Classical Concert Reviews Cinci

@uc_ccm’s Philharmonia continued its winter-spring 2026 semester with a pair of late-Romantic masterpieces performed under the title Midlife Crisis in the acoustical wonder of CCM’s Corbett Auditorium.
Joined by two guest alumni soloists, cellist Jonathan Lee (principal cellist of the Dayton Philharmonic (@daytonphilharmonic)) and violist Rebecca Barnes (currently a member of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (@cincysymphony)), the orchestra opened with a rare opportunity to hear one of Richard Strauss’s earliest and longest symphonic poems, Don Quixote. Composed in 1897 and based on the eponymous novel by the early 17th-century Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes, it casts the solo cello in the role of the titular knight-errant who makes numerous vain attempts at chivalric deeds and the solo viola as Quixote’s traveling companion, Sancho Panza. While cast in the form of a theme with variations, I would argue this work was the closest Strauss ever came to writing a fully formed cello concerto, as it is both technically demanding and surprisingly lyrical at the same time. Lee more than rose to the occasion, with a well-rounded timbre and a warm, plush sense of line throughout, especially in the third and 10th variations and finale. Barnes’s solo line, while much smaller and complimented by bass clarinet and tenor tuba, was equally warm and lyrical, yet also possessing hints of sly wit that scratch the surface in exploring Sancho Panza as a character. Orchestral highlights included strong playing from horns, flutes and percussion (including wind machine).
Johannes Brahms’s Symphony No. 4, composed 13 years before Don Quixote, was given a robust and driving performance in the second half of the program. The Philharmonia’s players brought a wonderfully serene and strong sense of mudicslity to the work, particularly in the first, third and fourth movements. A particularly strong emphasis on strings, timpani and winds served Corbett Auditorium’s acoustics surprisingly well, as no one section of the orchestra ever overpowered the others.
Looking forward to the next Philharmonia performance this coming April. What a pleasure it is to hear such amazing student musicians.