HIGHLIGHTING PERFORMANCE REVIEWS AND UPCOMING CLASSICAL AND JAZZ CONCERTS IN THE GREATER CINCINNATI AREA
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2023 Retrospective – Vocal Arts Ensemble
A “Jazzy”, Fun and Sentimental Christmas – December 16, 2023
Cincinnati’s Vocal Arts Ensemble rang in the Christmas season at Christ Church Cathedral Cincinnati under guest conductor Trevor Kroeger with a program which explored both the fun and sentimental side of the holiday, joined by special guest artists Matthew Umphreys and Sarah Folsom of Queen City Cabaret. The fun side was represented principally through jazz arrangements of Christmas standards such as We Need A Little Christmas, Silver Bells and O Tannenbaum by, respectively, Jerry Rubino, Blake Morgan and Jim Clements. Perhaps the most surprising arrangement was an up-tempo arrangement of the carol I Wonder As I Wander by Darmon Meader, but it was sung spectacularly by the 14 assembled singers. Sarah Folsom brought her golden, reassuring and soothing vocals to the sentimental side of Christmas with songs like Joni Mitchell’s River, Craig Hella Johnson’s arrangement of Amanda McBroom’s The Rose, and her own arrangement of Sleep Well, Little Children. Craig Hella Johnson’s music was back in the spotlight again for his well-known arrangement of What a Wonderful World/I Love You, with its tenor solo beautifully sung by Avery Bargasse. Throughout this evening’s concert, Vocal Arts Ensemble was in truly spectacular form, with a bright, joyful, florid and incandescent sound, going all out vocally in the more jazz-infused selections as well as displaying a comforting, socially conscious musical message in The World for Christmas by Swedish composer Anders Edenroth. Jazz is a repertoire VAE has rarely explored throughout most of its history, and I think it is something they could definitely do more of in future seasons. This collaboration with Queen City Cabaret was a resounding success, and I am eagerly looking forward to future concerts from both groups in the new year.
2023 RETROSPECTIVE – CINCINNATI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Vibrant, Impressive Wagner under James Gaffigan – October 27, 2023
The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra continued its fall slate of concerts in its 2023-24 season this evening, under the leadership of guest conductor James Gaffigan with a thrilling program headlined by some of the most familiar orchestral music in all of opera. Opening with a vibrant, energetic performance of the Overture for orchestra by Polish composer Graźyna Bacewicz, the orchestra evoked the perpetual motion of Glinka’s Ruslan and Ludmila with a 20th-century flair reminiscent of Bartok. The strings of the CSO then took the spotlight for Mozart’s iconic serenade Eine Kleine Nachtmusik. Probably the most familiar of Mozart’s works to most concert audiences today, tonight’s performance was sprightly, yet elegant, with more contemplative moments along the lines of solo arias in many of Mozart’s operas. Opera then took center stage in the second half. Richard Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen is perhaps the most mammoth operatic work of any scale in the whole of Western music literature. The Ring Without Words, an adaptation of music from all four of its individual operas created by the conductor Lorin Maazel for a 1987 recording for the Telarc label with the Berlin Philharmonic, condenses 17 hours of music into roughly 70 minutes. Using only the purely instrumental moments from all four operas, with almost no music which includes vocal lines, the CSO gave a performance which was par excellence, on equal footing with Berlin and many of the other great German orchestras. Gaffigan’s leadership throughout possessed sweeping power, creating a lush, bombastic and effervescent sound from the musicians which filled every corner of the Music Hall stage. This included 8 horns, 4 Wagner tubas and three offstage anvils, along with additional offstage horn solos beautifully played by principal Elizabeth Freimuth. Equally at home on the concert stage and in the opera pit, as the music director of the Komische Oper Berlin, Gaffigan is definitely one of the most exciting conductors working today, and I definitely look forward to seeing more of him in the future. The concert repeats Saturday, October 28th at 7:30 P.M
2023 Retrospective- University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music
Moving and Transcendent Britten Mainstage Offering
The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music just presented an absolutely fabulous production of Benjamin Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia as part of its MainStage Opera series. Setting a libretto by Ronald Duncan based on a play by André Obey, with its title role written for the much-lamented contralto Kathleen Ferrier, the opera explored issues most other operas of its day wouldn’t dare touch, such as misogyny, sexual violence, xenophobia and martyrdom, as described by the director Darya Zholnerova. Musically, The Rape of Lucretia was among the most impressive interpretations of a Britten opera Cincinnati has seen in years. Under graduate assistant conductor Stephen Hardie, the 13 student musicians assembled in the pit of Patricia Corbett Theater brought Britten’s eerily evocative score to life. Praise must go especially to percussionist Jun Zheng, harpist Madeline Arney and pianist Joe Stevens. Tess Klibanoff as Lucretia was the embodiment of a vulnerable soul, with great dramatic presence and a voice full of emotional weight and subtlety. Baritone Soren Pedersen as Tarquinius was the perfect choice for a character who is so inherently evil, yet displayed vocal athleticism and volatility which was unmatched. Tenor Henry Benson and soprano Tanya Harris as the Male and Female Chorus possessed rich, powerful and eloquent voices, able to sing the quietest pianissimos and the loudest fortes which left people on the edge of their seats. Chinese-born mezzo soprano Junyue Gong as Bianca was radiant, strong and silky, particularly in the spinning wheel trio in Act 1. Soprano Holly Thomas possesses a crystalline, ringing voice full of beauty, grace and charm which made her the perfect choice for the role of Lucia. Bass Cole Stephenson as Collatinus and baritone John Potvin as Junius were equally intense, subtle and charismatic both in stage presence and their vocal timbres. I am hopeful that more schools in the U.S. like CCM will take a cue from this production and program more Britten operas in the near future, as they are great opportunities to demonstrate rising young talents and emphasize the importance of Britten’s music in today’s repertoire.
2023 RETROSPECTIVE – MEMORIAL HALL
A Jolly Good Time with Phil DeGregg and Vince Guaraldi – November 28, 2023
Memorial Hall continued its Jazz at the Memo concert series with a fun and invigorating performance by the Phil DeGreg Trio focusing on the music Vince Guaraldi wrote for the TV special a Charlie Brown Christmas, with an assortment of other Christmas tunes to complete the program. DeGreg’s piano style was equal parts Guaraldi and Dave Brubeck, starting songs such as Skating and O Tannenbaum in a similar manner to the Charlie Brown soundtrack album, while gradually adding his own spin on the melody. It relies heavily on block chords in both hands, with occasional runs up and down the keyboard with the right hand. Highlights included a cozy, meditative take on the Great Pumpkin Waltz and a strong, exciting take on Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride. Amazing solos were also provided by guest instrumentalists Teddy Mechley on bass and Alex Merk on drums, both students at @uc_ccm . The near-capacity crowd at Memorial Hall was thrilled throughout the entire show It’s fair to say that the Phil DeGreg Trio is one of the best jazz instrumental ensembles in Cincinnati, and more people should get the chance to hear them whenever they can.
UPCOMING EVENTS – WEEK OF JANUARY 21, 2024
SYMPHONIC MOZART – Cincinnati Music Hall, January 27-28, 2024
GOLDIOCKS AND THE THREE DINOSAURS – Cincinnati Music Hall, January 27, 2024
HARMONY ACROSS TRADITIONS: AN EVENING WITH ISAAC CATES – Zion Baptist Church, Cincinnati; January 27, 2024
PASQUALE GROSSO TRIO – Caffe Vivace, Cincinnati; January 26, 2024
https://www.jazzvivace.org/event-details/pasquale-grasso-trio
HOPE RISING (CCM Wind Symphony) – Corbett Auditorium, College-Conservatory of Music; January 26, 2024*
LOVE AND DEATH (CCM Philharmonia) – Corbett Auditorium, College-Conservatory of Music; January 27, 2024*
Tickets for College-Conservatory of Music events marked * can be purchased at https://ccmonstage.universitytickets.com/
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