John Morris Russell, conductor
Michael Chertock, piano
Julie Spangler, piano
Poetry performed by A.J. Baldwin
Poetry written by Erica Reid
Illustrations by Katie Baker

CAMILLE SAINT-SAËNS: Carnival of the Animals

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Louis Langrée, conductor

Kirill Gerstein, piano

GEORGE WALKER: Folksongs for Orchestra
DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH: Concerto No. 2 in F Major for Piano and Orchestra
ZOLTÁN KODÁLY: Galántai táncok (Dances of Galánta)

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INSIGHTS
from Music Director Louis Langrée 

Tonight’s concert will be a celebration with joyful, energetic, dance-like music and a beloved piano concerto from the repertoire. We begin with a fusion of the African-American Spiritual tradition and the symphonic tradition, George Walker’s Folksongs for Orchestra. Walker’s setting allows for the ethos of the lyrics to be dramatically conveyed through orchestral colors and the passing of fragmented melodic material from instrument to instrument.

Next, we welcome back the fantastic pianist Kirill Gerstein to play Dmitri Shostakovich’s exuberant and tender second piano concerto. The work was a birthday present to his 19-year-old son, Maxim, who premiered it at his piano grad-uation from the Moscow Conservatory in May 1957. Dmitri included a few musical jokes in the third movement by quoting the notorious Czerny finger exercises—a good way to ensure his son practiced. Maxim went on to have a career as a conductor, and guest conducted the CSO twice, both times choosing programs that paid homage to his father. In 1983 he conducted the Symphony No. 10, and in 1984 he conducted the Symphony No. 13, Babi Yar, at the May Festival.

Lastly you will hear Zoltán Kodály’s exhila-rating Galántai táncok (“Dances of Galánta”), a highly expressive and virtuosic orchestral gem. Kodály uses gypsy melodies to craft five elaborate Hungarian dances, each more frenzied than the last—until the piece ends in stomping, roaring, and irresistible energy!

John Morris Russell, conductor
Jessica Hendy, vocalist
Melvin Tunstall III, vocalist
Veronica Stern, vocalist

JOHN KANDER & FRED EBB: Cabaret from Cabaret
FRANK WILDHORN: This is the Moment from Jekyll & Hyde
CLAUDE-MICHEL SCHONBERG & ALAIN BOUBLIL: I Dreamed a Dream from Les Misérables
BOB CREW & BOB GAUDIO: Can't Take My Eyes Off You from Jersey Boys
ANDREW LOYD WEBBER: Memory from Cats
LEONARD BERNSTEIN & STEPHEN SONDHEIM: Somewhere from West Side Story
LEONARD BERNSTEIN: Three Dance Episodes from On the Town
MITCH LEIGH & JOE DARION: Impossible Dream from Man of La Mancha
STEPHEN SCHWARTZ: Defying Gravity from Wicked
LUTHER VANDROSS: A Brand New Day from The Wiz

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If It Sounds Good, It Is Good
from Pops Conductor John Morris Russell

Musical theatre is about empathy—the panoply of emotions expressed through the full gamut of American musical styles brings us together as Americans like few other share experiences. Our opening concert—the first concert of the new year and the first in-person presentation in Music Hall for nearly 10 months—celebrates Broadway with a message of HOPE. Songs from inspirational shows like Man of La Mancha, West Side Story, Les Misérables and Carousel capture the dreams, fears and passions we ALL experience in our own lives, with melodies and lyrics that transport us into the heart and soul of characters who are part of our collective mythology. A song like “Defying Gravity” or “I Dreamed a Dream” is transformative and, in the voice of a brilliant artist, has the power to bring us light in the darkest times.

The old adage “the show must go on!” could not be more apropos. Our audience will be appropriately “socially distanced,” as will our Orchestra, but we will make the most of our peculiar situation by employing smaller numbers similar to those that might be squeezed into a Broadway “pit.” The sound might not be as lush as our full Pops Orchestra, but our lean-and-mean ensemble bristles with a sonic energy highlighted by the brilliance of individual musicians.

The centerpiece of the program is Bernstein’s “Three Dance Episodes” from On the Town, with orchestrations that mimic the original pit orchestra—it’s like a cross between a jazz band and a small orchestra. These dances were extracted from the Broadway show to create a concert suite that represents some of Bernstein’s greatest work. They’re jazzy, evocative, playful, soulful and fun! The Orchestra is also featured in a medley from Chicago that imitates the sound of the Roaring Twenties with a ragtime-jazz inspired score. It smokes!

We have three singers joining us, all of whom are associated with the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM). One of our Pops traditions—beginning long before my days as Associate Conductor of the CSO—is to give some of the rising stars within CCM’s Musical Theatre program their first professional engagement. “Home for the Holidays” at the Taft Theatre (for those who remember!) opened the door to many BIG careers, and concerts over my last ten years as conductor of the Pops have sparkled with both returning alums and the newest talent from CCM.

Jessica Hendy returns to the Pops for the first time since her debut more than a decade ago and is as familiar a face on Cincinnati stages as she is in New York. She has appeared in numerous Broadway and touring productions—her biggest gig has been the role of Grizabella in the Broadway revival of CATS. And yes, folks, she’ll be singing “Memory” like nobody else—she owns it. Jessica’s latest project is the creation of a one-woman autobiographical musical, With Beckett, which is poised to become a new sensation. Broadway veteran and CCM alum Melvin Tunstall III also joins us; in addition to his performing credits, he enjoys a robust career as a playwright and song writer. Veronica Stern makes her professional debut with the Pops this weekend—as a current student at CCM, she has experienced real challenges this year, so our concerts together are so very special for all of us.

Our program ends with a trio of songs that could have been written for us all at THIS moment in time: “The Impossible Dream,” a paean to perseverance; “Defying Gravity,” an anthem of overcoming adversity; and “A Brand New Day,” a song of hope. At a time when the world seems to be spinning off its axis, music gives us the courage and strength to move forward, rebuild, renew, and work together for something so much bigger than ourselves.

Cheers,