Music in Cincinnati

Storgårds Continues to Impress with the CSO

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 14:05:48 PST

Finnish conductor John Storgårds, made a strong impression with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra at his CSO debut in April, 2010. He conducted Sibelius at that time, a natural for the chief conductor of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra. Storgårds, returned to the CSO Feb. 3 and 4 at Music Hall to lead Beethoven, Brahms and Szymanowski (the Violin Concerto No. 1 with guest artist Christian Tetzlaff). He solidified that first impression, making himself a potent contender to succeed former CSO music director Paavo Järvi.

CCM Chamber Players Highlight CCM Composers

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:15:03 PST

Once a year, the CCM Chamber Players, a professional-level, graduate ensemble at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, goes "in-house," by featuring compositions by CCM composers conducted by CCM conducting students. This year's select crop included works by four CCM students, Danielle Gaudry, Lauren Heller, Angela Holt, Boon Hua Lien and Thanapol Setabrahmana and CCM faculty member Ellen Ruth Harrison's "Seven Devilish Pieces." Further enhancing the program was CCM countertenor Eric Jurenas in an extremely moving performance of composition student Marko Bajzer's "2011 "Zrikovac." It was a good year.

"Creative direction" continues for CSO in 2012-13

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 00:11:26 PST

Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos

Still without a music director since the departure of Paavo Järvi in May, 2011, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra will pursue its 2012-2013 season as it has in 2011-2012, under the guidance of three Creative Directors. Returning to oversee the orchestra's "Masterworks" series is Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, who will conduct two of the series' ten concerts. Taking charge of the "Ascent" and "Boundless" series, respectively, will be saxophonist-conductor Branford Marsalis and composer Jennifer Higdon, with five concertsw each. Meanwhile the search for Järvi's successor continues. Season details are being announced today. (to be continued)

"Lang Lang Effect" in Cincinnati

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:30:34 PST

Lang Lang

Pianist Lang Lang has been credited with inspiring 40 million Chinese children to study the piano. This "Lang Lang Effect" came to Cincinnati Jan. 27 at Music Hall, where his performance of Liszt's Piano Concerto No. 1 drew a near capacity crowd to 3,400-seat Music Hall (the repeat on Jan. 28 was and sold out). Guest conductor Jun Märkl was a standout, too, in his CSO debut, leading a clockwork accompaniment to the Liszt Concerto and a fine performance of Brahms' Symphony No. 4. (first published at www.cincinnati.com)

Concert:nova plays the #*appa outta Zappa

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:24:22 PST

Thom Mariner alias

Express Cincinnati co-publisher Thom Mariner reviews "Shut Up and Play Zappa," presented by Cincinnati's cutting-edge chamber ensemble concert:nova January 22 at the 20th Century Theater in Oakley Square. It was SRO he said, for this collaboration by c:n artists with some of Cincinnati's rock elite, including guitarist Roger Klug. In addition to Zappa, the program included music by Edgard Varèse and Igor Stravinsky, two of Zappa's influences. (first published at www.expresscincinnati.com)

KSO's Saint-Saëns Sizzles

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 16:39:57 PST

Critic Charles H. Parsons caught the imagery brilliantly in his review of the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra's concert performance of Saint-Saëns' "Samson et Dalila" Jan. 20 at Florence Baptist Church at Mount Zion in Florence, Kentucky. With mezzo-soprano Stacey Rishoi singing Dalila, Samson "didn't have a snow ball's chance in the Negev." KSO music director led the "sizzling" performance, with tenor Michael Hendrick as Samson, singers from University of Kentucky Opera Theatre and the KSO Chorale.

"Clue in Two Flats"

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:42:23 PST

If you ever wondered whether Cincinnati's neo-Gothic Music Hall had ever been the scene of a murder mystery, the answer is yes, it has. R.L.F. McCombs, music critic for the Columbus Citizen, wrote one in 1940. Copies are still available at the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County.

A "Daphnis et Chloe" to Remember

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 13:58:45 PST

Juanjo Mena

Ravel's "Daphnis et Chloe" Suites No. 1 and 2 are not often heard together or with chorus. The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and May Festival Chorus did both Jan. 20 in Music Hall in Cincinnati under guest conductor Juanjo Mena. To use everyday language, it was a performance "to die for."

More than Beauty

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:13:45 PST

Los Angeles Piano Quartet

The Los Angeles Piano Quartet opened the New Year for Chamber Music Cincinnati January 10 in Werner Recital Hall at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Their program of Mozart, Steven Stucky and Gabriel Faure was well chosen and making it even more of an occasion, was the return to Cincinnati of violinist Yehonatan Berick, violinist of the Quartet and a graduate of CCM.

Ax, Heras-Casado Open New Year for Cincinnati Symphony

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 10:43:53 PST

Emanuel Ax

Veteran Emanuel Ax and newcomer Pablo Heras-Casado opened the New Year for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra with a well chosen program spanning the 18th to the 20st centuries January 5 at Music Hall. For guest conductor Heras-Casado, 34, it was a CSO debut. (first published at www.concertonet.com)

January is . . .

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 17:44:07 PST

The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in the thick of identifying a new music director, concert opera by the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra with “The King and I,” chamber music and much more. Happy New Year!

Make that 13

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:55:24 PST

Everyone has their favorites. Here are mine, a "baker's dozen," from the rich musical offerings in Cincinnati in 2011. A baker's dozen, by the way, is 13 (or 14), derived from the custom in medieval times of bakers adding an extra loaf to a dozen so as not to incur a penalty -- rather severe in those days -- for under-weighing an order.

Cincinnati's "New Nutcracker" Flies

Sat, 24 Dec 2011 20:24:06 PST

Costume design by Carrie Robbins

Cincinnati Ballet's "New Nutcracker" is exactly that. New sets, new costumes, new choreography, new characters, Produced and choreographed by Ballet artistic director and CEO Victoria Morgan, the $2 million production, ten years in the making, is spectacular, no less. Helping put it over the top during its world premiere run, Dec. 15-24 at the Aronoff Center for the Arts, was the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. (first published at www.ConcertoNet.com)

Messiah in Season

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 00:19:35 PST

George Frideric Handel

Handel's "Messiah" is a hardy perennial, both at Christmas time and Easter, when parts of the oratorio tend to be heard instead of the entire three-hour work. The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and May Festival Chorus led by James Bagwell joined forces Dec. 18 at Music Hall to present "Messiah" complete.

Chamber Orchestra, Madcap to Bring "Amahl" in 2012

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 19:40:24 PST

"ADORATION OF THE MAGI" BY HIERONYMUS BOSCH (METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART, NEW YORK)

A new "Amahl and the Night Visitors" will make its debut in December, 2012 in Cincinnati. A really new "Amahl," in discussion for three years by Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra music director Mischa Santora and

Panuccio Home for the Holidays

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 19:49:18 PST

Marco Panuccio

Lyric tenor Marco Panuccio, 37, pursues an international career on the opera stage. A graduate of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, he makes his home in Cincinnati where he will return Dec. 16 to sing his self-produced Christmas show "O Holy Night" at St. Peter in Chains Cathedral.

Patty, the Voice at Music Hall

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:03:16 PST

Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, John Morris Russell conducting, with guest artist Sandi Patty

Gospel diva Sandi Patty filled the hall at Music Hall Dec. 9, in more ways than one. Singing with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra led by conductor John Morris Russell, she drew a near capacity crowd. And in selections from "Jesus, Oh What a Wonderful Child to "Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee," she filled every crevice with sound, too. Appearing with Patty, Russell and the Pops were the May Festival Chorus and Winton Woods High School Varsity Ensemble. (first published in the Cincinnati Enquirer, Dec. 11, 2011)

Nally, VAE Provide Musical Respite for the Season

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 19:14:47 PST

Cincinnati's Vocal Arts Ensemble led by music director Donald Nally knows how to conjure Christmas without familiar carols in familiar settings. Their holiday show, "A Candlelit Christmas," Dec. 11 at Summit Country Day Chapel in Hyde Park, did it with selections representing the music of our time.

concert:nova, dancers, actors in searing theater piece

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 22:25:42 PST

Sergei Prokofiev

The chamber ensemble concert:nova presented the third in its series of theater pieces illustrating the lives of the great composers with Prokofiev and Shostakovich, "Pieces in the Key of Silence," Dec. 5 at the Know Theater in Cincinnati. Dancer/choreographers Stephen Jacobsen and Jimmy Cunningham were riveting as Prokofiev and Shostakovich, respectively. The music ranged from Prokofiev's early "Sarcasms" for piano to Shostakovich's autobiographical String Quartet No. 8.

Ray Chen Rocks Music Hall with CSO Debut

Sat, 03 Dec 2011 13:08:26 PST

Ray Chen

There were three debuts on the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra's Dec. 3 concert at Music Hall. One was guest conductor Andrew Grams, who led a program of Rimsky-KKorsakov, Dvořák and Tchaikovsky. Another was violinist Ray Chen, who bowed in with Dvořák's Violin Concerto. The third was Rimsky-Korsakov's Suite from "The Snow Maiden." Rounding out the program was the Suite from Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake" Ballet, Op. 20a.