Based on recent numbers showing reduced attendance at CINCINNATI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA productions, it seems our city’s rich Classical heritage is being taken for granted. We are possessed of world-class orchestras and gifted conductors, as well as a broad range of equally talented players and programmers in a variety of additional Classical organizations, and it’s vitally important that listeners of every age and stripe should support them all in record numbers this season. Use it or lose it, as the saying goes.
The CSO begins its season with an impressive Wagner/Beethoven program featuring acclaimed pianist Awadagin Pratt, under the direction of Robert Porco, on Sept. 14-15. The following weekend, Sept. 21-22, finds the CSO and maestro Paavo Jarvi presenting a Beethoven, Mozart and Bartok card, spotlighting flautist Sharon Bezaly.
The CSO’s Weekend series continues with works from Rossini, Haydn, Respighi and Rota featuring gifted cello soloist Enrico Dindo and acclaimed conductor Maestro William Eddins Oct. 5-6. Jarvi returns Oct. 11-13 for a powerful Mahler and Beethoven program featuring violinist Vadim Rapin. This weekend features a Thursday evening performance and the very popular Pre-Concert Dinner Buffet at 6:15 pm, prior to the 7:30 concert.
The month concludes with guest conductor Eri Klas and violinist Timothy Lees in a sensational program offering selections from Grieg, Bach and Strauss Oct. 26-27. Nov. 2-4 sees the return of Jarvi and Director Robert Porco for the Stravinsky Festival.
The CSO welcomes guest conductor Hans Graf and pianist Terrence Wilson Nov. 30-Dec. 1, for a spellbinding evening of Liadov, Khachaturian and Dvorak. The year concludes with guest conductor Krzysztof Penderecki and pianist Barry Douglas leading the CSO on Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 4” as well as Penderecki’s own compositions Threnody “To the Victims of Hiroshima” and Piano Concert Resurrection.
Series/individual tickets and additional information for these Music Hall concerts can be found at www.cincinnatisymphony.org.
THE CINCINNATI POPS has a rousing fall in store, beginning their 2007-08 season Sept. 7-9 with their production of The Three Phantoms, featuring three former leads from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera — Ron Bohmer, Cris Groenendaal and Craig Schulman — under the direction of Maestro Erich Kunzel.
The rest of 2007 is glittering with special guests as renowned trumpeter Chris Botti joins the Pops on Sept. 30 and Oct. 7, much loved TV entertainer/comedian Wayne Brady brings his musical skills to the fore Oct. 19-21 and acclaimed Jazz vocal ensemble the Manhattan Transfer team up for a little winter delight in Happy Holidays from the Pops Dec. 14-16. Again, series/individual tickets and additional information for the Pops’ Music Hall programs can be found at www.cincinnatisymphony.org.
The COLLEGE-CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC will feature trombonist/euphoniumist (we might have made up that word) Mark Kellogg Sept. 24 in its Guest Artist Series and rounds out the month with its Student Recital-Masters programs Sept. 27-28. October and November are jammed with events, lectures and special guests, including the Polygon Trio, the Percussion Group of Cincinnati, Stanford Olsen, Blah and Blah and faculty recitals from Phil DeGreg and James Lambert, among others. And don’t miss the Feast of Carols Dec. 2. For tickets, times, schedules and locations, check the CCM Web site at www.ccm.uc.edu.
CHAMBER MUSIC CINCINNATI opens its 78th season Oct. 23 with the American String Quartet featuring Menahem Pressler on piano, and returns for another concert Dec. 4 with the Amernet String Quartet featuring the Schoenberg String Quartet No. 2 with soprano Audrey Luna. Both are at CCM’s Corbett Auditorium at 8 pm. Details of these concerts and the entire CCO season are available at www.cincychamber.org.
The CINCINNATI CHAMBER ORCHESTRA opens its 34th season at Memorial Hall Oct. 28 with Schubertiade, a collection of Schubert classics featuring baritone Corey Crider, which continues Nov. 18 with more Schubert selections as well as Wolf’s Italian Serenade featuring violist Nokuthula Ngwenyama.
The LINTON CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES welcomes violinist/violist Ida Kavafian, cellist Peter Wiley, pianist Anne-Marie McDermott and soprano Lauren Skuce for a program of Haydn, Mendelssohn and the Alexander Blok songs by Shostakovich Oct. 14. The LCM Series re-creates a parlor music setting with its House Music Concert Nov. 18, and on Dec. 9 the series hosts Cleveland Orchestra Concertmaster Willim Preucil, CSO principal cellist Eric Kim and piano soloist Jeremy Denk. All shows are the First Unitarian Church at 4 pm. Series details, ticket information and directions are at lintonmusic.org.
THE CATACOUSTIC CONSORT offers Fellowship of the Viol: We Hang Our Harps upon the Willows Sept. 15-16 and Music of the Season: A Catacoustic Christmas Dec. 15-16. The shows are split between Clifton and Glendale; details can be found at www.catacoustic.com. ©
This article appears in Aug 29 – Sep 4, 2007.
