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CONTENTS CONCERTS ARTISTS 38 Verdi REQUIEM: Friday May 18 19 Juanjo Mena, Principal Conductor 21 Robert Porco, Director of Choruses 46 Bernstein MASS: Saturday May 19 22 May Festival Chorus May Festival Youth Chorus, SING HALLELUJAH: Sunday May 20 27 56 James Bagwell, director 59 JUANJO MENA’S DEBUT: 30 Guest Conductor, Guest Artists Friday May 25 36 Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Handel MESSIAH: Saturday May 26 67 FEATURES 12 Bernstein’s MASS, Then and Now 15 Celebrating the Musical Legacy of Leonard Bernstein 16 About Otxote Txanbela 17 Q&A with Juanjo Mena 22 Q&A with Robert Porco 29 Q&A with James Bagwell 57 Q&A with Creative Partner Rollo Dilworth DEPARTMENTS 7 Greetings from the Principal Conductor 8 Your Concert Experience 11 Greetings from the Board Chair and Executive Director 75 In Memoriam 76 Choral Student Fund and ArtsWave Partners 76 Special Thanks 77 Cincinnati Musical Festival Association 79 Annual Fund 81 2017 ArtsWave Community Campaign 82 May Festival Subscribers 84 Administration 2 | MAY FESTIVAL 2018 | mayfestival.com MAY FESTIVAL PROGRAM BOOK STAFF: Vice President of Communications Chris Pinelo Director of Communications Diana Maria Lara Communications Assistant Kayla Moore Editor/Layout McKibben Publications Graphic Designer Regina Kuhns All contents © 2018. The contents cannot be reproduced in any manner, whole or in part, without written permission from the May Festival. CINCINNATI MAY FESTIVAL Music Hall Geraldine V. Chavez Center for the Choral Arts ON THE COVER 2018 marks a true 1241 Elm Street homecoming for the May Festival, as it returns to Cincinnati, OH 45202 the beautifully renovated Music Hall—a treasured Administrative Offices: 513.621.1919 National Historic Landmark that was originally [email protected] constructed for the May Festival. Box Office Music Hall 1241 Elm Street CINCINNATI MAGAZINE: Cincinnati, OH 45202 Advertising and Publishing Partners 513.381.3300 for May Festival [email protected] Publisher Ivy Bayer Group Sales Director of Advertising 513.744.3590 Tammy Vilaboy [email protected] Production Director & IT Systems Administrator Vu Luong TTY/TDD Marketing Director Use TTY/TDD Relay Service 7-1-1 Chris Ohmer mayfestival.com Advertising & Marketing Designer Emily Nevius facebook.com/MayFestival Custom Publishing Account Manager twitter.com/CincyMayFest Maggie Wint Goecke Senior Outside Account Representative Laura Bowling Operations Director RECYCLE YOUR PROGRAM BOOK Missy Beiting Business Coordinator You are welcome to take this copy of Erica Birkle your program book home with you as Advertising and Business Offices a souvenir of your concert experience. Carew Tower Alternatively, please share your 441 Vine Street, Suite 200 program book with a friend or leave it Cincinnati, OH 45202 513.421.4300 with an usher for recycling. Thank you! Subscriptions: 1.800.846.4333 cincinnatimagazine.com 4 | MAY FESTIVAL 2018 | mayfestival.com GREETINGS FROM THE PRINCIPAL CONDUCTOR Dear Friends, choral masterpiece, MASS, in which performers from the Cincinnati community will also participate under Welcome to your the baton of our Director of Choruses Robert Porco. 2018 Cincinnati This year is historic for another reason. Eun Sun Kim May Festival! will make her debut as the first female conductor for It is my first year the May Festival. She will be on the podium for Verdi’s as Principal Con- mighty Requiem, joined by a stellar quartet of soloists. ductor, and we are This year also marks a homecoming for the May delighted to pres- Festival, as it returns to Music Hall after its impressive ent you with our renovation. The enhanced acoustical design in Springer new ideas, which Auditorium will broadcast the clear and crisp sounds are full of ambi- of Gabrieli’s Magnificat for 33 voices, the American tion, energy and premiere of James MacMillan’s Credo and Ravel’s beauty. ballet Daphnis et Chloé—a performance of which was, But this isn’t just incidentally, the start of my love affair with the May Photo: Michael Novak any May Festival. Festival Chorus! This year, 2018, we have much to celebrate. Speaking of the May Festival Chorus, they will once This year’s Festival, more than ever before, is for the again delight with their talent, performances and sounds entire community—for all of you. We have planned at the highest levels. This year we are joined by world- two events that are particularly community-centered: class soloists such as Michelle Bradley, Robin Johanssen, Our “Sing Hallelujah” concert explores the expression David Daniels, Matthew Polenzani, John Relyea and “Hallelujah” with performances by local talent, rang- José Antonio López. ing from classical and gospel to country and rock; it’s Most importantly, and above all, we celebrate because free and all are welcome. Also, for our closing concert, you are here with us, listening to us and supporting us. featuring Handel’s Messiah, we have invited members Without you there would not be a Festival—you are the of the community to join the May Festival Chorus in heart, the center and the driving force of the Cincinnati singing this great work—more than 150 of these voices May Festival. will resonate from the balconies of Music Hall. I am We thank you for your support, and we welcome you also pleased to welcome “Otxote Txanbela,” a group of with open arms! eight singers from my home in the Basque country of Spain who will come to Cincinnati to sing throughout With love and best wishes, the city, in social and educational events and pre-concert performances at Music Hall. 2018 also marks the 100th anniversary of our former Honorary Music Director Leonard Bernstein’s birth. We will give a rare performance of his monumental Juanjo Mena mayfestival.com | MAY FESTIVAL 2018 | 7 YOUR CONCERT EXPERIENCE What’s New in Music Hall Welcome! Here are some tips for making the most of your concert experience. HISTORICAL DETAILS REVEALED Windows if you’re running late or need to step out. Also look have been rediscovered and reopened, including for more seating throughout the Foyer, including the Welcome to the beautifully renovated Music Lost and found is located at Guest Services in those overlooking Washington Park that now flood the Balcony Parlor (level 2), and for areas to engage, take Hall, a National Historic Landmark and the the Lindner Grand Foyer. For inquiries, call Lindner Grand Foyer with natural light. Fourteen feet a photo or share your thoughts on the performance. crown jewel of Over-the-Rhine! Built in 1878, Music 513.744.3344 during business hours. of additional ceiling height have been regained in Hall is a welcoming beacon for the community and a Corbett Tower, allowing full restoration of the original UPDATED RESTROOMS Less waiting time! Assisted listening devices and seating for audience pantheon of the arts for generations to come. To learn coved and stenciled ceiling. The renovation shines Over 60% more restrooms than before, and located more about the history of Music Hall or to schedule members with accessibility needs are available for a light on historic details such as transoms, alcoves, on every level. a guided tour, visit the Society for the Preservation of all events. tracery windows, façade, original doors and marble flooring. Come early and soak it all in. Music Hall’s website at spmhcincinnati.org. Restrooms are located on all levels. IMPROVED SAFETY AND ACCESSIBILITY Look for elevators that reach all floors, a street-level Stay up-to-date with the May Festival via Please silence all noise-making electronics before ENHANCED CONCESSIONS Enjoy enhanced accessible entrance at the Box Office, increased service and exciting new menu options, curated by a wheelchair and companion seating options, plus Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. entering the auditorium. Flash photography, council of Cincinnati tastemakers. Look for premium a new assistive listening device system. Select glowing screens and audio/video recording are Visit the Bravo Shop located in the Lindner locally roasted coffee, the signature Rose Window performances are American Sign Language interpreted Grand Foyer. CD recordings, merchandise and prohibited during concerts. cocktail created by Molly Wellmann, a specialty for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Please call the Box gifts are available for purchase. Out of consideration for all patrons, children Cava sparkling wine in celebration of Juanjo Mena, Office at 513.381.3300 for more information. delicious local tastes from Findlay Market, and Divine’s under six will not be admitted to May Festival Please donate unused tickets to the box office European Chocolate in the Foyer. Pre-order your drink “FOUND” SPACE, REIMAGINED The architects prior to the concert, so that others may attend! performances. for intermission. Please note that drinks with ice are not made clever use of 30,000 square feet of formerly Subscribers have unlimited free ticket exchanges and Running late? Out of consideration for fellow allowed in the auditorium. under-used or unused spaces throughout Music Hall. single ticket buyers may exchange for a $3 per ticket audience members, there is no late seating. One example is the Wilks Studio on the second floor, PLACES TO GATHER Visit the P&G Founders a brand new space for rehearsals, performances and service charge (some restrictions apply). Latecomers will be invited to remain in the P&G Room created for wine and conversation, located in special events. Concessions are available for purchase before the Founders Room and view the concert via video monitors the Lindner Grand Foyer. It’s a great place to pause concerts and during intermission. until intermission. Audience members who leave the hall before or during a piece of music will be reseated at the discretion of the ushers and house staff. Frequently Asked Questions PARKING We strongly recommend that subscribers fully operational. This facility is owned by the City take advantage of pre-paid parking in the Washington of Cincinnati and managed by All Pro Parking.