Mark Perlman Archives - Cleveland Classical

Disaster Relief Symphony Orchestra to present benefit concert Nov. 19

November 14, 2017 by Mike Telin

by Mike Telin

On Sunday, November 19 at 3:00 pm at the Rocky River United Methodist Church, the Disaster Relief Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Mark Perlman, will present a benefit concert to raise money for hurricane relief and recovery and to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation.

The ad hoc ensemble will perform Otto Nicolai’s Ein Feste Burg Overture, J.S. Bach’s Violin Concerto in E with Ken Johnston as soloist, and Felix Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 5, “Reformation.” A freewill offering to support domestic disaster relief will be taken at the concert. Donations to the United Methodist Committee on Relief can be made online here.

“There are so many people who need assistance right now because of all the hurricanes, we thought we should do something to help,” bassist and concert organizer Ann Gilbert said during a telephone conversation. [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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