Friday Mornings

Dalia Stasevska, conductor  

Bruce Liu, piano

The CSO’s emotional range emerges in Mahler’s First Symphony — a world-building Titan that rises from ethereal beginnings to tectonic eruptions of orchestral light. The finale is truly an enormous treat. Bruce Liu, First Prize Winner of the 18th Chopin International Piano Competition, makes his Music Hall debut with Prokofiev’s colorful and fantastically cinematic Third Piano Concerto. 

Carlos Miguel Prieto, conductor

Francesco Piemontesi, piano
Catalina Cuervo, soprano

A trio of influencers had hands in creating the Three-Cornered Hat — the impresario Sergei Diaghilev, Pablo Picasso and composer Manuel de Falla. De Falla’s ballet score stands apart, setting a lighthearted story (a love triangle) to dances full to the brim with Spanish flair and castanets. Gabriela Ortiz’s Téenek transcends place and time, and pianist Francesco Piemontesi joins the CSO for Beethoven’s gentle and poetic Piano Concerto No. 4.

Christian Reif, conductor
Ilya Finkelshteyn, cello

The richness and beauty of the cello comes through brilliantly when CSO Principal Cello Ilya Finkelshteyn plays the spellbinding melodies of Saint-Saëns’ firework First Concerto. The magical evening ties-in music by Mozart and Jimmy Lopez Bellido, each inspired by fairy tales. Prokofiev’s poignant and profound orchestral farewell provides a thrilling showpiece for the entire Orchestra.

The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra world premiere commission of a New Work by Jimmy López Bellido is made possible by a generous gift from Kari and Jon Ullman.

John Storgårds, conductor

Gil Shaham, violin

This Valentine’s weekend, fall in love with the intensity and driving pulse of Brahms’ last symphony, an exhilarating bouquet of heart-on-sleeve melodies and relentless passion. Violin virtuoso Gil Shaham brings his signature joy and pitch-perfect technique to Dvořák’s Violin Concerto and conductor John Storgårds returns, starting the program with the CSO premiere of music by Victoria Polevá.

Case Scaglione, conductor

Simone Lamsma, violin

Beethoven’s symphonies are revolutionary, genre-defining triumphs. The Third, originally titled “Bonaparte,” in dedication to Napoleon, creates a conquering storm that doesn’t resolve until the very end. Soloist Simone Lamsma returns for Max Bruch’s astonishingly beautiful and ultra-challenging First Violin Concerto and the CSO begins with Lili Boulanger’s introspective ode to spring.

Damon Gupton, conductor

Michelle Cann, piano

Grieg’s Piano Concerto is a jewel that dazzles from every angle. One of the most famous and enjoyable works of all time, its radiant charms shine in the hands of pianist and former MAC Music Innovator Michelle Cann. Pops Principal Guest Conductor Damon Gupton leads the CSO in a treasure trove of evocative works, from Dvořák's symphonic poem of Slavic mythology to Duke Ellington’s many hues.

The appearance of Michelle Cann is made possible by a generous gift from the William Hurford and Lesley Gilbertson Family Fund for Guest Pianists.