Connecting the dots is not something that is well done in Cincinnati
with its balkanized communities and townships.
This trait extends to the arts, too.
How else to explain the absence of Cincinnati Symphony members and staff at
Cincinnati World Cinema’s screening of the documentary “The Singing Revolution”
at the Cincinnati Art Museum in July? Or at last week’s concert at St. Peter in
Chains Cathedral by the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and Tallinn Chamber
Orchestra, which was introduced by CSO music director Paavo Järvi himself? For that matter, where was
Cincinnati’s choral community? And how to explain the lack of cross-promotion of such events or even complimentary references in organizational publications and materials?
For the record, Järvi
is a native of Estonia and Estonia’s
National Song Festival is a correlative of the Cincinnati May Festival. “The Singing Revolution,” which has been held
over in many cities throughout the United States, is about the tiny country’s
struggle to break free from the Soviet Union, a bloodless victory won through
assertion of its independence at its national song festivals. The Grammy-winning Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir is one of the world's premier choral groups in addition to being from Estonia.
It was gratifying, then, to see the CSO join forces with a sister organization this weekend. Not for a musical event, but a social one. The annual opera ball, “A Seductive Night in Spain,” is Nov. 22 in the Music Hall Ballroom, with dinner, dancing and entertainment by soprano Angela Brown ($250 at 513-768-5520). Part of it is a special “Late Night in Spain” party for young professionals,, including dancing and midnight buffet ($30 at www.cincinnatiopera.org).
Järvi and the CSO perform a season subscription concert, "Stargazing" featuring Holt's "The Planets" and guest artist Julia Fischer in Dvorak's Violin Concerto, at 8 p.m. the same evening just next door in the Music Hall auditorium. CSO Encore, the orchestra’s young professionals group, is latching onto the proximity and festivity of the opera ball by offering a $35 ticket that will cover both the CSO concert and the opera’s "Late Night in Spain" party (to order, call 513-744-3356).
Those who attend both the concert and the opera party will gain exposure to and perhaps heightened interest in both organizations.
It is to be hoped that such opportunities for collaboration and mutual reinforcement will increase, especially in today's straitened economy, where the arts need all the support they can get.
Note: The CSO "Stargazing" concert takes place also at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 20 and 11 a.m. Nov. 21 at Music Hall. Tickets are $12-77, $10 for students ($12 the day of the concert), 25% off for seniors. Call (513) 381-3300, order online at www.cincinnatisymphony.org or visit the Music Hall box office, open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and two hours before performances. There will be a free multimedia presentation on the planets by Cincinnati Observatory astronomer Dean Regas one hour before the Nov. 21 and 22 concerts. The Nov. 20 concert will be preceded by a complimentary buffet dinner, beginning at 6:15 p.m.in the Music Hall Ballroom.