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Cheers, gasps, and laughter fill Blossom as “Cirque Goes Broadway” (Aug. 31)

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by Stephanie Manning

This article was originally published on Cleveland.com.

CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio — “Cirque Goes Broadway” takes its song titles literally.

Acrobats soar high above the stage during “Defying Gravity.” A vocalist belts “I must not fall” while a contortionist carefully balances on one hand. And the opening orchestral number, “That’s Entertainment!” lets the audience know what it’s in for.

On August 31, conductor Lucas Waldin led the Akron Symphony Orchestra at Blossom Music Center in an evening of Broadway hits combined with acrobatics from the Big Top.

[Read more…]

Cleveland Orchestra weathers the storm with Tchaikovsky’s Fifth at Blossom (Aug. 17)

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by Stephanie Manning

This article was originally published on Cleveland.com.

CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio — The Cleveland Orchestra hasn’t had much luck with the weather lately.

Last week’s performance with John Legend started late, got put on pause, and was eventually canceled after strong storms moved over Blossom Music Center. August 17 presented another uncertain forecast, but the Orchestra was determined to forge ahead if possible. And this time, they weathered the storm.

The turbulent weather — which delayed the concert by 30 minutes — made the marquee work feel especially fitting for the occasion. Written during a tempestuous period in Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s life, his Symphony No. 5 explores the composer’s inner turmoil and his struggles against the forces of Fate.

[Read more…]

DIARY: Weekend, August 16-18, 2024

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by Stephanie Manning

HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND:

Continuing to preview their European tour, The Cleveland Orchestra presents a program anchored by Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony at Blossom Music Center (Saturday at 7:00 pm). Music director Franz Welser-Möst leads, and pianist Víkingur Ólafsson (pictured) joins for Robert Schumann’s Piano Concerto. Tickets available online.

This is a sneak peak at the group’s programs on tour — Ólafsson will appear with them again in Finland, Switzerland, Slovakia, and Austria.

For details on this and all other classical events, visit our Concert Listings.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

The Canton Symphony Chorus has announced audition openings starting September 9. They rehearse Monday evenings and vocalists of all skill levels are welcome (though they must have graduated from at least high school). Those interested can fill out the audition form here.

On September 14, Severance Music Center will host its annual Hispanic Heritage Month concert. Sammy DeLeon y su Orquesta returns from last year, with Mariachi Sirenas as the opening act. The event is free but does require general admission tickets — reserve them here. [Read more…]

The Concert Truck brings CIPC talent to Edgewater Beach (July 23)

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by Stephanie Manning

’Tis the season for outdoor concerts, and after a beautifully mild weather pattern swept in last weekend, this may be one of the best weeks this year to enjoy them. In other words: July 23 was the perfect day for a concert on the beach.

To be fair, the Concert Truck wasn’t actually on the sand at Edgewater Beach, but it was close — parked right outside the Beach House and facing the water. Beachgoers and locals gathered on a bright sunny day for the lunchtime concert, presented by the Cleveland International Piano Competition. [Read more…]

Kent Blossom closes out Faculty Concert Series with two classics (July 17)

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by Stephanie Manning

With a program of only two pieces, both of them staples in chamber music repertoire, creating the conditions for a standout performance might be more difficult than usual. But the musicians in Kent Blossom Music Festival’s final entry in this year’s Faculty Concert Series knew what to do.

“Friendship is a requirement to open up and enjoy this piece,” clarinetist Afendi Yusuf said of the opener, Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet — though this sentiment could equally apply to Schubert’s Octet that followed. The July 17 performance in Kent State University’s Ludwig Recital Hall proved that the group had the friendship element in spades. [Read more…]

Leslie Odom Jr. blends jazz, R&B, and Broadway with The Cleveland Orchestra at Blossom (July 21)

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This article was originally published on Cleveland.com

by Stephanie Manning | ClevelandClassical.com

CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio — When Leslie Odom Jr. emerged at Blossom Music Center midway through “Fly Me To The Moon,” which he had started offstage, the ensuing medley immediately set the tone for the evening. Preferring to let his vocals do all the talking, on Sunday, July 21, the singer’s concert with The Cleveland Orchestra was two almost-nonstop hours of musical delight.

Odom may be best-known for his Broadway pursuits, particularly for originating the role of Aaron Burr in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s smash-hit Hamilton. But he’s a true, multi-hyphenated artist who has made forays into Hollywood, television, and solo recordings. His Blossom setlist attested to his versatility, bringing together arrangements of jazz standards, pop hits, and his original material.

[Read more…]

DIARY: Weekend, July 19-21, 2024

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by Stephanie Manning

IN THIS EDITION:

• A packed three days of concerts awaits, many of them free and/or outdoors

• An upcoming travel advisory for some Blossom attendees

• The almanac celebrates two American composers and two landmark musical inventions

HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND:

It’s a double performance weekend at Blossom for The Cleveland Orchestra. On Saturday at 7:00, they welcome conductor Antonello Manacorda and soprano Véronique Gens (pictured, above) for a program featuring Beethoven’s Seventh (read more here). And on Sunday at 7:00, Hamilton star Leslie Odom, Jr. joins conductor Edwin Outwater for a program of Broadway and pop selections (read more here). Tickets available online.

The Kent Blossom Music Festival features their young artists in four free chamber concerts at Ludwig Recital Hall — 2:00 and 7:30 p.m. on both Friday and Sunday. They’ll also perform Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at Hudson Meadows Retirement Community.

You can catch the latest Ohio Light Opera production, The Arcadians, on Sunday at 2:00 p.m at The College of Wooster. Tickets available online. Or, more chances to check out the already-running shows:

• Friday: The Count of Luxembourg (2:00 p.m., pictured) or The Gondoliers (7:30 p.m.)

• Saturday: The Sound of Music (2:00 p.m.) or Guys and Dolls (7:30 p.m.)

Feeling inspired by nature? Apollo’s Fire continues their performances of “Vivaldi’s Four Seasons Rediscovered” at Holden Arboretum in Kirtland. Saturday at 4:00 & 7:00 p.m. and Sunday at 3:00 p.m. Tickets available online.

For piano fans, the weather looks nice for two free outdoor offerings: Piano Cleveland Live in the Van Aken district (6:30 p.m. Friday with Martín García García and jazz musicians), and the CIPC Concert Truck featuring the Competition’s Quarter-Finalists in Playhouse Square (Sunday, 3:00 p.m.).

Plus, Oberlin faculty Robert Shannon and Haewon Song (pictured, left) will cap off the weekend with a Sunday night recital for the Oberlin Piano Festival (7:30 p.m., Clonick Hall, free).

If your keyboard preference is a carillon, The McGaffin Carillon in University Circle will host Friday lunchtime (12:15 pm) and evening (7:00 p.m.) concerts featuring Keiran Cantilina. Both are free and will also be livestreamed here.

Last but not least, Unity Spiritual Center in Westlake presents a benefit concert — “Wizards of Acoustic Guitar”  — with fingerstyle guitarists Brian Henke and Shohei Toyoda on Friday at 7:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the door, but note that the venue expects it to sell out.

For details of all upcoming concerts, visit our Concert Listings page. [Read more…]

DIARY: Thursday, July 18, 2024

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by Stephanie Manning

HAPPENING TODAY:

The Ohio Light Opera opens their sixth and final show of the season, The Arcadians, at 2:00 p.m. this afternoon at Freedlander Theater at the College of Wooster. It will run three more times before the end of the month. Tickets available online.

July’s edition of The Cleveland Museum of Art’s Third Thursdays at Transformer Station begins at 7:00 p.m. Ideastream Public Media’s Bill O’Connell will host the Cleveland-based ensemble Opus 216 (pictured). This free event is already sold out.

Gearing up for the start of their 50th anniversary competition, the Cleveland International Piano Competition hosts a recital from their most recent (2021) Mixon First Prize Winner, Martín García García. The 7:00 p.m. event at Heights Theater is free, but reservations are required. Learn more about what’s in store with the CIPC this year in our recent feature here.

And if you feel like getting out into nature — the Canton Symphony’s Summer Serenades series hosts a woodwind quintet in Hartville’s Quail Hollow Park (6:30 p.m., free), while Apollo’s Fire presents the nature-themed “Vivaldi’s Four Seasons Rediscovered” in Kirtland’s Holden Arboretum (7:30 p.m., tickets available online.)

For details of upcoming concerts, visit our Concert Listings page. [Read more…]

Soprano Véronique Gens brings love of French music to Cleveland debut

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by Stephanie Manning

Véronique Gens feels a special connection to Hector Berlioz’s Les Nuits d’été, a piece she’s performed for decades all around the world. But the 30-minute song cycle isn’t an easy one, both in length and in character.

“It’s a difficult cycle for your mind and for your soul, because the text is so sad and so depressive,” the soprano said in a recent interview. “But it’s a beautiful cycle.”

I reached Gens by phone in France, while she was preparing for her final performance at this year’s Festival d’Aix-en-Provence. While the piece may not be very upbeat, Gens sounded very excited to make her debut with The Cleveland Orchestra. She will join them at Blossom Music Center on Saturday, July 20 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are available online. [Read more…]

Summers at Severance makes triumphant return (July 11)

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by Stephanie Manning

In between their already-packed schedule at Blossom Music Center, the musicians of The Cleveland Orchestra appeared at their usual venue — Severance Music Center — for an exciting offering on July 11. Returning after a five-year absence, the Summers at Severance series kicked off with a high-quality evening of Mandel Concert Hall debuts.

Conductor Oksana Lyniv, joining the Orchestra for the first time, brought a graceful precision and strong sense of tempo to the podium. The synergy between conductor and orchestra was evident from the opening piece, Leoš Janáček’s Suite from The Cunning Little Vixen, [Read more…]

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