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Thirteen for Twenty-Twelve

Mary Ellyn Hutton
Posted: Dec 27, 2012 - 2:58:51 PM in commentary_2012

Musically, 2012 was a banner year for Cincinnati, with the World Choir Games (held here for the first time in the U.S.), some extraordinary opera and instrumental highlights including the world premiere of Philip Glass' Cello Concerto No. 2, "Naqoquatsi," performed by Matt Haimovitz, and "One City, One Symphony," a community-wide celebration focusing on Beethoven's Ninth Symphony and the inaugural concerts of Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra music director designate Louis Langrée.

Here are Music in Cincinnati's favorites for the year, "a baker's dozen," i.e. 13, looking to 2013 (all were reviewed for MusicinCincinnati.com and can be found on this site):

Composer Philip Glass

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Dennis Russell Davies, guest conductor. Matt Haimovitz, cello. Concerto No. 2 for Cello and Orchestra, "Naqoquatsi," by Philip Glass (world premiere). Bruckner, Symphony No. 6. Music Hall, March 31, 2012.

slave pen at Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Cincinnati, Ohio

Vocal Arts Ensemble. concert:nova. Donald Nally, conductor. All-American, all 21st century program including "Zealot Chronicle" by Lansing McLoskey, "Truth" by Alvin Singleton, "The Dream Keeper" by Philip Lasser, and "Statement to the Court" by David Lang. National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Cincinnati. April 29, 2012.

Lang Lang

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Long Yu, guest conductor. Lang Lang, pianist. Tan Dun, "Internet" Symphony. Prokofiev, Piano Concerto No. 3. Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 4. Music Hall. May 4, 2012.

Reilly Nelson (left) and Dashiell Waterbury in CCM's "Rake's Progress"

University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music opera department. CCM Philharmonia Orchestra. Stravinsky, "The Rake's Progress." Sung with alternating student casts. For May 11: Daniel Ross, Tom Rakewell. Jacqueline Echols, Anne Trulove. Charles Owen, Nick Shadow. Brandi Samuel, Baba theTurk. Leah de Gruyl, Mother Goose. Thomas Richards, Father Truelove. Shawn Mlynek, Sellem. Mark Gibson, conductor. Robin Guarino, stage director. Corbett Auditorium. May 11, 2012.

Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra. Mischa Santora, music director/conductor. Alexandre Da Costa, violin.

Violinist Alexandre Da Costa

All-American program featuring Michael Daugherty's "Fire and Blood" for Violin and Orchestra and Duke Ellington's "Such Sweet Thunder" Suite with a 16-piece "Ellington Orchestra," featuring pianist Steve Schmidt, trumpeter Scott Belk and saxophonist James Bunte. Mayerson Theater, Cincinnati School for Creative and Performing Arts. June 3, 2012.

Scene from Cincinnati Opera's "Porgy and Bess" with Measha Brueggergosman as Bess (in red) and Jonathan Lemalu as Porgy (kneeling)

Cincinnati Opera. Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Gershwin, "Porgy and Bess." Measha Brueggergosman (Bess), Jonathan Lemalu (Porgy), Gordon Hawkins (Crown), Steven Cole (Sportin' Life), Jacqueline Echols (Clara), Adrienne Danrich (Serena), Brandi Samuel (Maria), Michael Preacely (Jake), Everett McCorvey (Honey Man). David Chaarles Abell, conductor. Lemuel Wade, stage director. Music Hall. June 28, 2012.

Ailyn Pérez and Stephen Costello

Cincinnati Opera. Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. "La Traviata" by Giuseppe Verdi. Ailyn Pérez (Violetta), Stephen Costello (Alfredo), Marco Caria (Germont), Stacey Rishoi (Flora), Jonathan Stinson (Baron Douphol), Kenneth Shaw (Marquis D'Obigny), Audrey Walstrom (Annina), David Cangelosi (Gastonbe). Carlo Montanaro, conductor. Jose Maria Condemi, stage director. Music Hall. July 26, 2012.

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, creative director/guest conductor. Mahler, Symphony No. 3.

Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos conducting the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in Mahler's Symphony No. 3 with mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe and women of the May Festival Chorus

Stephanie Blythe, mezzo-soprano. Women of the May Festival Chorus. Music Hall. Sept. 27, 2012.

Isengart performing H.K. Gruber's "Frankenstein!" with concert:nova

Constella Festival of Music and Fine Arts. concert:nova. "Frankenstein!" by H.K. Gruber. Isengart, chansonnier. Jazz Symphony by George Antheil. Kammermusik No. 1 by Paul Hindemith. I Edwin Outwater, conductor. Visual artist, Peter Haberkorn. Emery Theater. Oct. 21, 2012.

Jean-Yves Thibaudet

Constella Festival of Music and Fine Arts. Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano. All-Debussy: Préludes, Book 2. "Estampes," "Suite bergamasque," "L'isle joyeuse." Memorial Hall. Nov. 6, 2012.

Louis Langrée conducting the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. "One City, One Symphony." Louis Langrée, music director designate/conductor. Schoenberg, "A Survivor from Warsaw." Beethoven, Symphony No. 9 ("choral"). Soprano Twyla Robinson. Mezzo-soprano Tenor Dimitri Pittas. Bass Morris Robinson. May Festival Chorus. Music Hall. Nov. 15, 2012.

Annalisa Pappano, front. L to R rear, Vivian Montgomery, Jennifer Roig-Francoli, James Onstad

University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Music by Claudio Monteverdi: Selections from "Madrigali dei Guerrieri et Amorosi" and "Selve Morale e Spirituale." Earl Rivers, conductor. CCM Chamber Choir and soloists. Michael Leopold, theorbo. Annalisa Pappano, lirone and viola da gamba. Jennifer Roig-Francoli and Yäel Senamaud, baroque violin. Kivie Cahn-Lipman, viola da gamba and cello. Rodney Stucky, archlute and baroque guitar. James Lambert, violone. Vivian Montgomery, harpsichord and organ. Jaying Gan, organ. Elizabeth Motter, baroque harp. Corbett Auditorium. Nov. 28, 2012.

Conductor Jane Glover

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. May Festival Chorus (Robert Porco, director). Handel, "Messiah." Jane Glover, guest conductor. Arianna Zukerman, soprano. Phyllis Pancella, mezzo-soprano. Nicholas Phan, tenor. Kevin Burdette, bass. Heather MacPhail, keyboard. Music Hall. Dec. 16, 2012.