by Daniel Hathaway
Pivoting from its customary chamber orchestra concerts, last September CityMusic Cleveland announced a series of chamber music programs curated by members of the ensemble celebrating the centenary of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which decreed that “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.”
Initially offered as live, in-person events for a reduced audience of 100 at the Shrine Church of St. Stanislaus, the series went online after the first two programs due to the progress of the pandemic. Subsequent concerts have been streamed from the Maltz Performing Arts Center.
Beginning this week, CityMusic will present pairs of performances — one in-person concert at St. Stan’s, followed by a second performance of the same program streamed from the Maltz.
Executive director Eugenia Strauss noted in a press release that the chamber music format will be continued in 2021-2022, when seven groups will be invited to build programs around the themes of peace, equality, and justice, drawing largely on works by female composers and including commissioned pieces. “We hope to return to present orchestral programs in the 22-23 season,” Strauss wrote. [Read more…]