi, who stepped down in May, 2011. Langrée's CSO contract is for four years.

Songs of Bernadette

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 20:36:41 PST

Bernadette Peters

Bernadette Peters returned to the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra April 20 for the first time since February, 1992, when she was guest of the Pops under the late Erich Kunzel. She brought lots of roles with her, signature and otherwise, for an evening of Broadway that lit up Music Hall. Kunzel's successor, John Morris Russell, who has the Pops playing at the top of its game, led the orchestra during the first half in music from Broadway, Disney and even Edvard Grieg. Peters' longtime collaborator Marvin Laird joined her to lead the second half. (first published in the Cincinnati Enquirer)

Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra's "American Romantics" An Adventure

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 16:31:12 PST

Joseph Johnson

Music director Mischa Santora and the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra ventured beyond the familiar with their "American Romantics' program April 22 in Mayerson Theater at the School for Creative and Performing Arts. Heard were Aaron Copland's "Music for the Theatre," Samuel Barber's Cello Concerto with guest artist Joseph Johnson, a jazz sampler by pianist Michael Chertock and Dvorak's "American Suite," Op. 98b.

Berman and López: Gifts to Cincinnati

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 22:55:38 PST

Antoine-François López and Tatiana Berman with the Ensemble Vita at Mt. Auburn Presbyterian Church

Violinist Tatiana Berman and conductor Antoine-François López brought their complimentary gifts to bear on a Cincinnati audience organized by the Cincinnati MacDowell Society April 15 at Mt. Auburn Presbyterian Church. The concert featured an exquisite performance of Tchaikovsky's "Souvenir d'un lieu cher," Op. 34, in the version for violin and string orchestra by Romanian-Dutch composer Alexandru Lascae. López led the Ensemble Vita, a 28-member chamber orchestra he founded comprising students from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, in works by Beethoven and Wagner.

Thibaudet, Denève Say It in French with the CSO

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 19:45:11 PST

Jean-Yves Thibaudet

They called it "The French Connection," and all the links were in place as the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra led by guest conductor Stephane Denève performed an all-French program April 12 at Music Hall. Guest artist was another Frenchman, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, who performed the rarely heard Piano Concerto No. 5 ("Egyptian") by Saint-Saëns.

Give Me a P-I-A-N-O

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 21:40:24 PST

Irving Berlin said it in ragtime in "Stop, Look and Listen" in 1915 ("I Love a Piano"). If you, too, love a piano, there's plenty on the keys during the coming month in Cincinnati. There's "Pianopalooza" and the "Bear Cat Piano Festival" at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Jean-Yves Thibaudet and Lang Lang with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and the "Rach 2" at Northern Kentucky University with artist-in-residence Sergei Polusmiak. (first published at www.expresscincinnati.com)

April is . . .

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 17:09:48 PST

Wole Soyinka

April in Cincinnati brings lots of piano, at the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and Northern Kentucky University. There's Jean Yves Thibaudet, Serge Polusmiak and "Pianopalooza" (six Steinways onstage at once at CCM). chamber music, early music and "Classical Roots," a celebration of the African-American experience at the CSO. "Truth: Listening to Liberation," a collaboration by the Vocal Arts Ensemble and concert:nova at the Underground Railroad Freedom Center will feature the world premiere of "Zealot Canticle" by Lansing McLoskey, based on texts by Nigerian activist and Nobel laureate for literature, Wole Soyinka.