by  Daniel Hathaway

HAPPENING TODAY:

Two events are on the docket today, both at 7 pm.

Gearing up for their forthcoming European tour, Franz Welser-Möst and The Cleveland Orchestra will play two Austrian symphonies on the Summers at Severance series — Mozart’s 35th and Bruckner’s 4th. From August 26 through September 7, the Orchestra will play eight performances in six European cities: Berlin, Helsinki, Lucerne, Ansfelden, Bratislava, and Vienna.

And the Cleveland Museum of Art will present a Third Thursday at Transformer Station concert by the Aidan Plank Ensemble hosted by Ideastream Public Media radio personality Dan Polletta.

For details of these and other classical events, visit the ClevelandClassical.com Concert Listings.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

The Cleveland Orchestra has received a $5 million gift from The Kelvin and Eleanor Smith Foundation in support of the Kelvin Smith Family Chair held by Music Director Franz Welser-Möst.

[Read more…]

CLEVELAND INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION FINAL RANKINGS:

FIRST PLACE: Zijian Wei
SECOND PLACE: Evren Ozel
THIRD PLACE: Maxim Lando
FOURTH PLACE: Giuseppi Guarrera

Go to pianocleveland.org to view all prizes.

For details of classical events, visit the ClevelandClassical.com Concert Listings.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Due to continuing power and Internet outages, the Diary, Almanac, and Newsletter will return on Thursday.

 

by  Daniel Hathaway

HAPPENING TODAY:

This evening at 6:30, the Canton Symphony’s Summer Serenades brings a harp & flute duet to Fry Family Park in Magnolia, and at 7 pm, The Cleveland Orchestra presents an evening with John Legend (pictured) at Blossom. Anthony Parnther conducts (read a preview interview here).

For details of these and other classical events, visit the ClevelandClassicaal.com Concert Listings.

TODAY’S ALMANAC:

by Jarrett Hoffman

The Amati are one of the most important families of luthiers in the history of the violin, and on this date in 1684, the greatest instrument maker in that family, Nicola Amati, died in Cremona, Italy. [Read more…]

by  Daniel Hathaway

HAPPENING TODAY:

This evening at 7 pm, the Cleveland International Piano Competition continues with part one of its Salon Round. Giuseppe Guarrera (Italy) and Zijian Wei: (China) will each perform a 45-60 minute program in historic Glidden House on Ford Drive in University Circle. “In the grand tradition of salons, personal narratives and histories will be interspersed throughout the program.” Click here for ticket information.

For details of these and other classical events, visit the ClevelandClassicaal.com Concert Listings.

TODAY’S ALMANAC:

Czech-American composer Karel Husa was born in Prague on August 7, 1921. [Read more…]

by  Daniel Hathaway

HAPPENING TODAY:

This evening at 7 pm, the Cleveland International Piano Competition continues with part one of its Salon Round. Evren Ozel (USA) and Maxim Lando (USA) will each perform a 45-60 minute program in historic Glidden House on Ford Drive in University Circle. “In the grand tradition of salons, personal narratives and histories will be interspersed throughout the program.” Click here for ticket information.

For details of these and other classical events, visit the ClevelandClassicaal.com Concert Listings.

INTERESTING READS:

In a Facebook post yesterday, assistant principal oboist Jeffrey Rathbun offered an insight into The Cleveland Orchestra’s three performances of a Lord of the Rings film last weekend. [Read more…]

by  Daniel Hathaway

HAPPENING TODAY:

Following the Semi-Final round on Sunday afternoon, the jury announced the four finalists in the 2024 Cleveland International Piano Competition: Maxim Lando (USA), Evren Ozel (USA), Giuseppe Guarrera (Italy), and Zijian Wei (China).

They’ll undoubtedly be spending today practicing for the Salon Round on Tuesday and Wednesday at Glidden House, and the Final Round on Friday and Saturday at Severance Music Center with The Cleveland Orchestra.

Meanwhile, at 10 am, the competition jurors will coach piano students from around Northeast Ohio in master classes at The Music Settlement (free and open to the public).

For details of these and other classical events, visit the ClevelandClassicaal.com Concert Listings.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Cleveland Jazz Orchestra has announced its 40th Anniversary season at the Maltz Performing Arts Center, with subscriptions to go on sale August 9. [Read more…]

by  Daniel Hathaway

HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND

The Semi-Final Round of the Cleveland International Piano Competition continues this weekend in Reinberger Chamber Hall at Severance Music Center.

Six competitors will each play 25-30 minute solo recitals, followed by the performance of a trio of their choice with violinist Maria Ioudenitch and cellist Gabriel Martins. Attend in person or watch a live stream (tickets and details here).

Here is the schedule for the weekend sessions of the Semi-Finals:

Friday, August 2 at 7 PM:
Jonathan Mamora, (29, United States) & Zhu Wang (27, China) [Read more…]

by  Daniel Hathaway

HAPPENING TODAY: 

Following yesterday afternoon’s announcement of the eight pianists who survived the cut at the end of the Quarter-Final Round, the Cleveland International Piano Competition continues tonight at 7 pm in Reinberger Chamber Hall at Severance Music Center.

Two competitors — Maxim Lando (21, United States) and Antonio Chen Guang (29, China) will play 25-30 minute solo recitals, followed by the performance of a trio of their choice with violinist Maria Ioudenitch and cellist Gabriel Martins. Attend in person or watch a live stream (tickets and details here).

Here is the schedule for the other three sessions of the Semi-Finals:

Friday, August 2 at 7 PM:
Jonathan Mamora, (29, United States) & Zhu Wang (27, China)
Saturday, August 3 at 2 PM: 
Evren Ozel (25, United States) & Mirabelle Kajenjeri (26, France)
Sunday, August 4 at 2 PM:
Giuseppe Guarrera (32, Italy) & Zijian Wei (25, China) [Read more…]

by  Daniel Hathaway

HAPPENING TODAY: 

At Noon, Florence Mustric plays J.S. Bach on the von Beckerath organ in Trinity Lutheran Church in Ohio City.

The last session in the Quarter-Final Round of the Cleveland International Piano Competition will take place today at 2 pm in Reinberger Chamber Hall at Severance Music Center, when Yelaman Yernur, Mirabelle Kajenjeri, Giuseppe Guarrera, and Zijian Wei play 35 to 40-minute recitals of works of their choice. Following this session, the jury will announce the four pianists who will advance to the Semi-Finals.

And tonight at 7:30, the Cleveland Museum of Art’s City Stages will present Brazilian singer & multi-instrumentalist Bia Ferriera at Transformer Station.

IN MEMORIAM:

In a New York Times article posted from Berlin, Jeffrey Arlo Brown writes that “Wolfgang Rihm (pictured above), a composer whose forceful, shape-shifting output reinvigorated contemporary classical music, died on Saturday in Ettlingen, Germany. He was 72. [Read more…]