Saturday Evenings A
MAHLER SYMPHONY NO. 1
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.
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Program
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GINASTERA: “Malambo” from Four Dances from Estancia
PROKOFIEV: Piano Concerto No. 3
MAHLER: Symphony No. 1, Titan
THE THREE-CORNERED HAT
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.
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Program
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GABRIELA ORTIZ: Téenek – Invenciones de Territorio
BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 4
FALLA: Three-Cornered Hat
THE MAGIC CELLO
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.
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Program
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MOZART: Overture to The Magic Flute
Jimmy López BELLIDO: New Work (CSO co-commission)SAINT-SAËNS: Cello Concerto No. 1
PROKOFIEV: Symphony No. 7
BRAHMS SYMPHONY NO. 4
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.
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Program
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Victoria POLEVÁ: Symphony No. 3, White Interment
DVOŘÁK: Violin Concerto
BRAHMS: Symphony No. 4
BEETHOVEN SYMPHONY NO. 3
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.
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Program
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L. BOULANGER: D’un matin de printemps ("Of a Spring Morning")
BRUCH: Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 3, Eroica
GRIEG & ELLINGTON
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.
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Program
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DVOŘÁK: The Noon Witch
GREIG: Piano Concerto
STRAVINSKY: Scherzo à la russe
HONEGGER: Pastorale d’été
ELLINGTON: Black, Brown and Beige