Herewith, a baker’s dozen* of this reviewer’s favorite classical music events in Cincinnati this year:
University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music Philharmonia Orchestra, Chamber Choir and Chorale. Cincinnati Children’s Chorus. Helen Lyons, soprano. Wang Feng, tenor. Mark Gibson, conductor. Puccini, “Turandot,” Concert performance. Jan. 28. Corbett Auditorium.
Vocal Arts Ensemble. Donald Nally, music director. David Lang, “The Little Match Girl Passion.” Ērik Ešenvalds, “Sun Dogs” and “Legend of the Walled-in Woman.” April 16. Summit Country Day School Chapel.
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Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Paavo Järvi, music director. Yo Yo Ma, cello. All-Dvorak: “Carnival” Overture. Cello Concerto, Symphony No. 9 (“From the New World”). May 3. Music Hall.
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Paavo Järvi, music director. Martin Fröst, clarinet. Coleman, “P.J. Fanfare.” Bernstein, Three Dance Episodes from “On the Town.” Copland, Clarinet Concerto. Varese, “Ameriques.” May 6. Music Hall.
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Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Paavo Järvi, music
director. Farewell concert. Awadagin Pratt, piano. Erkki-Sven Tüür,
“Fireflower,” Piano Concerto. Mahler,
Symphony No. 5. May 13. Music Hall.
Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra. Vocal Arts Ensemble. Mischa Santora, conductor. Mendelssohn, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Christian Jost/Woody Allen, “Death Knocks.” Audrey Walstrom, mezzo-soprano. Chad Sloan, baritone. June 12. Corbett Theatre, Erich Kunzel Center for the Performing Arts.
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Julian Kuerti, guest conductor. Patrick Schleker, Richard Jensen, timpani. Copland, “Fanfare for the Common Man.” Philip Glass, Concerto Fantasy for Two Timpanists. Stravinsky, “Firebird” Suite (1919). Sept. 3. Music Hall.
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, guest conductor. Nicola Benedetti, violin. Mozart, Violin Concerto in A Major (“Turkish”). Mahler, Symphony No. 1 (“Titan”). Sept. 22. Music Hall.
Hilary Hahn, violin. Valentina Lasitsa, piano. Opening
concert, Constella Festival. “13 Premieres” (by Lera Auerbach, Tina
Davidson, Avner Dorman, Soren Nils Eichberg, Christos Hatzis, Jennifer Higdon,
Bun-Ching Lam, Paul Moravec, Muhly, Einojuhani Rautavaara, Max Richter, Somei
Satoh and Gillian Whitehead). Beethoven,
Sonata No. 2 in A Major. Bach, Sonata No. 1 in G Minor. Brahms, Sonatensatz in C Minor. Oct. 13.
Memorial Hall.
Michael Maniaci, male soprano. William Averill, harpsichord. Jennifer Roig-Francoli, Baroque violín. James Lambert, Annalisa Pappano, viola da gamba, lirone. Catacoustic Consort/Constella Festival. Handel and Bach arias. Songs by Purcell, Caccini, Monteverdi. Oct. 28. Church of the Advent, Walnut Hills.
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Kristjan Järvi, guest conductor. Mikhail Simonyan, violin. Haydn, Symphony No. 86. Khachaturian Violin Concerto. Stravinsky, “Rite of Spring.” Nov. 3. Music Hall.
Joshua Bell, violin. Sam Haywood, piano. Mendelssohn, Sonata in F Major. Beethoven, Sonata Op. 30, No. 2. Eugene Ysaye, Sonata, Op. 27, No. 3 (“Ballade”). Franck, Sonata in A Major. Constella Festival. Nov. 8. Memorial Hall.
*A baker's dozen is 13 (or 14), derived from the custom in medieval times of bakers adding an extra loaf to a dozen, so as not to incur a penalty -- rather severe in those days -- for under-weighing an order.
Umm, make that 14:
St. Lawrence String Quartet. Chamber Music Cincinnati in cooperation with the Constella Festival. Mozart, Quartet in D Minor, K, 421. Erich Wolfgang Korngold, Quartet No. 3 in D Major. John Adams, String Quartet (2008). Oct. 18. Werner Hall, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.
Note: Reviews of all these events can be found in "Reviews" on this site.