SEPTEMBER 2015 FANFARE CINCINNTI FANFARECINCINNTI KICKING OFF THE SEASON IN FANTASTIQUE STYLE PGE 31 Hooray for Hollywood: JMR and the Pops go to the movies PGE 21 Rediscovering Pelleas und Melisande PGE 41 CINCINNTISYMPHONY.ORG CINCINNTISYMPHONY.ORG SEPTEMBER 2015 Oxford proudly supports the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Oxford is independent and unbiased — and always will be. We are committed to providing families generational estate planning advice and institutions forward-thinking investment strategies. CHICAGO ✦ CINCINNATI ✦ GRAND RAPIDS ✦ INDIANAPOLIS ✦ TWIN CITIES 513.246.0800 ✦ WWW.OFGLTD.COM/CSO Thirst-quenching conversation An Exceptional Everyday Experience Cheers to better living. At Twin Towers and Twin Lakes senior living communities, every day moments are just a bit more special. A friendly smile, a delicious meal, sharing a drink in the sunshine. 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. SEPTEMBER 2015 CONTENTS 37 Yefim Bronfman is CONCERTS widely regarded as one of the most talented virtuoso 21 Pops: Pops at the Movies, Sept. 18&20 pianists performing today. His 24 Pops: Back to the Future— commanding technique and Film with Orchestra, Sept. 19 exceptional lyrical gifts have won him consistent critical acclaim and 28 Guest Artist: Emil de Cou, conductor enthusiastic audiences worldwide. 31 CSO Season Opener: Fantastique!, Hear this master perform Bartók’s Sept. 25–27 virtuosic Second Piano Concerto (Stories in Concert on Sunday) Sept. 25–26. 37 Guest Artist: Yefim Bronfman, pianist 45 Recipient of the prestigious 41 CSO: Louis Conducts Pelleas und Melisande, Avery Fisher Career Grant in Oct. 2–3 2008, violinist Karen Gomyo 45 Guest Artist: Karen Gomyo, violinist has established herself in recent years as a much in demand soloist internationally. She’ll perform 26 Alan Silvestri has scored some Sibelius’ soaring and technically of the most iconically revered dazzling Violin Concerto Oct. 2–3. and profitable films in Hollywood history, amassing over 100 credits to the tune of two Oscar and Golden Globe nominations, two Emmy awards, as well as three DEPARTMENTS Grammy awards. Hear his rousing score to Back to the Future played by the Cincinnati Pops—live, while the high 6 A Letter from the President definition film plays over the Music Hall stage 8 Your Concert Experience Sept. 19. 10 Spotlight On: Jonathan Gunn, Principal Clarinet 11 Orchestra Roster 14 Artistic Leadership: Louis Langrée and NEWS John Morris Russell 17 If It Sounds Good, It Is Good! by JMR 12 Feature: “Think Crescendo, Not Dimenuendo” 48 Boards by Meghan Berneking 50 Financial Support © 18 LUMENOCITY 2015 Recap 59 Administration 38 Q&A with Yefim Bronfman 60 Coda 48 The Board of Overseers: Access and Advocacy 2 | FANFARE CINCINNATI | cincinnatisymphony.org FANFARE CINCINNATI STAFF: Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestra Vice President of Communications Chris Pinelo Director of Communications Meghan Berneking Digital Communications Manager Lee Snow Communications Assistant Alexandra Kesman Editor/Layout McKibben Publications All contents © 2015–16. The contents cannot be reproduced ON THE COVER Louis Langrée leads the CSO’s in any manner, whole or in part, without written permission season opener featuring Berlioz’s rousing masterpiece from the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestra. Symphonie fantastique. Inspired by the dreamlike frenzy of this unprecedented symphonic work, the Opening Night Gala on Sept. 26 delivers bright CINCINNATI SYMPHONY & POPS ORCHESTRA imagery, culinary creativity and a party atmosphere to Music Hall kick off the new season. 1241 Elm Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 Administrative Offices: 513.621.1919 CINCINNATI MAGAZINE: [email protected] Advertising and Publishing Partners Box Office for Fanfare Cincinnati Music Hall Publisher 1241 Elm Street Ivy Bayer Cincinnati, OH 45202 Art & Production Manager Julie Whitaker 513.381.3300 Senior Account Representatives [email protected] Maggie Wint Goecke, Matt Reis Group Sales Marketing Director 513.744.3590 Chris Ohmer [email protected] Advertising & Marketing Designer Emily Nevius TTY/TDD Account Representatives Use TTY/TDD Relay Service 7-1-1 Christie Goetz, Lisa Lawrence, Jenny Swain, Tammy Vilaboy cincinnatisymphony.org | cincinnatipops.org Senior Outside Account Representative facebook.com/CincySymphony or /CincinnatiPops Laura Bowling Operations Director twitter.com/CincySymphony or /CincinnatiPops Missy Beiting Business Coordinator Erica Birkle Advertising and Business Offices RECYCLE FANFARE CINCINNATI Carew Tower You are welcome to take this copy of 441 Vine Street, Suite 200 Cincinnati, OH 45202 Fanfare Cincinnati home with you as a 513.421.4300 souvenir of your concert experience. 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Thank you! 4 | FANFARE CINCINNATI | cincinnatisymphony.org A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear Friends, a $20 million goal, reaffirms our place as a city that supports a world-class orchestra year round, which On the heels of another elec- is so essential to attracting and retaining the very trifying LUMENOCITY, we best musicians. are delighted to welcome With that, we also announced in May that our you to our 2015–16 season musicians and Board ratified a five-year contract at Music Hall! agreement that takes us through the 2019–20 season, You might have read which is the 125th anniversary of our great orchestra. the May article in The New This contract was ratified four months before the York Times declaring, “The expiration of our existing contract. orchestra world is all too All of this reflects a culture of openness where familiar with vicious cycles we come together—musicians, management, Board of mounting deficits, dwindling audiences, diffi- members and supporters—to work on solving culty raising money and cuts. But at the Cincinnati problems and looking to the future. And every step Symphony Orchestra, things are moving happily along the way, we never lose sight of our mission to in the opposite direction: think crescendo, not seek and share inspiration with this extraordinary diminuendo.” community we are honored to serve. Toward the end of this past season I announced None of what we achieve would be possible with- that we had just concluded a quiet endowment cam- out our great audiences. Thank you for being here, paign to restore 14 full-time, tenure-track musicians and we look forward to sharing many experiences to the Orchestra, eliminate our structural deficit and with you throughout this fantastic season. endow two additional weeks of Orchestra services for the Cincinnati Ballet and the Cincinnati World Sincerely, Piano Competition. As other major orchestras across the country struggle to maintain a 52-week year round season and some have in fact lost their 52-week standing, this campaign, which exceeded Trey Devey Where your generosity and passion meet. Community Funds make it easy to support areas that matter most to you. Visit gcfdn.org yourcommunity today. 6 | FANFARE CINCINNATI | cincinnatisymphony.org with Barbara Kellar Join Barbara Kellar as she SUNDAYS showcases performing artists 8:30PM and cultural leaders from the Greater Cincinnati CET Arts is available community. over-the-air on channel 48.3, Time Warner Cable (Ohio) channel 987, Cincinnati Bell Fioptics channel 248, Time Warner Cable www.CETconnect.org/cet-arts (Northern Kentucky) channel 192. YOUR CONCERT EXPERIENCE Welcome! Here are some tips for getting the patron safety, walkers and strollers are not permitted most out of your concert experience. on the escalators. NEW TO THE CSO OR POPS? Unsure of when to REFRESHMENTS Bar service (including local micro- clap or where to eat? Looking for help deciding your brews) and snacks are available at the North and South next concert? Visit cincinnatisymphony.org/guide for lobby bars prior to concerts and during intermission. a complete Concertgoer’s Guide. Specialty wines and sandwiches are available in the lobby bar. Keurig coffee, tea and hot chocolate are of- LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MUSIC Classical fered at the North lobby bar. Pre-order your cocktail Conversations take place one hour before Friday for intermission at any of the bars. Food and beverages and Saturday CSO concerts and are free to all are not permitted in the auditorium during most per- ticketholders. Program notes are also available at formances (drinks are permitted during Pops concerts). cincinnatisymphony.org. RESTROOMS Restrooms are located in the north and TECHNOLOGY Please turn off all cell phones, wrist- south corridors on the first and second floors and in watch alarms or other devices that make noise. While the north corridor on the third floor. we love it when people text their friends, post to Facebook and Tweet about the Orchestra, please hold EMERGENCY EXITS Please identify and observe all electronic communications until intermission or emergency exits nearest to you. In the event of an after the performance. Also out of consideration for emergency, remain calm and await instruction from the musicians and your fellow audience members, ushers or building staff. flash photography, glowing screens and audio/video EMERGENCIES AND SECURITY Cincinnati Police recording are all prohibited. officers are on duty around Music Hall beginning 1½ MEET THE ARTISTS! You are welcome to meet the hours before the performance until the last patron conductor and guest artists in the backstage Green leaves Music Hall. An emergency medical technician Room after most performances. Ushers can assist you. is on duty from one hour before the concert until all patrons have left the building. DINING Visit one of the excellent nearby restaurants or enjoy dinner at Music Hall before CSO Thursday LOST AND FOUND Our Lost and Found is located at evening concerts.