Music in Cincinnati

A "Bohéme" to Love

Sat, 24 Jun 2017 18:51:39 PST

Puccini's"La Bohéme," one of the most popular operas in the repertoire, made an outstanding impression before a near capacity audience June 22 at Procter and Gamble Hall in the Aronoff Center for the Arts.

Elgar's "Dream of Gerontius" Mesmerizing

Thu, 15 Jun 2017 23:33:35 PST

Edward Elgar's "Dream of Gerontius" has not been heard at the Cincinnati May Festival in over 30 years. It made a welcome return May 26 at the Taft Theater with a fine ensemble of vocal soloists and movement artist. On the podium was conductor Michael Francis in his May Festival debut.

Enchanting night at the 2017 Cincinnati May Festival

Wed, 14 Jun 2017 22:45:38 PST

Attendees at the second night of the 2017 Cincinnati May Festival May 20 at the Taft Theater were treated to music fit for a summer's night with Mendelssohn's iconic work and music by Frederick Delius and Ralph Vaughan Williams. The May Festival Chorus, the May Festival Youth Chorus and a cast of accomplished actors brought it all to life under the baton of conductor Matthew Halls.

The 2017 Cincinnati May Festival Ends with Bach

Wed, 14 Jun 2017 20:15:43 PST

The 2017 Cincinnati May Festival ended on a joyous note with the Mass in B Minor by Johann Sebastian Bach. Leading the May Festival Chorus prepared by Robert Porco, and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra was Harry Bicket, artistic director of the English Concert. Vocal soloists were Joélle Harvey, soprano, Meg Bragle, mezzo-soprano, Daniel Taylor, countertenor, Thomas Cooley, tenor and Matthew Brock, bass-baritone.

May 12 Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra: A near sellout

Mon, 22 May 2017 10:25:09 PST

A near-sellout audience greeted the final concert of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s 2016-2017 season Friday morning at Music Hall.

It was a program of debuts and premieres, including Prokofiev’s supremely (and deliberately) challenging Piano Concerto No. 2 and the Bacchus et Ariane Suite No, 2 by Albert Roussel.

Schubert, Mahler Thrill at the CSO

Tue, 25 Apr 2017 11:44:49 PST

Saturday’s Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra program at the Taft Theater was drawn from among the earliest and latest works of two great composers, Franz Schubert and Gustav Mahler.
Schubert’s Symphony No. 4 in C Minor was written when the composer was 19. Mahler’s “Das Lied von Der Erde” (“The Song of the Earth”) was completed in 1909, two years before his death.
As CSO music director Louis Langrée noted before opening the concert, neither composer ever heard his work performed.

Perlman, Dvořák, CSO Thrill at the Taft

Fri, 21 Apr 2017 13:45:54 PST

Itzhak Perlman

It is always a special occasion when violinist Itzhak Perlman performs with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. It was no different when the legendary artist made his 11th appearance with the CSO April 18 at the Taft Theater in Cincinnati. He performed Max Bruch's Violin Concerto with the CSO led by Louis Langrée.

On His Way

Wed, 22 Mar 2017 15:36:00 PST

John Humphrey

Tenor John Humphrey, 26, of Cincinnati, Ohio heads to Berlin this summer to pursue his career. A native of St. Paul, Minnesota, with a masters degree from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Humphrey calls art "human expression at its deepest level."

Songs Fill the Air at Linton Music Series

Tue, 28 Feb 2017 12:51:16 PST

The sweet sound of song and an exciting new duo graced the Linton Chamber Music Series Sunday afternoon (Feb. 26) at First Unitarian Church in Avondale. The pianist was Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra music director Louis Langrée, in his first public performance as a pianist in over 20 years. Better known as music director of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Langrée performed art songs, from Schumann and Brahms to Debussy and Duparc, with mezzo-soprano Kelley O'Connor.

Wow! Spells 2017 Constella Festival

Fri, 18 Nov 2016 12:41:13 PST

The Constella Festival, always a choice event in Cincinnati, promises an exciting season in March 2017, with everything from piano to opera, film to bandoneon.

CSO Performs Rare, All-Baroque Program

Mon, 14 Nov 2016 14:38:18 PST

Baroque programs are seldom heard on Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra concerts, perhaps because of its over-size performance space in 3,400-seat Music Hall. The opportunity to perform in a more intimate environment while Music Hall is being renovated, 2700-seat Taft Theater in downtown Cincinnati, allowed for such an event Nov. 11, with instrumental works by Bach and Handel.

Ma and CSO Brilliant in Dvorak and Brahms

Sat, 29 Oct 2016 16:53:13 PST

Guest artist Yo-Yo Ma, cello, and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in Brahms Second Symphony, led by music director Louis Langrée, filled the Taft Theatre in downtown Cincinnati with beauty in Dvorak's Cello Concerto and the Second Symphony by Johannes Brahms Oct. 28. Leading the CSO with beauty and command was CSO music director Louis Langrée

Ma and CSO Brilliant in Dvorak and Brahms

Sat, 29 Oct 2016 16:53:13 PST

CSO's Debussy and Fauré Shine

Tue, 04 Oct 2016 00:11:06 PST

Saturday night’s Cincinnati Symphony concert at the Taft Theatre had a French accent. There was music by Debussy, his Prelude à l'apres-midi d’un faune (Prelude to “The Afternoon of a Faun”) and “Nocturnes” plus, the centerpiece of the program, Gabriel Fauré’s Incidental Music for Pelleas et Mélisande, Op. 80 (1898, orchestrated by Charles Koechlin).

Cincinnati Symphony on the Road Again

Mon, 12 Sep 2016 16:31:55 PST

See this article by Janelle Gelfand of the Cincinnati Enquirer about 2017 tours by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

Chamber Orchestra's Summermusik 2014 Opens on a High Note

Sun, 28 Aug 2016 15:17:17 PST

Check out this review of the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra's opening concert of Summermusik 2014 by the Cincinnati Enquirer's Janelle Gelfand. http://www.cincinnati.com/story/entertainment/2016/08/28/saxophone-sensation-heats-up-chamber-orchestra/89500928/

Conlon Closes His Final May Festival as Music Director

Mon, 30 May 2016 11:43:05 PST

It was with joy -- and not a little sadness -- that James Conlon, music director of the Cincinnati May Festival for 37 years, led his final May Festival May 28 at Music Hall. He chose Mendelssohn's "Elijah," a fixture through the Festival's 143 years, as his summary event.

May Festival's "Otello" Soars

Mon, 23 May 2016 15:20:56 PST

If the performers and the venue are right, concert opera can be as compelling as the staged variety. So it was at Music Hall in Cincinnati with Verdi's "Otello," performed May 21 at the Cincinnati May Festival. James Conlon, in his final season as music director of the annual event, led a sterling cast with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, May Festival Chorus and Cincinnati Children's Choir.

Mozart Bright Beginning for 2016 Cincinnati May Festival

Sun, 22 May 2016 13:13:26 PST

The 2016 Cincinnati May Festival opened with Mozart in what will be an... all-Mozart festival. On the podium was May Festival music director James Conlon.

James Conlon and the Cincinnati May Festival

Sat, 21 May 2016 13:35:15 PST

James Conlon

James Conlon has been music director of the Cincinnati May Festival for 37 years, the longest tenure in the festival's 143-yeat history. Conlon, who retires from the post this year, leaves a distinguished legacy marked by many festival highlights and numerous firsts.