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CIM Opera: all smiles in L’Étoile (Nov. 17)

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by Stephanie Manning

A black box theater might not be the first-choice location for an opera — but with a clever creative team, a smaller production can still get big results. Audiences at the Westfield Studio Theater on November 17 know this firsthand thanks to the Cleveland Institute of Music Opera Theater’s scaled-down L’Étoile, which came wrapped in a bundle of laughs and topped with a ribbon of genuine heart.

It’s true that the Playhouse Square venue — the CIM company’s temporary home while their primary hall is under construction — wasn’t ideal. Interrupted sightlines, occasional volume disparities, and the lack of a proper curtain simply had to be par for the course. But artistic director JJ Hudson’s choice of a comedic opera, especially one that relies on spoken dialogue and physical comedy as heavily as this one by Emmanuel Chabrier, was the perfect decision. [Read more…]

Divas reign at Tri-C JazzFest (June 21 & 22)

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by Peter Feher

The divas didn’t have to share the stage at Tri-C JazzFest this year. After a 2023 lineup that saw star singers paired with other performers or as part of larger projects, this summer’s schedule put the spotlight back on solo acts.

Creative freedom reigned in headlining sets by Cécile McLorin Salvant and Ledisi — two very different artists who could only come together here, under the big tent that is jazz. Both vocalists have a singular sensibility that somewhat transcends the limits of genre, although that’s where the similarities end. [Read more…]

ARTEMIS with “Flying Home: A Trumpet Summit” at Tri-C JazzFest 2024 (June 22)

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by Max Newman

On the afternoon of June 22, the New York-based quintet ARTEMIS graced the stage at Tri-C JazzFest 2024 and did not disappoint. Filling the Mimi Ohio Theatre with mesmerizing sound, this was undoubtedly one of the most impressive performances of the festival this year.

The performance immediately followed “Flying Home: a Trumpet Summit,” which celebrated generations of Tri-C alumni. The blistering whirlwind of intricate soloing and grooving rhythms was the perfect lead-in to the groundbreaking sonic experimentation of the main act.

[Read more…]

Take 6 opens Tri-C JazzFest 2024 (June 20)

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by Max Newman

If there’s anything to be said about legendary acapella sextet Take 6, it’s that the group has most certainly still got it. This was apparent on the evening of June 20 as the ensemble took the stage at the Mimi Ohio Theatre at Playhouse Square. The concert was the perfect introduction to Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland 2024, with a timeless musical performance and an incredible level of energy to boot.

[Read more…]

45th Tri-C JazzFest comes to
Playhouse Square June 20-22

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by Jarrett Hoffman

The 45th annual Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland will be held in Playhouse Square from Thursday-Saturday, June 20-22. And as always, the schedule is stuffed full in the most wonderful way.

The centerpiece is the indoor lineup of national and international artists, but there are also the outdoor stages showcasing regional musicians as well as students. Not to mention the meet-the-artist talks, jam sessions, and all the activities aimed at kids — plus, speaking of a festival that is stuffed full, the cooking demonstrations and the array of food trucks.

I spoke to JazzFest director Terri Pontremoli to unpack everything in store. We began with the indoor lineup (tickets here), which kicks off on June 20 at 8:00 pm with the a cappella group Take Six, known for their blend of gospel, jazz, R&B, and pop. I noted to Pontremoli how their undeniably fun, charismatic style makes for a great opener — just as vocalist Ledisi, considering all the power and spirit in her voice and her stage presence, is the perfect closer (June 22 at 9:00 pm).

[Read more…]

PianoDays: music & comedy
with Igudesman & Joo

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by Jarrett Hoffman

My recent conversation with pianist Hyung-ki Joo began with some pushback — beginning when I said that it was exciting to talk to him. “Well, you don’t know that,” he joked. “You haven’t talked to me yet.”

A sound argument. So I explained that I was excited about the opportunity to speak to someone like him: a musician who is also a comedian.

He replied that although he was flattered, he and violinist Aleksey Igudesman — who together are Igudesman & Joo, a musical-comedic duo that will perform in Hanna Theatre at Playhouse Square on Thursday, July 28 at 7:30 pm as part of Piano Cleveland’s PianoDays festival — don’t really think of themselves as comedians.

[Read more…]

The Cleveland Pops: from Queen to Byron Stripling

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by Jarrett Hoffman

This weekend with the Cleveland Pops Orchestra is a case study in the breadth of sounds contained under the umbrella of “pops.”

On Friday, January 21 at 8:00 pm at Playhouse Square, that term means the music of a classic band outfitted in a mix of rock and orchestral clothes, as conductor Brent Havens, vocalist Tony Vincent, and a full rock band join the Pops to celebrate “The Music of Queen.”

And on Saturday, January 22 at 8:00 pm at Severance Music Center, it means the singular jazz stylings of a trumpeter/vocalist with plenty of virtuosity and charisma to spare, as showcased in “All that Jazz with Byron Stripling,” a program led by music director Carl Topilow. Get tickets for those events here and here, and read the Pops’ COVID-19 safety policies here.

That kind of variety is a big part of the job for both Topilow and the ensemble. “We’re fortunate,” the conductor (below) said in an interview on Zoom. “Piano, bass, drums, brass — they’re sort of the core of our orchestra, like the pitcher and catcher of a baseball team. And so many of them are experienced jazz players, which puts us at a huge advantage in concerts like these.”

[Read more…]

Cleveland Opera Theater moves to Playhouse Square with La Bohème (Sept. 13)

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by Daniel Hathaway

Puccini’s La Bohème was produced 598 times worldwide during the 2017-2018 season, making it the fourth most-performed title in the repertoire (trailing La traviata, Carmen, and The Magic Flute). It’s also the show that Cleveland Opera Theater chose for its move from venues like the Masonic Auditorium and the Maltz Performing Arts Center to the Ohio Theater, a more traditionally-outfitted house. On Friday, September 13, Scott Skiba’s clever production surrounded a fine cast with memorable scenic design by Matthew D. McCarren and projections by Brittany Merenda that brought a Parisian garret, the Café Momus, and a toll gate outside the city vividly to life in Playhouse Square.

[Read more…]

AHA! Festival concert to feature ChamberFest Cleveland piano trio

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by Hannah Schoepe

Rabinovich-Herbert-BowlinWhisking the listener away on a diverse journey of sounds, the AHA! Festival will present a piano trio from a fellow local summer series, ChamberFest Cleveland. Pianist Roman Rabinovich, cellist Oliver Herbert, and violinist David Bowlin will come together to play gems of the chamber music repertoire by Brahms, Kodály, and Janáček on Friday, June 8 at 2:00 pm in Drinko Hall at Cleveland State University.

Friday’s program will feature Brahms’ effervescent Piano Trio No. 1 in B, completed in 1854 and revised throughout the composer’s life. One of the most popular trios of all time, it reflects both the vivaciousness of Brahms’ youth and the emotional depth of his maturity. We recently spoke with David Bowlin, who admitted that the work is his favorite on the program. “I love the whole B-major trio,” he said. “Everyone loves the B-major trio!”

The concert also includes a modern twist: the Kodály Duo for Violin and Cello, and Janáček’s Pohádka (“Fairytale”) for piano and cello.

[Read more…]

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