John Morris Russell, conductor

Stephen Schwartz, piano & host
Shaleah Adkisson, vocalist

Scott Coulter, vocalist

Debbie Gravitte, vocalist

Michael McCorry Rose, vocalist
John Boswell, piano

Grammy and Oscar-winning composer and musical icon Stephen Schwartz joins conductor John Morris Russell and the Pops for breathtaking performances of his exquisite songs in an unforgettable evening of musical theatre from Godspell to Wicked and beyond. Featuring award-winning Broadway vocalists, the legendary songwriter and his friends open the season with classics like “Day by Day,”  “Corner of the Sky,” “Beautiful City” and “Defying Gravity.”

Christian Reif, conductor

Clara-Jumi Kang, violin

The 1913 premiere of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring was perhaps the most famous opening-night scandal in history. Confronted with its primal and untamed nature, its first audience was ignited into a riot, instantly cementing its reputation as a work that, to this day, triggers visceral responses. Conductor Christian Reif sets the stage for our wild encounter with a light and airy dance by Manuel de Falla and violinist Clara-Jumi Kang, bringing her poise to Prokofiev's second violin concerto.

Samuel Lee, conductor

Daniel Wiley, conductor

CSO Assistant Conductors Samuel Lee and Daniel Wiley will conduct the CSO in a performance featuring composers of EarShot, the nation’s first ongoing, systematic program for creating relationships between orchestras and composers. EarShot is operated in partnership with the American Composers Forum, New Music USA, and the League of American Orchestras. The composers will be mentored by CSO Music Director Louis Langrée.

Louis Langrée, conductor

Created to give a platform to talented young African American pianists, the previous rounds of the Competition took place this summer in Cincinnati on the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music campus. The Competition aims to get more African American artists on concert stages, to commission new works, and to add more African American pianistic voices to the classical canon. Join the competition's three finalists as they come together with Louis Langrée and the CSO to compete for the grand prize on Music Hall's stage.

Andy Einhorn, conductor
Audra McDonald, vocalist

Audra McDonald returns to the Music Hall stage, after her sold-out performance with the Pops in 2018! The winner of a record-breaking six Tony Awards, two Grammys, an Emmy, and the National Medal of Arts, Audra is unparalleled in her versatility as both a singer and actor. Audra has appeared on the Broadway stage in Carousel, Ragtime and Sweeney Todd, and film and television credits include, The Good Fight, Respect and The Gilded Age. This one-night-only event is sure to sell out!

Louis Langrée, conductor
George Takei, narrator

The CSO performs music of American composers representing a variety of perspectives. Bernstein’s optimistic Candide and gripping score to the Oscarwinning film On the Waterfront frame a program including Copland’s Lincoln Portrait, a reprise from Louis Langrée’s first CSO subscription concert as Music Director, and Florence Price’s Symphony No. 1. In 1933, Price’s magnificent, tour de force Symphony No. 1 was the first symphonic work by a Black woman to be played by a major American orchestra.

Ramón Tebar, conductor

Jonathan Biss, piano

Enjoy an evening of orchestral treasures, as conductor Ramón Tebar and the CSO spring into action with John Adams’ favorite, Short Ride in a Fast Machine. Then, pianist Jonathan Bliss performs Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4, intertwining delicate lyricism with bold expression. Another “fourth” rounds out the program, this time with Tchaikovsky's Fourth Symphony, a tumultuous masterpiece that explores fate and triumph through lush orchestrations and dramatic melodies.

Damon Gupton, Conductor

Join Pops Principal Guest Conductor Damon Gupton and the Cincinnati Pops for a symphonic celebration of Disney music, animation, and memories — 100 years in the making! Favorite characters and soundtracks from Walt Disney Animation Studios and Disney Parks come together live on stage and on the big screen at Music Hall in a live-to-film concert like never before. Journey on a magic carpet ride through the most memorable song, score and movie moments of the first 100 years of The Walt Disney Company, including Peter Pan, Moana, Aladdin, The Jungle Book, Frozen, The Lion King, Fantasia, Encanto, Disney Parks classics and more.

James Gaffigan, conductor

Fantasy kingdoms, scandalous love affairs, dwarfs, giants, and powerful music. Game of Thrones? Tolkien? Actually, before those came the Ring cycle, Wagner’s master achievement in his quest to create an all-encompassing theatrical experience. Conductor James Gaffigan returns to lead the CSO in a concert compilation of Wagner’s four epic operas, on a program that opens with two musical gems: Bacewicz’s delightfully bracing Overture and Mozart’s well-known Eine kleine Nachtmusik.

Calling all ghosts and ghouls! Costumes are encouraged for this family-friendly event featuring spooktacular music sure to thrill and delight our youngest listeners, and even those who are young at heart.

Lollipops Family concerts introduce young ones to the world of orchestral music with fun, interactive concert experiences—perfect for children, ages or ability, of 2-9. Come early for activities and crafts!

Gustavo Gimeno, conductor

Christian Tetzlaff, violin

“One of today’s most in-demand violinists” (NPR), Christian Tetzlaff returns to Music Hall after last showcasing his “jaw-dropping virtuosity” (Cincinnati Enquirer) here in the Queen City in 2017. Conductor Gustavo Gimeno leads Tetzlaff and the CSO in Szymanowski’s sweepingly lyrical Violin Concerto and the first part of a multi-year trilogy by composer Daníel Bjarnason. Tchaikovsky’s wellspring of melodies is on display in his Fifth Symphony — opening with a fateful funeral march, winding through a sonorous solo horn song and lilting waltz, then finishing with bombastic brass.

Louis Langrée, conductor
Stéphane Degout, baritone, Hamlet
Jodie Devos, soprano, Ophélie

Laurent Alvaro, bass, Claudius

Béatrice Uria-Monzon, 

mezzo-soprano, Gertrude

Aaron McKone, tenor, Laërte
Logan Wagner, tenor, Marcellus / premier

fossoyeur

Michael Anthony McGee, bass-

baritone, Horatio / first gravedigger

May Festival Chorus, Robert Porco,

director

"To be or not to be….” French composer Ambroise Thomas’ grand opera is a musical setting of Shakespeare’s story of the melancholic Prince Hamlet, his murderous uncle, ghostly father,and lover driven to madness. Louis Langrée leads the CSO and May Festival Chorus in this new touring production created in collaboration with Paris’ famed Ópera Comique.

Dalia Stasevska, conductor
Davóne Tines, baritone

Dalia Stasevska returns to lead a Thanksgiving weekend of music that calls us home. Music drawn from the American heartland opens the program, with the beloved “Goin’ Home” theme from Dvořák’s New World Symphony, George Walker’s Lyric for Strings, and baritone Davóne Tines performing Saariaho’s True Fire, a work based on Native American texts and Emmerson’s Spiritual Laws. Sibelius’s Fifth Symphony provides a finale of sweeping and grand themes, evoking the spirit of Stasevska's own Finnish homeland.

Christian Reif, conductor

Julia Bullock, soprano
Jasmin White, contralto

Anthony Roth Costanzo, countertenor

Davóne Tines, baritone

In a new arrangement created by conductor Christian Reif, John Adams' massive revisionist opera-oratorio is transformed into an intimate setting for chamber orchestra. Interweaving biblical verse with poetry by Latin American writers, El Niño considers the Nativity story from Mary's perspective and explores in Adams' words, "what is meant by a miracle."

Case Scaglione, conductor
Randolph Bowman, flute
Henrik Heide, flute
Stefani Matsuo, violin

Two extremes of orchestral scale combine for a showcase of the CSO that’s both intimate and expansive. Conductor Case Scaglione makes his CSO debut with Bach’s beautifully playful Brandenburg Concerto No. 4, which highlights individual virtuosity within a smaller ensemble, alongside Mahler’s Symphony No. 5. First performed in the U.S. by the CSO, Mahler’s Fifth Symphony employs an orchestra of impressive proportions, from its iconic trumpet opening to the beloved, emotional Adagietto.

John Morris Russell, conductor
Capathia Jenkins, vocalist

It’s the most wonderful time of the year with JMR, the Pops and Cincinnati’s beloved Holiday tradition! Music Hall will be decked-out as choruses, dancers, and Queen City favorite Capathia Jenkins bring festive favorites and holiday classics to life.

Anthony Parnther, conductor

The fate of the Resistance hangs in the balance! New heroes and galactic legends join forces as Rey seeks the aid of Luke Skywalker to thwart the rise of Kylo Ren and the First Order. The Last Jedi unlocks mysteries of the Force and shocking revelations of the past on the big screen as the full force of the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra performs John Williams’ acclaimed score live to film.

John Morris Russell, conductor
Denzal Sinclaire, vocalist

JMR and The Pops ring in 2024 with the sophisticated jazz stylings of Edward “Duke” Ellington to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the legendary pianist and composers’ birth. Swing to the classic and elegant sounds of “Duke” as we celebrate New Year's Eve in style.

Sir Donald Runnicles, conductor

Daniil Trifonov, piano

Sir Donald Runnicles, celebrated for his interpretations of Romantic symphonic repertoire, leads an all-Brahms program, joining forces with powerhouse pianist Daniil Trifonov, following his stunning solo Music Hall performance in 2022. Together, they explore Brahms’ more brooding and emotional side in his Piano Concerto No. 1. Runnicles then conducts the CSO in Brahms’ Symphony No. 2, from its iconic “lullaby” to its cheerfully triumphant and brass-filled finale.

Steve Hackman, conductor and creator

A transformative exploration of life, death, legacy, struggle and triumph, Notorious B.I.G. x Tupac x Mahler fuses the groundbreaking music of Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur with Mahler’s Second Symphony, Resurrection. As the symphony unfolds, the words of Biggie and Tupac ring out, speaking of the hard road they faced in ’Everyday Struggle,’ the ravaging of their communities in ‘Ghetto Gospel,’ and social justice in ‘Changes.’ This mixtape reminds us all of the profound legacy of these two artists, who, twenty-five years after their deaths, are as relevant and essential as ever.

Rob Fisher, conductor

Seductive hip thrusts, finger snaps, “wah-wah” trumpets and — murder! Or, rather, an alleged murder. Chicago’s electrifying tale of greed, corruption, exploitation, adultery and yes, murder, is the longest running American musical in Broadway history and has now been reimagined for the concert hall! Roxie, Velma, Amos, Billy, and the Merry Murderesses of the Cook County Jail will bring you everything you know and love about the “Cell Block Tango,” “Mr. Cellophane,” “Nowadays,” and the rest of the dynamic score, including “All That Jazz.” Whether it is your first experience or you’re a long-time fan, Chicago with the Cincinnati Pops will have a special razzle dazzle for you quite unlike any other.

Kevin John Edusei, conductor
George Li, piano

Conductor Kevin John Edusei leads a program that invites you to explore the concept of harmony and its many forms, beginning with Elysium by Samy Moussa, a composer who has a “gleeful sense for…shocking harmony” (Los Angeles Times). John Adams describes his rhythmically and harmonically complex Harmonielehre as a parody “without the intent to ridicule”, with “shades of Mahler, Sibelius and Debussy.” Both pieces frame George Li's performance of the Second Piano Concerto from Rachmaninoff, arguably the hero of the lush, romantic style.

“Once upon a time, there were three hungry Dinosaurs: Papa Dinosaur, Mama Dinosaur ... and a Dinosaur who happened to be visiting from Norway” (Goldilocks & the Three Dinosaurs). Original music by Ben Folds brings author Mo Willems’ fractured and funny iteration on Goldilocks & the Three Bears to life on the Music Hall stage

Lollipops Family concerts introduce young ones to the world of orchestral music with fun, interactive concert experiences—perfect for children, ages or ability, of 2-9. Come early for activities and crafts!

Dame Jane Glover, conductor
Stefani Matsuo, violin
Christian Colberg, viola

Dame Jane Glover is widely regarded as a preeminent conductor of Mozart’s music. She leads an “all-Amadeus” program, showcasing CSO Concertmaster Stefani Matsuo and Principal Viola Christian Colberg in Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante in E-flat Major, K. 364. Their performance is folded between works illustrating Mozart’s evolution of the symphony from the lighter style of early composers such as Haydn to the more emotionally-infused music of Beethoven.

Cristian Mǎcelaru, conductor
Kian Soltani, cello

Grammy-winning conductor Cristian Măcelaru joins the CSO for music of two Slavic luminaries. Cellist Kian Soltani brings his expressive and charismatic presence to Lutosławski’s Cello Concerto, frequently interpreted as an escalating struggle between the seemingly heroic soloist and the orchestra representing totalitarian authority. The acclaim and popularity of his Symphony No. 11 helped Shostakovich, who had weathered criticism and persecution from the Soviet regime, win back State approval. It offers a depiction of the 1905 Russian Revolution, from the first shots of Bloody Sunday to funeral marches lamenting those who were lost.

Louis Langrée, conductor
Joélle Harvey, soprano 
Will Liverman, baritone
May Festival Chorus

With prayerful music for both the living and the dead, the source of comfort in Brahms’ German Requiem is as much human as it is the divine. Louis Langrée leads the CSO along with the May Festival Chorus in Brahms’ large-scale masterpiece. Though Brahms was often discreet in nature, this is a deeply personal work. Spurred by the loss of his mother, and influenced by lingering emotions of self-doubt, he turned to his true religion – music – as a way to console not only himself, but others as well.

Matthias Pintscher, conductor

Pierre-Laurent Aimard, piano

Inspired by his visits to Utah's Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park, Messiaen's Des canyons aux étoiles ("From the Canyons to the Stars") depicts the birdsong and red rock hues he experienced during his time in the desert. Messiaen – who was also synesthetic – heard colors and saw sounds. Accompanied by immersive video-art, Springer Auditorium will be transformed, allowing listeners to escape into the southwestern landscape and experience a synesthesia of their own.

Matthias Pintscher, conductor

Conrad Tao, piano

As the winter winds quell and the flowers of spring begin to blossom, CSO Creative Partner Matthias Pintscher conducts the Orchestra in works capturing the feeling of life beginning anew. Copland’s Appalachian Spring shines with the “Simple Gifts” of the season. After wowing CSO audiences in 2021 and 2022, pianist Conrad Tao returns for the world premiere of a CSO commissioned work from composer inti figgis-vizueta, whose music “feels sprouted between structures” (The Washington Post). Then, Schumann's Symphony No. 1 triumphantly ushers in the spring season.

John Morris Russell, conductor

Love the classic sounds of Frankie Valli, The Drifters, The Del Vikings? Join conductor John Morris Russell and the Pops for The Doo Wop Project. From foundational tunes of groups like the Crests and Flamingos through their influences on the sounds of Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, and The Four Seasons all the way to Doo Wop-ified versions of modern musicians like Michael Jackson and Jason Mraz. Featuring stars of Broadway’s smash hits Jersey Boys and Motown: The Musical, the Doo Wop Project brings unparalleled authenticity of sound and vocal excellence to recreate some of the greatest music in American pop and rock history!

Sir Mark Elder, conductor

Pavel Kolesnikov, piano

Stories of glory, chivalry and adventure abound as conductor Sir Mark Elder joins the CSO. Wagner’s Tannhäuser is a musical story of lust, love, and deliverance, as the opera’s title character makes a pilgrimage from the magical realm of Venus to his final redemption in Rome. Strauss’ Ein Heldenleben is an epic portrayal of the hero that exists in all of us, along with the accompanying joys and struggles, depicted through battling brass and tender string melodies. Pianist Pavel Kolesnikov brings his “fluid, fine-toned” (Gramophone) playing to Mozart’s melodic Piano Concerto No. 17.

Ryan Bancroft, conductor

Inon Barnatan, piano

“Music is life, and like it, it is inextinguishable.” With this declaration written at the top of his score, Carl Nielsen’s Symphony No. 4 pits the everlasting spirit of life against the horror of World War I with dramatic music leading to, what else, but a battle between two timpani! Making his CSO debut, conductor Ryan Bancroft opens this program with Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Ballade for Orchestra, and Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1, displaying the virtuosity of guest pianist Inon Barnatan, heralded by The New York Times as “one of the most admired pianists of his generation.”

John Morris Russell, conductor

Conductor John Morris Russell and the Pops present Peter Boyer’s poignant Ellis Island: The Dream of America, celebrating the historic American immigrant experience and the American dream. Innovative in its format, bringing elements of theater and multimedia, including historical images from the Ellis Island archives, performers share real stories of those arriving to America and the circumstances surrounding their journey. The program opens by showcasing the vibrancy of Cincinnati’s international communities, with choruses and dancers presenting cultural traditions from around the world.

John Morris Russell, conductor

Love and fellowship ring throughout Music Hall for one of Cincinnati's most anticipated musical traditions of each year! JMR leads the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the Classical Roots Community Choir and Nouveau Players in an evening of powerful and inspirational music.

Louis Langrée, conductor

Augustin Hadelich, violin

Schoenberg's music, before he became known as a father of 20th-century 12-tone composition, developed from the harmonic bedrock of Romantics like Brahms, Mahler and Richard Strauss. His "Transfigured Night" was further heightened when Schoenberg met the love of his life and found inspiration in poetry of hope and acceptance. Led by Louis Langrée, the CSO performs this, along with Brahms' Violin Concerto, which features the return of Grammy-winning violinist Augustin Hadelich, and a co-commission from former CSO Composer-in-Residence Jonathan Bailey Holland.

Katharina Wincor, conductor
Sheku Kanneh-Mason, cello

Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8 is filled with optimistic and lyrical music, leading to a finale of fanfares and dances. Conductor Katharina Wincor, who led the May Festival's 2022 production of Candide, returns to Music Hall and welcomes cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason for Shostakovich's raw and rhythmic first Cello Concerto.

Louis Langrée, conductor

Lutosławski’s interpretation of music for a funeral, and Bryce Dessner's Réponse Lutoslawski, inspired by the Musique funèbre, open this enlightening and introspective program. 

Louis Langrée, conductor

Alice Sara Ott, piano

If Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony is known as a musical embodiment of fate, his Seventh carries the spirit of freedom and liberation, with catchy, dance-like melodies woven throughout. Bryce Dessner, founder of Cincinnati’s MusicNOW Festival and a member of the Grammy-winning band The National, shares two of his works for orchestra.

Louis Langrée, conductor
Latonia Moore, soprano

Janni Younge, director

This is a Firebird unlike any you’ve experienced before. Louis Langrée, in his final program as Music Director, leads the CSO in the premiere of a new song cycle by Anthony Davis, whose 2007 You Have the Right to Remain Silent made a poignant impression on CSO Livestream audiences in 2020. Then, Langrée concludes his tenure in collaboration with South African director Janni Younge of Janni Younge Productions, which is critically acclaimed for imaginative puppetry designs. The result is a visually stunning performance of Stravinsky’s complete ballet score with music of enchantment, infernal dance, and a finale featuring the Firebird making a glorious appearance inside Music Hall.