March & April 2024
The Sound of the Orchestra
by Ken Smith
With Louis Langrée’s tenure as Music Director drawing to a close, audiences and musicians alike have pondered the past decade of life at the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. One of the most vivid changes, many agree, is still evident even when Langrée is nowhere near the podium. Apart from the world premieres and partnerships with other creative artists, a particularly notable component of Langrée’s legacy at the CSO has been the current sound of the Orchestra itself.
The American Mosaic
by Tyler M. Secor & Scot Buzza
The Dream of America and the idea of the American “mosaic” are behind the Cincinnati Pops’ April 12–14 concerts, which open with local performers representing international communities and feature Peter Boyer’s poignant celebration of the American immigrant experience, Ellis Island: The Dream of America. JMR shares his thoughts on the American mosaic and Boyer discusses the inspiring immigrant stories behind Ellis Island.
LETTER
Welcome from the President and CEO
On stage, in the community and through the stories that touch our lives, the Orchestra continually seeks to share inspiration with our entire Cincinnati community.
LOUIS LANGRÉE, PART IV: SIDEBAR
20 Minutes with Louis Langrée
The CSO’s outgoing music director speaks with Ken Smith about what he looks for in auditions.
CSO FEATURE
Symphonic Symbolism
Richard Strauss took representational music to new heights with his instrumental tone poems.
POPS SIDEBAR
Anti-German Sentiment + Ernst Kunwald
On November 21, 1917, the day before the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra was due to take the stage with conductor Ernst Kunwald at the Syria Mosque in Pittsburgh, Director Charles S. Hubbard of the Department of Public Safety, at the urging of the Daughters of the American Revolution, issued the following statement that “all German music should be excluded from the program, and that Dr. Kunwald must not appear as the conductor.
SPOTLIGHT
Why We Give
From full concerts at Music Hall to small pop-up performances in local neighborhoods and everything in between, our generous and dedicated donors, sponsors and concertgoers make it all possible. This article shares the special stories behind why our donors give to the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Cincinnati Pops—each reason is different, but their passion for this Orchestra is a constant. Our donors and their inspiring stories will ensure that the unique sound of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Cincinnati Pops will always resound.
SPOTLIGHT
Being Concertmaster is Much More Than “Give Me an A”
When the sounds of pre-concert warm-up subside, either violinist Stefani Matsuo or Felicity James stands and gives Principal Oboe Dwight Parry a nod to play the familiar concert “A” pitch for final tuning: first the winds and brass and, finally, the strings.
SPECIAL FEATURE
New Energy at the May Festival
“For a lot of years, we didn’t make many changes here,” says Steven Sunderman, the May Festival’s executive director. “But with this—our new artistic model—I think we are making a real statement for our future.”
ISSUE
Full Issue
Read the full March & April 2024 Fanfare Magazine issue.