Johann Strauss Sr. Archives - Cleveland Classical

DIARY: Monday, September 25, 2023

September 25, 2023 by Jarrett Hoffman

by Jarrett Hoffman

IN THIS EDITION:

•Today: Poiesis Quartet (pictured) with mezzo-soprano Nancy Maultsby in Rocky River

•Announcements: OLO’s 2024 repertory, and honors for Tri-C JazzFest Academy vocalist Ava Preston and Assembly for the Arts president and CEO Jeremy Johnson

•Interesting reads: new Milwaukee Symphony musicians’ contract with provisions to promote inclusivity and diversity in auditions, and a nonprofit aiming to bring free babysitting to arts institutions

•Almanac: Johann Strauss Sr., Colin Davis, and Glenn Gould, including a “conductorial tiff” or two

HAPPENING TODAY:

At 7:30 pm at West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church, the Rocky River Chamber Music Society presents the Poiesis Quartet with mezzo-soprano Nancy Maultsby in a program that includes a new work by Richard Stout inspired by the letters of Willa Cather. It’s free and will also be livestreamed. Read Mike Telin’s recent interview with Stout here.

[Read more…]

Cleveland Orchestra’s holiday concerts return with plenty of festive cheer (Dec. 11)

by Stephanie Manning

This article was originally published on Cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio — If the twinkling lights, leafy green garlands and festive poinsettias didn’t already clue you in, the holidays have arrived at Severance Music Center. ‘Tis the season for annual traditions — including The Cleveland Orchestra’s holiday concerts, which began on Wednesday evening.

Running through December 22, the programs feature plenty of seasonal classics plus some potential new favorites. The first performance proved that this mix is a delightful recipe for festive cheer.

“Look at you all, out on a school night!” conductor Sarah Hicks proclaimed joyfully from the podium. Just as many concertgoers donned red outfits to get into the spirit, Mandel Concert Hall was also decked out with decorations and stage lighting effects.

[Read on…]

Oberlin Conservatory convincingly tells Omar’s story (Dec. 8)

by Stephanie Manning

The Cleveland premiere of Rhiannon Giddens’ and Michael Abels’ Pultizer Prize-winning opera Omar on December 8 at the Maltz Performing Arts Center proved that concert productions of opera can succeed without sets, elaborate costumes and extensive staging. Indeed, the Oberlin Conservatory presentation offered more than enough to keep the audience in the crowded house enthralled.

The Opera, which was also presented at Oberlin’s Finney Chapel two days earlier, is based on the 1831 autobiography of Muslim scholar Omar ibn Said, the only such work written by an enslaved person during their enslavement, and the only such document written in Arabic.

Rhiannon Giddens’ brilliant libretto chronicles the life of ibn Said, beginning in present-day Senegal and following him through his capture, journey via the Middle Passage, and enslavement in North and South Carolina. [Read on…]

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