by Daniel Hathaway
Some 1,200 patrons gathered at Severance Hall on Friday evening, March 17 to hear details of The Cleveland Orchestra’s 100th-anniversary season in 2017-2018. The evening began with a sumptuous reception in the lobbies accompanied by string music from members of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra playing alongside Cleveland Orchestra musicians.
Moving to the main auditorium, the crowd heard remarks from executive director André Gremillet and newly-elected Musical Arts Association president Richard K. Smucker, and reflections from Orchestra musicians Massimo La Rosa, Martha Baldwin, and Joshua Smith on their experiences. Three videos related the history of the Orchestra and its relationship to the community.
Elegantly introduced by COYO principal bass Redd Ingram, music director Franz Welser-Möst gave the audience a charmingly informal introduction to the Centennial Season, full of dry humor and personal anecdotes.
Massimo La Rosa, Martha Baldwin, and Joshua Smith.
He spoke about the Orchestra’s commitment to education and young audiences, and gave a philosophical backstory to mini-series in the 2017-2018 lineup like “The Ecstasy of Tristan and Isolde” and “The Prometheus Project.” Welser-Möst also spoke about his special relationship with the Orchestra and the unique quality of its Cleveland audience — referring to the community as perhaps one of the most sophisticated on the planet.
Redd Ingram.
Then he said, “It’s time to party,” inviting the audience to enjoy champagne, desserts, and music from the Cleveland Bluegrass Orchestra, made up of TCO members Trina Struble (fiddle), Mark Dumm (banjo), Jeffrey Zehngut (mandolin), Henry Peyrebrune (guitar), and Derek Zadinsky (bass) — all but Zadinsky taking up instruments they don’t normally perform on during their day jobs.
Franz Welser-Möst discusses The Prometheus Project.
Highlights of the 100th-anniversary season include the revival of Janáček’s The Cunning Little Vixen; Haydn’s oratorio The Seasons with soprano Golda Schultz, tenor
Maximilian Schmitt, and baritone Thomas Hampson; a full concert performance of Wagner’s Tristan and Isolde featuring tenor Gerhard Siegel and soprano Nina Stemme; Messiaen’s Turangalîla-Symphonie; and all nine of Beethoven’s Symphonies.
The distinguished list of guest conductors will include (in order of appearance) Vladimir Ashkenazy, Nicholas McGegan, Giancarlo Guerrero, Fabio Luisi, music director laureate Christoph von Dohnányi, Bernard Labadie, Charles Dutoit, Nikolaj Znaider, Michael Tilson Thomas, Alan Gilbert, Stéphane Denève, and Jakub Hrůša.
Among the instrumental soloists will be pianists Emanuel Ax, Marc-André Hamelin, Jonathan Biss, Richard Goode, Mitsuko Uchida, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Yefim Bronfman, and Daniil Trifonov, violinists Isabelle Faust and Sergey Khachatryan, cellist Alisa Weilerstein, harpsichordist Jory Vinikour, organist Paul Jacobs, and ondes Martenot player Cynthia Millar.
New works include the Cleveland premieres of Johannes Maria Staud’s Stromab, a new piano concerto by Salvatore Sciarrino, Julian Anderson’s Incantesimi, and Stephen Paulus’s Grand Concerto for Organ and Orchestra.
The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus and Children’s Chorus will take part in Janáček’s The Cunning Little Vixen, and COC will be featured in Haydn’s The Seasons, Ravel’s Daphnis and Chloé, works by Gabrieli, Bach’s Cantata, BWV 170, and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. The men of the chorus will participate in Wagner’s Tristan and Isolde.
The complete schedule follows:
Saturday, September 23, 2017 at 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 24, 2017 at 3:00 p.m.
Tuesday, September 26, 2017 at 7:30 p.m.
The Cleveland Orchestra
Cleveland Orchestra Chorus
Cleveland Orchestra Children’s Chorus
Franz Welser-Möst, conductor
JANÁČEK The Cunning Little Vixen
Opera with digital animation
(Sung in Czech with English supertitles)
Martina Janková, soprano (Vixen)
Jennifer Johnson Cano, mezzo-soprano (Fox)
Alan Held, baritone (Forester)
Andrew Foster-Williams, bass-baritone (Harašta)
David Cangelosi, tenor (Schoolmaster/ Mosquito)
Dashon Burton, bass-baritone (Parson/Badger)
Marian Vogel, soprano (Chief Hen/Mrs. Pásek/Blue Jay)
Sandra Ross, mezzo-soprano (Forester’s Wife/Woodpecker)
Daryl Freedman, mezzo-soprano (Lapák) – Cleveland Orchestra debut
Clarissa Lyons, mezzo-soprano (Rooster/Owl) – Cleveland Orchestra debut
Brian Keith Johnson, baritone (Pásek)
Miranda Scholl, soprano (Franzl/Grasshopper)
Production by Yuval Sharon
Animation by Walter Robot Studios – Bill Barminski and Christopher Louie
Projection and Lighting Design by Jason Thompson
Costume Design and Makeup by Ann Closs-Farley
Mask Design by Cristina Waltz
Thursday, September 28, 2017 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, September 30, 2017 at 8:00 p.m.
The Cleveland Orchestra
Franz Welser-Möst conductor
BEETHOVEN Quartet No. 15 in a minor, Op. 132 (adapted for string orchestra)
STRAVINSKY The Rite of Spring [Le sacre du printemps]
Friday, September 29, 2017 at 11:00 a.m.
The Cleveland Orchestra
Franz Welser-Möst conductor
BEETHOVEN Quartet No. 15 in a minor, Op. 132 (adapted for string orchestra)
BEETHOVEN Leonore Overture No. 3
Thursday, October 5, 2017 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, October 6, 2017 at 8:00 p.m.
The Cleveland Orchestra
Franz Welser-Möst, conductor
MAHLER Symphony No. 6 (“Tragic”)
Gala: Saturday, October 7, 2017 at 7:00 p.m.
The Cleveland Orchestra
Franz Welser-Möst, conductor
VERDI Ballet Music from Don Carlo
RESPIGHI The Birds
STRAUSS JR. Rosen aus dem Süden (Roses from the South)
STRAUSS The Carnival of Venice, Fantasy, Opus 126
TCHAIKOVSKY Capriccio Italien
Friday, November 3, 2017 at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 4, 2017 at 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 5, 2017 at 3:00 p.m.
The Cleveland Orchestra
Vladimir Ashkenazy, conductor
Emanuel Ax, piano
ELGAR Serenade in E minor for String Orchestra
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 1
ELGAR Enigma Variations (Variations on an Original Theme)
Thursday, November 9, 2017 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, November 10, 2017 at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 11, 2017 at 8:00 p.m.
The Cleveland Orchestra
William Preucil, leader and violin
VIVALDI Violin Concerto in E minor (“Il Favorito”)
HAYDN Symphony No. 88
MENDELSSOHN Symphony No. 3 (“Scottish”)
Friday, November 17, 2017 at 11:00 a.m.
The Cleveland Orchestra
Nicholas McGegan, conductor
RAMEAU Suite from Dardanus
GLUCK Suite from Don Juan
MOZART Symphony No. 36 (“Linz”)
Friday, November 17, 2017 at 7:00 p.m.
The Cleveland Orchestra
Nicholas McGegan, conductor
Marc-André Hamelin, piano
RAMEAU Suite from Dardanus
MOZART Piano Concerto No. 9 (“Jeunehomme”)
MOZART Symphony No. 36 (“Linz”)
Saturday, November 18, 2017 at 8:00 p.m.
The Cleveland Orchestra
Nicholas McGegan, conductor
Marc-André Hamelin, piano
RAMEAU Suite from Dardanus
MOZART Piano Concerto No. 9 (“Jeunehomme”)
GLUCK Suite from Don Juan
MOZART Symphony No. 36 (“Linz”)
Friday, November 24, 2017 at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 25, 2017 at 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 26, 2017 at 3:00 p.m.
The Cleveland Orchestra
Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor
Paul Jacobs, organ
COPLAND El Salón México
PAULUS Grand Concerto for Organ and Orchestra
TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 4
Thursday, November 30, 2017 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 2, 2017 at 8:00 p.m.
The Cleveland Orchestra
Fabio Luisi, conductor
Jonathan Biss, piano
SCIARRINO New work
BRUCKNER Symphony No. 4 (“Romantic”)
Thursday, December 7, 2017 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, December 8, 2017 at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 9, 2017 at 8:00 p.m.
The Cleveland Orchestra
Christoph von Dohnányi, conductor
Richard Goode, piano
ANDERSON Incantesimi
MOZART Piano Concerto No. 18 (“Paradis”)
BRAHMS Symphony No. 1
Thursday, January 11, 2018 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, January 12, 2018 at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, January 13, 2018 at 8:00 p.m.
The Cleveland Orchestra
Franz Welser-Möst, conductor
STAUD Stromab
MAHLER Symphony No. 9
Thursday, January 18, 2018 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, January 20, 2018 at 8:00 p.m.
The Cleveland Orchestra
Franz Welser-Möst, conductor
Golda Schultz, soprano – Cleveland Orchestra debut
Maximilian Schmitt, tenor
Thomas Hampson, baritone
Cleveland Orchestra Chorus
HAYDN The Seasons [Die Jahreszeiten]
Friday, January 19, 2018 at 7:00 p.m.
The Cleveland Orchestra
Franz Welser-Möst, conductor
BEETHOVEN Overture to The Creatures of Prometheus
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 1
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 3 (“Eroica”)
Thursday, February 8, 2018 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, February 9, 2018 at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 10, 2018 at 8:00 p.m.
The Cleveland Orchestra
Mitsuko Uchida, conductor and piano
William Preucil, concertmaster and leader
MOZART Piano Concerto No. 5
HANDEL Selections from Water Music
MOZART Piano Concerto No. 27
Thursday, February 15, 2018 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, February 16, 2018 at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 17, 2018 at 8:00 p.m.
The Cleveland Orchestra
Bernard Labadie, conductor
Isabelle Faust, violin
RIGEL Symphony No. 4
MENDELSSOHN Violin Concerto
MOZART Symphony No. 40
Friday, February 16, 2018 at 11:00 a.m.
The Cleveland Orchestra
Bernard Labadie, conductor
Isabelle Faust, violin
MENDELSSOHN Violin Concerto
MOZART Symphony No. 40
Thursday, February 22, 2018 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, February 23, 2018 at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 24, 2018 at 8:00 p.m.
The Cleveland Orchestra
Charles Dutoit, conductor
Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano
Cleveland Orchestra Chorus
RAVEL Suite from Ma Mère l’Oye [Mother Goose]
RAVEL Piano Concerto for the Left Hand
RAVEL Daphnis and Chloé (complete ballet music)
Thursday, March 1, 2018 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 3, 2018 at 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 4, 2018 at 3:00 p.m.
The Cleveland Orchestra
Nikolaj Znaider, conductor
Yefim Bronfman, piano
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 5 (“Emperor”)
ELGAR Symphony No. 2
Friday, March 2, 2018 at 11:00 a.m.
The Cleveland Orchestra
Nikolaj Znaider, conductor
ELGAR Symphony No. 2
Thursday, March 8, 2018 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, March 9, 2018 at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 10, 2018 at 8:00 p.m.
The Cleveland Orchestra
Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor
Daniil Trifonov, piano
STRAVINSKY Scènes de ballet
PROKOFIEV Piano Concerto No. 2
TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 6 (“Pathétique”)
Thursday, March 15, 2018 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 17, 2018 at 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 18, 2018 at 3:00 p.m.
The Cleveland Orchestra
Alan Gilbert, conductor
Alisa Weilerstein, cello
DVOŘÁK The Watersprite
BARBER Cello Concerto
DVOŘÁK Symphony No. 8
Friday, March 16, 2018 at 11:00 a.m.
The Cleveland Orchestra
Alan Gilbert, conductor
Alisa Weilerstein, cello
BARBER Cello Concerto
DVOŘÁK Symphony No. 8
Thursday, March 22, 2018 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 24 2018 at 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 25, 2018 at 3:00 p.m.
The Cleveland Orchestra
Stéphane Denève, conductor
Jory Vinikour, harpsichord
POULENC Concert champêtre (Concerto for Harpsichord)
RACHMANINOFF Symphony No. 2
Friday, March 23, 2018 at 7:00 p.m.
The Cleveland Orchestra
Stéphane Denève, conductor
RACHMANINOFF Symphony No. 2
Thursday, April 5, 2018 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 7, 2018 at 8:00 p.m.
The Cleveland Orchestra
Jakub Hrůša, conductor
Sergey Khachatryan, violin
BRAHMS Violin Concerto
SUK Symphony No. 2 (“Asrael”)
Thursday, April 12, 2018 at 7:30 p.m.
The Cleveland Orchestra
Franz Welser-Möst, conductor
BEETHOVEN Overture to Coriolan
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 8
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 5
Friday, April 13, 2018 at 11:00 a.m.
The Cleveland Orchestra
Franz Welser-Möst, conductor
WAGNER Prelude and Liebestod from Tristan and Isolde
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 3 (“Eroica”)
Saturday, April 21, 2018 at 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, April 26, 2018 at 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 29, 2018 at 3:00 p.m.
The Cleveland Orchestra
Men of the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus
Franz Welser-Möst, conductor
WAGNER Tristan and Isolde (opera in concert, sung in German, with English supertitles))
Gerhard Siegel, tenor (Tristan)
Nina Stemme, soprano (Isolde)
Okka von der Damerau, mezzo-soprano (Brangäne)
Ain Anger, bass (King Marke)
Markus Eiche, baritone (Kurwenal)
Sean Michael Plumb, baritone (Melot)
Matthew Plenk, tenor (Young Sailor/Shepherd)
Wednesday, April 25, 2018 at 8:00 p.m.
The Cleveland Orchestra
Franz Welser-Möst, conductor
Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano
Cynthia Millar, ondes Martenot
MESSIAEN Turangalîla-Symphonie for Piano, Ondes Martenot, and Orchestra
Saturday, April 28, 2018 at 8:00 p.m.
The Cleveland Orchestra
Franz Welser-Möst, conductor
Iestyn Davies, countertenor
Paul Jacobs, organ
Cleveland Orchestra Chorus
GABRIELI and others Selected choral and brass works
J.S. BACH Cantata No. 170 (“Vergnügte Ruh’, beliebte Seelenlust”)
LISZT Fantasy and Fugue on the chorale “Ad nos, ad salutarem undam” (for solo organ)
THE PROMETHEUS PROJECT
Thursday, May 10, 2018 at 7:30 p.m.
The Cleveland Orchestra
Franz Welser-Möst, conductor
BEETHOVEN Overture to The Creatures of Prometheus
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 1
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 3 (“Eroica”)
Friday, May 11, 2018 at 8:00 p.m.
The Cleveland Orchestra
Franz Welser-Möst, conductor
BEETHOVEN Overture to Egmont
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 4
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 7
Saturday, May 12, 2018 at 8:00 p.m.
The Cleveland Orchestra
Franz Welser-Möst, conductor
BEETHOVEN Overture to Coriolan
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 8
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 5
Sunday, May 13, 2018 at 3:00 p.m.
The Cleveland Orchestra
Franz Welser-Möst, conductor
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 6 (“Pastoral”)
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 2
BEETHOVEN Leonore Overture No. 3
Thursday, May 17, 2018 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, May 18, 2018 at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 19, 2018 at 8:00 p.m.
The Cleveland Orchestra
Franz Welser-Möst, conductor
Erin Wall, soprano
Jennifer Johnston, mezzo-soprano
Norbert Ernst, tenor
Dashon Burton, bass-baritone
Cleveland Orchestra Chorus
BEETHOVEN Große Fuge (for string orchestra)
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 9 (“Choral”)
Photos by Roger Mastroianni courtesy of The Cleveland Orchestra.
Published on ClevelandClassical.com March 21, 2017.
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