July 22, 2008

Single Tickets for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s Blockbuster Season

Available August 11
Tickets start at only $12

CINCINNATI – On the heels of a great season and celebrated European tour that saw sold out concert halls in Paris, Madrid, Amsterdam, Vienna and Munich, the internationally acclaimed Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra is getting ready for the highly anticipated 2008-2009 season.  Single tickets go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. on Monday, August 11, and start at only $12.  Tickets will be available online at www.cincinnatisymphony.org, at the CSO Box Office located in historic Music Hall, or by calling (513) 381-3300.  Subscribers for the upcoming season are able to purchase single tickets starting Monday, August 4.  A wide range of subscription packages are available now at the CSO Box Office.  

Music Director Paavo Järvi leads 14 weeks with 33 concerts. The season brings 10 guest conductors to the podium and features eight pianists, seven violinists, two cellists, three wind, brass and percussion soloists and the May Festival Chorus. Twelve artists make debuts with the orchestra and superstar artists like André Watts, Midori, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, Emmanuel Pahud, Radu Lupu and Yefim Bronfman take the Music Hall stage.

Pairing standard repertoire with rarely heard or newer works has been the hallmark of Paavo Järvi’s programming at Cincinnati’s Music Hall. The 2008-2009 season features a world premiere, two U.S. premieres and nine CSO premieres.

“This season, the CSO is presenting the real star power,” said CSO Music Director Paavo Järvi. “We are performing with the top names in classical music, but we are also introducing some important rising stars. It is a careful balance — established artists, and new talent combined with classical masterworks and new music — it is a programming puzzle that I enjoy putting together each season.”

Mega-Watt Opening Weekend
The CSO opens its 114th season September 12-13 at Music Hall with the star power of pianist André Watts performing Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2. Paavo Järvi and the CSO open the program with Tchaikovsky’s Festival Coronation March and close with Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances.

The Bartók Project
The CSO salutes the genius of 20th Century giant Béla Bartók, known for a powerful fusion of folk and modernist styles. Three concert weekends (Jan. 9-10, March 5-7 and 13-14) and a recording project comprise The Bartók Project which will include discussion, film and chamber music events. The CSO will perform Bartók’s Piano Concerto No. 1, Two Portraits, Dance Suite and Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta.

“Following the success of last season’s Stravinsky Festival, I thought it would be a good idea to explore another 20th Century musical master,” said Järvi. “I have always been drawn to the sound world of Bartók — he was a pioneer and he redefined how to present the old world folk music through a 20th Century spectrum. It is the modernist approach that I really like.”

It was Bartók himself who performed his first piano concerto at its US premiere with the CSO under Fritz Reiner in 1928.

Distinguished Guest Conductors
The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra is known for being on the cutting-edge of young conductor debuts, and this season is no exception. Exciting young conductors, James Gaffigan and Vasily Petrenko make their CSO debuts and New York Philharmonic Music Director Designate Alan Gilbert returns to the CSO stage where he made his second major symphony conducting appearance in the U.S.

Celebrated Mahler expert Gilbert Kaplan makes his CSO debut conducting Mahler Symphony No. 2, Resurrection with the May Festival Chorus. Kaplan is widely regarded as one of the foremost interpreters of this work. Prior to the concerts, Kaplan will deliver a fascinating multimedia presentation, “The World of Gustav Mahler,” featuring more than 150 historical photographs and illustrations, along with 30 recorded musical excerpts. These concerts recall a great moment in musical history 100 years ago when Mahler stood on the podium at Carnegie Hall and unveiled this symphony to America.

“Gilbert Kaplan’s Mahler 2 will be as much an event as it is a concert,” said Järvi. “He is conducting the U.S. premiere of his critical edition of the score. This is not to be missed.”

Conductors Xian Zhang, Sir Roger Norrington, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos and Yan Pascal Tortelier return to the CSO stage.

Diverse Roster of Guest Artists

Paavo Järvi and the CSO host a diverse roster of guest artists including rising stars and established favorites. Talented artists returning to the Music Hall stage include violinists Midori, Christian Tetzlaff, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg and Julia Fischer; pianists André Watts, Yefim Bronfman, Radu Lupu, Louis Lortie, Stewart Goodyear, Nicholas Angelich, Denis Matsuev and Jon Kimura Parker.

Flute legend Emmanuel Pahud and percussion favorite Colin Currie return to the CSO stage.

Acclaimed cellists Gautier Capuçon and Johannes Moser make their CSO debuts.

Showcasing the talent within the orchestra, the CSO’s own Principal French Horn Elizabeth Freimuth and Principal Second Violin Gabriel Pegis make their solo debuts with the orchestra.

Jeffrey Mumford World Premiere and Composer Residency
Paavo Järvi and the CSO are committed to bringing new works to the concert stage. American composer Jeffrey Mumford will be in residence with the CSO leading up to the world premiere of his new work on March 27-28. The piece was commissioned for the CSO by Ann and Harry Santen in honor of their 50th wedding anniversary.

CSO TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets are $12-$83.50 and are available by phone at (513) 381-3300, on the Internet at www.cincinnatisymphony.org, and in person at:

• CSO Box Office at Music Hall, 1241 Elm Street, Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• CSO Box Office at Music Hall 2 hours prior to the performance.
• Student Tickets for CSO concerts are $10 in advance and $12 day-of-concert. They are available beginning Monday of the performance week at the CSO Sales Office, over the phone at 513-381-3300, or online at www.cincinnatisymphony.org (limit two tickets per valid student ID).
• Xtreme Seats are available in the first few rows for just $12 or $18.  No other discounts apply.
• Senior Tickets (age 62+) are 25% off and are available the week of the concert in person at the CSO Sales Office, over the phone at (513) 381-3300, or online at www.cincinnatisymphony.org.

Advantages for Subscribers: Savings, Priority Seating, Flexibility and Service
CSO subscribers get significant discounts off single ticket prices (up to 32 percent), the best seats available, and the opportunity to purchase additional tickets before they go on sale to the general public August 11. Subscribers also receive the advantages of a completely flexible and free ticket exchange policy and discounts on single tickets and recordings. New this year: Paavo’s Picks, concerts hand-selected by Paavo. Add any Paavo’s Pick to your subscription at 25% off.

2008-2009 Subscription Packages
In addition to packages of 24, 20, 16 and 12 concerts, the CSO offers four 8-concert series and two 6-concert series as well as the 5-concert Thursday night series with pre-concert dinner and the 4-concert Family Sundays that fit a broad range of schedules and musical tastes.

NEW! Premier Subscriber Club Subscribe to 8 or more concerts and receive:

• One FREE seat upgrade per season
• One FREE “Oops Voucher” to redeem after a missed concert
• Bring friends and save $10 on single-ticket add-ons all season long

Thursdays–a great weekend alternative                                   
The 7:30 p.m. Thursdays series offers audiences the same great CSO performances as on other evenings, with the added benefit of a complimentary dinner in the Music Hall ballroom beginning at 6:15 p.m.

CSO Sundays offers four Sundays at 3 p.m.
In response to audience demand for matinee concerts and a series that fits the schedule of the entire family as well as those who are unable to attend evening concerts, the eighth season of CSO Sundays continues. Each 3 p.m. Students ages 6 to 18 receive a special subscription price of $20 for these four concerts. 

Subscriptions for the CSO 2008-2009 Music Hall Season are available in the following series:

• 4-concert series on Sunday Afternoons at 3 p.m.
• 5-concert series on Thursday evenings at 7:30 p.m.
• 6 and 12-concert series on Friday evenings at 8 p.m.
• 8-concert series on Friday mornings at 11 a.m.
• 8, 16 and 24-concert series on Saturday evenings at 8 p.m.
•    20-concert series, comprising 8 concerts on Friday mornings at 11 a.m. and 12 concerts on Friday evenings at 8 p.m.

The CSO gratefully acknowledges support from the following: