Archives for July 2011

Cleveland International Piano Competition: The 26 Contestants

July 26, 2011 by Special to ClevelandClassical.com

by Daniel Hathaway

When the contestants for the 2011 Cleveland International Piano Competion assemble for the first time on Tuesday, July 26 to draw lots for their performance order, they’ll represent a slightly smaller pool of talent than in 2009 (26 now, 33 then) but they’ll also be slightly older and more experienced.

CIPC is open to pianists between the age of 18 and 30 by a certain cutoff date. Two years ago, Martina Filjak of Croatia and Dmitri Levkovich of Canada (pictured front and right) had both turned thirty when the contest began. Experience must count, as the two eventually won first and second place once all those thousands of notes had faded away.

Two years ago, the youngest pianist was 19. There were five 20-year olds, four each were 25 and 26, three each were 21, 22 and 24, and pairs of competitors were 23, 27, 28 and 29. [Read more…]

2011 Cleveland International Piano Competition begins July 27

July 25, 2011 by Special to ClevelandClassical.com

by Daniel Hathaway

On Tuesday, July 26, twenty-seven young pianists will draw for positions in the 2011 Cleveland International Piano Competition, and begin a ten-day journey which — for the last four pianists left standing — will end with two days of final concerto rounds at Severance Hall with The Cleveland Orchestra followed by the crowning of winners.

The stakes are high: the top award, the Mixon First Prize, comes with $50,000 in cash, a New York debut recital at Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall, and two years of management services. Second, third and fourth prizes of $25,000, $15,000 and $10,000 will also be awarded at the end of the second Severance Hall round on Saturday, August 6, and there are a slew of boutique awards for excellence in the performance of Baroque, contemporary, American and Russian music, and the compositions of Beethoven, Chopin and Mozart. The audience gets to vote as well: an audience prize will be given to the popular favorite in the final round, and the junior jury chooses its own prize winner. [Read more…]

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Apollo’s Fire delights in second decade of Praetorius’ Christmas Vespers (Dec. 18)

by Peter Feher

The German composer Michael Praetorius never had a Christmas hit on the level of, say, O Tannenbaum — an early version of which, circa 1600, is attributed to his contemporary Melchior Franck.

But in the 21st century, Praetorius has found seasonal success thanks to a team of savvy producers. Apollo’s Fire and artistic director Jeannette Sorrell have championed the composer for two decades now, fashioning his music into an enduring, historically informed holiday program. Christmas Vespers isn’t a single piece from the Praetorius catalog but rather a unique “best of” compilation that Cleveland’s Baroque orchestra unveiled in 2005 and last presented in 2015.

Who says a liturgical service can’t be popular? Apollo’s Fire once again drew sold-out crowds to church venues across Northeast Ohio with these concerts, including a packed Trinity Cathedral on Thursday evening, December 18. And for anyone who still can’t get enough Praetorius, the ensemble plans to release a video recording of the 2025 Trinity performances — not instead of, but in addition to, the group’s 2007 CD. [Read on…]

Burning River Brass opens Arts Renaissance Tremont season (Dec. 19)

by Kevin McLaughlin

Presented by Arts Renaissance Tremont, Burning River Brass’s annual Holiday Spectacular filled Pilgrim Congregational Church on Friday evening, December 19.

The handsome late 19th-century sanctuary rang with brass, and the season arrived. Many in the audience were regulars, a familiarity that showed in the musicians’ ease onstage — the kind of exchange that gives these concerts an enduring appeal.

Trumpeter Heather Zweifel helped set the tone with spoken introductions that were relaxed, conversational, and disarming. More than an emcee, she shaped the evening’s pace and sense of welcome, guiding listeners through the program with an ease that mirrored the ensemble’s assured playing.

Introductions revealed the players’ far-flung origins — New York, Chicago, New Orleans, Michigan, anchored by a strong Cleveland core — but the playing suggested long acquaintance. [Read on…]

Christmas with Cantus at Tuesday Musical (Nov. 30)

by Peter Feher

Tuesday Musical gave Akron audiences a generous Christmas gift this year. The presenter tied three holiday classics together in one sumptuous concert on Sunday afternoon, November 30, at E.J. Thomas Hall. First up was the story of The Velveteen Rabbit, followed by a quick waltz through The Nutcracker and a ride on The Polar Express.

Delightfully, this trio of tales was recounted with drama and poise — not by any actors or dancers but by the eight members of the all-male a cappella ensemble Cantus. The group, based in Minnesota and now in its fourth decade, is once again touring the country with a polished, compact production of carols, pop tunes, and of course Tchaikovsky.

[Read on…]

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Archives for July 2011

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