MAY 2017 MAY 2017 FANFARE FANFARECINCINNTI CINCINNTI CINCINNATISYMPHONY.ORG MAY 2017 MAY CINCINNATISYMPHONY.ORG CYNTHI ERIVO Cynthia Erivo and Sons of Serendip Cynthia Erivoheadline and Sons Classical of Serendip Roots headline Classical Roots PGE 33 PGE 33 PGE 21 PGE 45 PGE 49 PGE 60 MidoriPGE returns 21 ith Pianist,PGE singer 45 & SeasonPGE Finale: 49 CSOPGE Chamber 60 Players Midori returns ith Pianist, singer & CSO Chamber Players Britten’s Violin Concerto songriter Ben Folds Stravinsky’sSeason Finale: Firebird present Spring Britten’s Violin Concerto makessongriter Pops Ben debut Folds Stravinsky’s Firebird Inspirationpresent Spring makes Pops debut Inspiration 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. 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. MAY 2017 CONTENTS CONCERTS 47 Multi-platinum-selling singer/ songwriter/producer Ben Folds is widely regarded as one of the major 21 CSO: Violin Legends: Midori, May 4 & 6 music influencers of our generation. 31 Guest artists: Robert Treviño, conductor; He’ll bring his unique blend of rock, Midori, violinist piano-pop and jazz to the Taft May 9 33 Classical Roots: May 5 for a one-night-only debut with the 38 Guest artists: Cynthia Erivo, vocalist; Cincinnati Pops. Sons of Serendip; Blake-Anthony Johnson, cellist; Classical Roots Community Mass Choir; 58 Hailed by the Washington Post CSYO Nouveau Chamber Players as a “lioness at the keyboard,” Anna 45 Pops: Ben Folds, May 9 Vinnitskaya debuts with the CSO 47 Guest artists: Ben Folds; Sarah Hicks, and guest conductor Gilbert Varga conductor May 12–13. She’ll perform the fiery Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 2, and 49 CSO: Stravinsky’s Firebird, May 12–13 the concerts (and the season) close 58 Guest artists: Gilbert Varga, conductor; with Stravinsky’s exotic Firebird Suite. Anna Vinnitskaya, pianist 60 CSO Chamber Players: Spring Inspiration, May 12 NEWS 31 One of the most admired violinists 11 Snapshots from the Orchestra’s Asia Tour of her generation, Midori returns to the CSO stage May 4/6 for concerts 12 Feature: Classical Roots: Building Bridges featuring Britten’s technically dazzling Violin Concerto. Strauss’ dynamic Also sprach Zarathustra (think 2001: A Space DEPARTMENTS Odyssey) closes the program. 38 Cynthia Erivo, who made her 6 A Letter from the Board Chair award-winning Broadway debut 8 Your Concert Experience starring as Celie in the critically Orchestra Roster acclaimed revival of The Color Purple, 10 headlines the annual Classical Roots 14 Artistic Leadership: Louis Langrée and concert May 5 at Crossroads Church John Morris Russell Oakley, along with vocal/instrumental 15 Music Hall Renovation Update group Sons of Serendip and the 17 If It Sounds Good, It Is Good! by JMR Classical Roots Community Mass Choir. 18 Spotlight: Patty Wagner 63 Boards 65 Financial Support 71 Administration 72 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 ON THE COVER Broadway star Cynthia Erivo 441 Vine Street, Eighth Floor stars alongside the CSO and Classical Roots Community Cincinnati, OH 45202 Mass Choir in this year’s Classical Roots concert Administrative Offices: 513.621.1919 at Crossroads Church Oakley. The annual concert [email protected] celebrates African-American music traditions. Temporary Box Office & Concert Venue Taft Theatre 317 East 5th Street CINCINNATI MAGAZINE: Cincinnati, OH 45202 Advertising and Publishing Partners 513.381.3300 for Fanfare Cincinnati [email protected] Publisher Ivy Bayer Group Sales Director of Advertising 513.744.3590 Tammy Vilaboy [email protected] Art & Production Manager Julie Whitaker TTY/TDD Marketing Director Use TTY/TDD Relay Service 7-1-1 Chris Ohmer cincinnatisymphony.org | cincinnatipops.org Advertising & Marketing Designer Emily Nevius facebook.com/CincySymphony or /CincinnatiPops Custom Publishing Account Manager twitter.com/CincySymphony or /CincinnatiPops Maggie Wint Goecke Senior Outside Account Representative Laura Bowling Operations Director RECYCLE FANFARE CINCINNATI Missy Beiting Business Coordinator You are welcome to take this copy of Erica Birkle Fanfare Cincinnati home with you as a souvenir of your concert experience. Advertising and Business Offices Alternatively, please share Fanfare Carew Tower 441 Vine Street, Suite 200 Cincinnati with a friend or leave it with Cincinnati, OH 45202 an usher for recycling. Thank you! 513.421.4300 Subscriptions: 1.800.846.4333 cincinnatimagazine.com 4 | FANFARE CINCINNATI | cincinnatisymphony.org Plant NATIVE! By planting native flowers, shrubs and trees, you are helping to provide critical food sources and habitat for declining populations of monarch butterflies, bees and other pollinators. www.CincyNature.org A LETTER FROM THE BOARD CHAIR Dear Friends, new CSO subscription season beginning October 6 and the Cincinnati Pops subscription season begin- On behalf of my fellow Board members, our dedi- ning October 13 in a Music Hall, with long-awaited cated staff and talented musicians, welcome to the updates and upgrades that retain and even enhance Taft Theatre! the Hall’s historic grandeur. It will be nothing short As we search for a successor to Cincinnati Sym- of spectacular! phony Orchestra President Trey Devey following his Prior to our Music Hall return, there is much more eight extraordinary years at the helm, I want to assure to look forward to with the May Festival later this you that the CSO has the most compelling success month right here at the Taft Theatre, performances story of any American orchestra, and the Board is this summer with Cincinnati Opera at the Aronoff confident we will identify and attract excellent can- Center for the Arts, our “Patriotic Pops” celebration didates from across the country to fill this important with John Morris Russell at Riverbend, and Orchestra position. That search process is well underway. We performances around the community. At the end are also confident that the organization’s senior of August, the Orchestra will then embark on the management team, whose members average nine second of our two 2017 international tours, this time years of experience with the Orchestra, will provide to Europe. We are proud to represent the Queen City. leadership and ensure a smooth transition as the Thank you again for your continued support, and CSO’s mission continues to be advanced during this enjoy the performance! transition period. This month marks the end of our “home away from home” season at the Taft Theatre, and what a season it’s been. We are so grateful to all of you for taking this journey with us while our beloved Music Francie Hiltz Hall has been undergoing an important and much- Chair needed renovation. We are all looking forward to the Board of Directors Dividends ... the freedom to look forward. RELIABLE INCOME = RELIABLE OUTCOME Through our mission of growing income through dividends, Bahl & Gaynor endeavors to protect www.bahl-gaynor.com 513.287.6100 and grow our clients’ hard-earned wealth and Cincinnati, OH help fulfill their life goals. INDIVIDUALS | INSTITUTIONS | FINANCIAL ADVISORS 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