JANUARY 2017 FANFARE CINCINNTI PGE 55 CINCINNATISYMPHONY.ORG JANUARY 2017 CINCINNATISYMPHONY.ORG PGE 21 PGE 34 PGE 37 PGE 41 PGE 59 PGE 69 Brahms Fest Brahms Fest ith Melissa Etheridge: Matthias Pintscher Christian Tetzlaff Lollipops Family continues ith epic CSO Chamber One Night Only conducts performs Bartók Concert: Fourth Symphony Players MusicNO Green Eggs and Ham The happiness of coming home. An Exceptional Everyday Experience Interesting people make the best neighbors. At Twin Towers and Twin Lakes senior living communities, everyday moments are just a bit more special. A spirited conversation, a shared laugh, a smile as bright as a sunny day. It all adds up to an exceptional lifestyle. Find magic in the everyday. Call us to schedule a tour or visit us online at LEC.org. Twin Towers Twin Lakes 513.853.2000 513.247.1300 5343 Hamilton Avenue 9840 Montgomery Road Cincinnati, OH 45224 Cincinnati, OH 45242 Life Enriching Communities is affiliated with the West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church and welcomes people of all faiths. JANUARY 2017 CONTENTS CONCERTS 41 The CSO’s fourth annual groundbreaking collaboration with the MusicNOW Festival features two 21 CSO: Brahms Fest, Jan. 5/7 ambitious programs of contemporary 32 Guest artists: May Festival Chamber Ensemble, Robert Porco, director; SATB soloists works and performances by exciting artists of today. Find details about 34 CSO Chamber Players: Brahms Fest, Jan. 6 these Jan. 13–14 concerts and guest 37 Pops: Melissa Etheridge, Jan. 8 performers starting on page 41. 38 Guest artists: Melissa Etheridge, vocalist; , once Bob Bernhardt, conductor 56 Smokey Robinson pronounced by Bob Dylan as America’s 41 CSO: MusicNOW, Jan. 13–14 “greatest living poet,” has a career that 50 Guest artists: Matthias Pintscher, conductor; spans over four decades of hits. He’ll featuring Lisa Hannigan, Aaron Dessner, join the Cincinnati Pops to perform Bryce Dessner, Pekka Kuusisto, Timo Andres many of those hits Jan. 21–22. 55 Pops: Smokey Robinson, Jan. 21–22 56 Guest artists: Smokey Robinson, vocalist; 67 Christian Tetzlaff, one of the most Damon Gupton, conductor sought-after violinists and exciting musicians on the classical scene, joins 59 CSO: Violin Legends: Christian Tetzlaff, Jan. 27–28 the CSO to perform Bartók’s awe- 66 Guest artists: John Storgårds, conductor; inspiring Violin Concerto No. 2, Christian Tetzlaff, violinist Jan. 27–28. 69 Lollipops Family Concert: Green Eggs & Ham, Jan. 28 DEPARTMENTS 38 Melissa Etheridge is one of rock music’s great female icons. Now this multi-platinum-selling artist 6 A Letter from the President joins the Cincinnati Pops for one 8 Your Concert Experience night only to perform hits from 10 Orchestra Roster throughout her career and from her newest album MEmphis Rock 14 Artistic Leadership: Louis Langrée and and Soul, Jan. 8. John Morris Russell 15 Music Hall Renovation Update 17 If It Sounds Good, It Is Good! by JMR NEWS 18 Spotlight: Yang Liu, Associate Principal Second Violin 12 Feature: Time to Play: MusicNOW 2017 71 Boards features award-winning contemporary works 73 Financial Support 19 Remembering Mary Alice Heekin Burke 79 Administration 80 Coda 2 | FANFARE CINCINNATI | cincinnatisymphony.org FANFARE CINCINNATI STAFF: Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Cincinnati Pops Vice President of Communications Chris Pinelo Director of Communications Meghan Berneking Digital Communications Manager Lee Snow Communications Assistant Melissa Knueven Editor/Layout McKibben Publications All contents © 2016–17. The contents cannot be reproduced in any manner, whole or in part, without written permission from the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Cincinnati Pops. CINCINNATI SYMPHONY & POPS ORCHESTRA Temporary Administrative Offices 441 Vine Street, Eighth Floor Cincinnati, OH 45202 ON THE COVER Smokey Robinson makes Administrative Offices: 513.621.1919 his Pops debut at the Taft Theatre Jan. 21–22. The [email protected] Motown legend, whose career as a songwriter and performer spans four decades, was once declared Temporary Box Office & Concert Venue Taft Theatre America’s “greatest living poet” by Bob Dylan. 317 East 5th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 513.381.3300 CINCINNATI MAGAZINE: Advertising and Publishing Partners [email protected] for Fanfare Cincinnati Group Sales Publisher 513.744.3590 Ivy Bayer [email protected] Director of Advertising Tammy Vilaboy TTY/TDD Art & Production Manager Use TTY/TDD Relay Service 7-1-1 Julie Whitaker cincinnatisymphony.org | cincinnatipops.org Marketing Director Chris Ohmer facebook.com/CincySymphony or /CincinnatiPops Advertising & Marketing Designer twitter.com/CincySymphony or /CincinnatiPops Emily Nevius Custom Publishing Account Manager Maggie Wint Goecke Senior Outside Account Representative RECYCLE FANFARE CINCINNATI Laura Bowling Operations Director You are welcome to take this copy of Missy Beiting Fanfare Cincinnati home with you as a Business Coordinator souvenir of your concert experience. Erica Birkle Alternatively, please share Fanfare Advertising and Business Offices Cincinnati with a friend or leave it with Carew Tower an usher for recycling. Thank you! 441 Vine Street, Suite 200 Cincinnati, OH 45202 513.421.4300 Subscriptions: 1.800.846.4333 cincinnatimagazine.com 4 | FANFARE CINCINNATI | cincinnatisymphony.org A place like no other. 4949 Tealtown Road, Milford, OH 45150 | www.CincyNature.org A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear Friends, and the second class of CSO/CCM Diversity Fel- lows will be joining us in the fall, bringing the total Happy New Year! number of Fellows up to ten. This partnership with 2017 is going to be a mo- the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of mentous year for the CSO Music is garnering attention from across the country and Pops. In addition to and changing the face of the American orchestra. many heart-pounding per- Of course October of this year marks the grand formances right here in the re-opening of Music Hall and all eyes will be on Queen City, the Orchestra Cincinnati. This iconic landmark will be more vibrant will fulfill its role as Cincin- and accessible than ever, and thanks to this historic nati’s ambassador by un- renovation and the people who made it possible, dertaking two international many future generations of Cincinnatians will experi- tours featuring 17 performances in 13 cities across ence a diverse array of performances and events at seven countries on two continents. First up is a tour of Music Hall. Watch for our season announcements Asia in March, which includes performances in Hong for the CSO and Pops and subscribe early to get your Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Tainan City and Taipei. An preferred seating. extensive three-week European tour will follow in Thank you again for taking the journey with us August and September. from Music Hall to the Taft Theatre, and back to Music We will also expand our reach into the digital realm Hall later this year. Your support is sustaining this through recordings, audio streaming and videos. This great orchestra through this important transition and includes new on-demand streaming of 90.9 Classical we cannot thank you enough. WGUC’s concert broadcasts on the CSO website starting this month and the continuation of the Pops’ Sincerely, American Soundscapes series, which has delighted music fans around the world. Our important work within the region will also continue to grow and thrive through important education and community engagement initiatives, Trey Devey CONNECT WITH THE CINCINNATI SYMPHONY & CINCINNATI POPS @cincysymphony @cincinnatipops cincinnatisymphony.org • 513.381.3300 6 | FANFARE CINCINNATI | cincinnatisymphony.org YOUR CONCERT EXPERIENCE Welcome! Here are some tips for making the most of your concert experience. The 2,500-seat, Art Deco-style Taft Theatre was Assistive listening devices and seating for built in 1928 and is the Orchestra’s temporary audience members with accessibility needs are home during Music Hall’s historic renovation. For available for all events. updates, visit cincinnatisymphony.org/musichall. Restrooms are located on the lower level and Stay up-to-date with the CSO and Pops via second level. Accessible restrooms are located Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. on the first level in the lobby. Visit the Bravo Shop in the Mayfair Hallway Please silence all noise-making electronics on the far east side of the lobby. CD recordings, before entering the theatre. Flash photography, merchandise and gifts are available for purchase. glowing screens and audio/video recording are prohibited during concerts. Classical Conversations takes place one hour before CSO subscription concerts, and is free to Out of consideration for all patrons, children ticketholders. Program notes are also available online under 6 will not be admitted to CSO at cincinnatisymphony.org. performances. Ushers will assist patrons with young children to seats at the back of the auditorium. For Please donate unused tickets to the box office family concerts, booster seats are available on a first- prior to the concert, so that others may attend! come, first-served basis in the lobby. Subscribers have unlimited free ticket exchanges and single ticket buyers may exchange for a $3 per ticket Ushers will seat latecomers at appropriate service charge (some restrictions apply). breaks in the concert. If there is a need to leave the auditorium during the concert, re-seating Concessions are available for purchase prior to will happen in the same fashion. These policies