Get Ready For Tonight’s Video Premiere!

We invite you to join us at 7:30 p.m. EST tonight (Dec. 11) for the premiere of CCMONSTAGE Online, our new ongoing series of digital concerts and performances.

Our first installment features the CCM Philharmonia student orchestra. Future episodes will feature performances by CCM’s many other ensembles and departments as our series continues.

Tonight’s premiere streams on CCM’s website from 7:30-8:30 p.m. EST. The performance will be available for on-demand viewing shortly after the premiere stream concludes tonight.

The premiere will begin autoplaying on our website at 7:30 p.m. with a brief countdown clock sequence. If the video does not start autoplaying on your device, please refresh the web page and then click the play button on the video player.

If you have any trouble viewing the stream on our website, you can instead access the stream on CCM’s YouTube channel.

Under the direction of CCM Professor Mark Gibson, the CCM Philharmonia performs a program of “Classical Virtuosity” with works by Claude Debussy/Maurice Ravel, Ottorino Respighi, Julia Perry and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.


Learn More About The Series

Video production by MasseyGreenAVP, LLC. This digital performance series is made possible by support from CCMONSTAGE Online Broadcast Sponsors CCMpower and ArtsWave, and CCMONSTAGE Online Production Sponsors Dr. & Mrs. Carl G. Fischer.

CCM News CCM Video CCMONSTAGE
Students in the CCM Philharmonia perform in a still image from the first installment of CCMONSTAGE Online. Photo/MasseyGreenAVP.

Watch a preview of CCM’s new digital performance series

CCM’s ‘stars of tomorrow’ are back on stage, and you get the best seats in the house

The show goes on with CCMONSTAGE Online beginning Dec. 11!

Enjoy excerpts from the first four episodes of CCM’s new digital performance series in our official teaser trailer:

Click here to view from email.

CCMONSTAGE Online is a dynamic new series of digital concerts and performing arts presentations showcasing the unparalleled artistry and expertise of CCM’s students, faculty and staff. Each episode can be digitally streamed for free. After the premiere broadcast, each installment in this ongoing series will remain available for on-demand viewing on CCM’s website and YouTube channel.

Learn more about the series.

Save the date for our series premiere at 7:30 p.m. EST on Friday, Dec. 11, 2020. Additional episodes will be released throughout 2021!

Video production by MasseyGreenAVP, LLC. This digital performance series is made possible by support from CCMONSTAGE Online Broadcast Sponsors CCMpower and ArtsWave, and CCMONSTAGE Online Production Sponsors Dr. & Mrs. Carl G. Fischer.


About The Premiere Episode

Watch the CCM Philharmonia perform a program of “Classical Virtuosity” with works by Claude Debussy/Maurice Ravel, Ottorino Respighi, Julia Perry and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart during the premiere episode of CCMONSTAGE Online.

Download the program.

Under the direction of Professor Mark Gibson, the CCM Philharmonia is CCM’s premier orchestral ensemble and is recognized as one of the world’s elite conservatory orchestras. The CCM Philharmonia has risen to world prominence through the quality of its performances, recordings, and its national and international tours.


A preeminent institution for the performing and media arts, the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music offers nearly 120 possible majors, along with a wide variety of pre-collegiate and post-graduate programs.

The synergy created by housing CCM within a comprehensive public university gives the college its unique character and defines its objective: to educate and inspire the whole artist and scholar for positions on the world stage.

For more information, please visit us online at ccm.uc.edu.


Featured image at top: students in the CCM Philharmonia perform in a still image from the first installment of CCMONSTAGE Online. Photo/MasseyGreenAVP

CCM News CCM Video CCMONSTAGE

CCM Announces Initial 2019-20 Performance Lineup, New Subscription Offerings

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Area arts lovers have a new destination for world-class performances in 2019-20. The largest single-source of performing and media arts events in the state of Ohio, the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music has assembled all of its public performances under the new banner of CCMONSTAGE and the new online portal ccmonstage.universitytickets.com, making it easier than ever for audiences to experience the immense talent of the college’s student and faculty artists.

“Before they appear on the world stage, tomorrow’s arts leaders and luminaries get their start on the CCM stage,” says CCM Dean Stanley E. Romanstein, PhD. “CCM is already synonymous with excellence in performing arts education. Beginning this fall, CCMONSTAGE will become synonymous with opportunities for the general public to experience this excellence for themselves.”

This new name and online home for CCM’s wide array of public events is being accompanied by all-new subscription packages, digital sales options and much more. “From our patrons’ first point of contact with the CCM Box Office to the program booklets that they receive when they arrive at each major performance, we are enhancing every aspect of the audience experience with CCMONSTAGE,” says Romanstein.

“Before they appear on the world stage, tomorrow’s arts leaders and luminaries get their start on the CCM stage” – Stanley E. Romanstein

New Subscription Packages

For the first time ever, subscribers get priority access to the spectacular theatre arts productions presented on all of CCM’s stages. In place of CCM’s conventional Mainstage subscriptions, each genre-specific CCMONSTAGE subscription package is designed to let audiences experience more of what they love most.

CCMONSTAGE’s 2019-20 theatre arts subscription series includes three operas (The Bartered BridePartenope and The Magic Flute), four musicals (42nd StreetThe Rocky Horror ShowThe Secret Garden and Bright Star), four plays (Lady Windermere’s Fan, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Clybourne Park and Punk Rock) and three dance programs (The Art of Motion, Student Choreographers’ Showcase and Serenade + The Rite of Spring).

These offerings take the place of CCM’s previous “Mainstage Series” and “Studio Series” designations. The CCMONSTAGE operas, musicals, plays and dance productions staged in the Cohen Family Studio Theater will require paid admission and are now included in CCMONSTAGE subscription packages, allowing patrons to secure their seats in advance for these intimate and adventurous productions.

CCMONSTAGE’s concert subscription offerings include a five-part orchestra series featuring the CCM Philharmonia collaborating with special guests like Louis Langrée and Leslie Dunner, a five-part big band series with the incomparable CCM Jazz Orchestra and Jazz Lab Band and a four-part chamber music series featuring CCM resident artists the Ariel Quartet performing with visiting artists including Alexander Fiterstein and Anton Nel. Patrons can now reserve their seats for all CCMONSTAGE concert subscription offerings.

CCM’s full 2019-20 concert schedule will be announced later this summer and flex concert packages will again be available for purchase.

Patrons now have the option of subscribing to each genre-specific series of events, guaranteeing the best seats in the house at the season’s lowest prices.

Subscriptions and single tickets go on sale to the general public at noon on Monday, Aug. 19, 2019.

Patrons who purchased CCM Mainstage or Ariel Quartet subscriptions in 2018-19 will receive a Pre-Sale Code, which grants them exclusive access to CCM’s new subscriptions before the general on sale date. Pre-Sale Codes are being mailed and emailed to all 2018-19 subscribers.

Subscription packages can be purchased online at ccmonstage.universitytickets.com, over the phone at 513-556-4183 or in person at the CCM Box Office in the Atrium of UC’s Corbett Center for the Performing Arts.

“Whether it’s exhilarating concerts or breathtaking theatre,” says Romanstein, “the artistry that you love lives at CCM. We hope you will join us for an incredible season of CCMONSTAGE.”

Full performance details are listed below. Performance dates and details subject to change. For the most current information, visit the new CCMONSTAGE portal at ccmonstage.universitytickets.com.

Be the first to know about future ticket on-sale dates and more: sign up for our email list at ccm.uc.edu/boxoffice/subscribe.


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CCMONSTAGE 2019-20 Subscription Series

Opera (Three Productions)

The Bartered Bride

Bartered Bride SQUARE WITH TITLES 2Music by Bedřich Smetana
Libretto by Karel Sabina
German adaptation by Max Kalbeck
New German translation by Walter Felsenstein
UPDATE: Sung in English with a new English singing libretto by CCM Opera faculty member Kathleen Kelly

Levi Hammer, conductor
Audrey Chait, director

Part bubbly operetta and part Bohemian folk pageant, The Bartered Bride is a romantic comedy set in a Czech community in Texas in 1948. Marenka is arranged to marry the son of a rich landowner, but she is in love with someone else. Defiantly, Marenka vows before her parents that she will only accept her love, Jeník, as her husband. As her parents and the matchmaker fight for the arranged marriage, the young lovers fight against tradition in order to be together.

7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21
7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23
2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24
Patricia Corbett Theater
 

CCMONSTAGE Production Sponsor: Macy’s
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Partenope

A woman wears a suit and top hat in a promotional image for the opera 'Partenope.' Photo by Mark Lyons.

Music by George Frideric Handel
Libretto by Silvio Stampiglia

Caleb Glickman, conductor
Greg Eldridge, director

Four rival suitors must navigate their way through mistaken identities, cross-dressing and declarations of war as they vie for Queen Partenope’s hand in marriage. Written in 1730, Handel’s witty romantic comedy features gorgeous arias and captivating music.

7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20
7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22
2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23
Cohen Family Studio Theater
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The Magic Flute

A woman poses dramatically as birds fly behind her in a promotional image for the opera 'The Magic Flute.' Photo by Mark Lyons.

Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder

Mark Gibson, conductor
Robin Guarino, director

Mozart composed this beloved opera for the person who wants everything: a hero and heroine questing for true love, evil villains, a comical sidekick and – to add to the lunacy – a whole range of beastly creatures. Director Robin Guarino presents a unique, contemporary spin on this all-time classic.

7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 2
7:30 p.m. Friday, April 3
7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 4
2 p.m. Sunday, April 5
Patricia Corbett Theater

CCMONSTAGE Production Sponsor: Macy’s

CCMONSTAGE Opera Three-Show Subscription Package: $89
Pricing is inclusive of all fees. All performances are reserved seating.

View subscription package details.


Orchestra (Five Concerts)

Students perform as part of the CCM Philharmonia, conducted by Professor Mark Gibson. Photo by Joe Fuqua II/UC Creative Services.

Season-Opening Concert

CCM Philharmonia
Mark Gibson, music director and conductor
Featuring faculty artist Giora Schmidt, violin

DVOŘÁK: Slavonic Dance in C Major, Op. 46, No. 1
DVOŘÁK: Violin Concerto in A Minor, Op. 53, feat. Giora Schmidt
BRAHMS: Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 73

7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20
Corbett Auditorium
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Pride of Russia

CCM Philharmonia
Mark Gibson, music director and conductor
Featuring faculty artist Dror Biran, piano

RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: Russian Easter Overture
SHOSTAKOVICH: Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat Major, Op. 102
PROKOFIEV: Symphony No. 5 in B-flat Major, Op. 100

7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3
Corbett Auditorium
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CSI: Halloween: Post-Mortem

CCM Philharmonia and Chamber Orchestra
Mark Gibson, music director
Featuring guest artist Leslie B. Dunner, guest conductor and chief medical examiner

LISZT: Totentanz
SAINT-SAËNS: Carnival of the “Dead” Animals
BRITTEN: “Dead” Person’s Guide to the Orchestra

7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1
Corbett Auditorium
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The Long Goodbye

CCM Philharmonia
Mark Gibson, music director and conductor

BEETHOVEN: Piano Sonata in E-flat Major, Op. 81a, “Les Adieux
MAHLER: Symphony No. 9 in D Major

7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31
Corbett Auditorium
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Welcome to CCM, Maestro Langrée

CCM Philharmonia
Mark Gibson, music director
Louis Langrée, conductor

DEBUSSY: Prélude à L’après-midi d’un faune
RAVEL: Piano Concerto
BERLIOZ: Symphonie Fantastique

7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15
Corbett Auditorium

CCMONSTAGE Orchestra Five-Concert Subscription Package: $99
Pricing is inclusive of all fees. All performances are reserved seating.

View subscription package details.

Additional concert performances will be offered outside of this new five-part series. CCM will announce its full schedule of 2019-20 choral, jazz, orchestral and winds concerts later this summer.


Musicals (Four Productions)

42nd Street

42nd Street SQUARE WITH TITLES 02

Music by Harry Warren
Lyrics by Al Dubin
Book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble
Based on the Novel by Bradford Ropes
Original Direction and Dances by Gower Champion
Originally Produced on Broadway by David Merrick
The use of all songs is by arrangement with Warner Bros., the owner of music publishers’ rights

Diane Lala, director and co-choreographer
Katie Johannigman, co-choreographer
Roger Grodsky, musical director

The ultimate show-biz musical, 42nd Street celebrates Broadway, Times Square and the people who make the magic of musical theatre. Aspiring chorus girl Peggy Sawyer comes to the big city from Allentown, Pennsylvania, and soon lands her first big job in the ensemble of a glitzy new Broadway show. But just before opening night, the leading lady breaks her ankle. Will Peggy be able to step in and become a star? The score is chock-full of Broadway standards, including “You’re Getting To Be A Habit With Me,” “Dames,” “We’re In the Money,” “Lullaby of Broadway,” “Shuffle Off to Buffalo” and “Forty-Second Street.”

7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24
7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25
2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26
2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27
Corbett Auditorium
 

CCMONSTAGE Production Sponsor: Macy’s
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Richard O’Brien’s

The Rocky Horror Show

Rocky Horror SQUARE WITH TITLES 2

Book, Music and Lyrics by Richard O’Brien

Vincent DeGeorge, director and choreographer
Stephen Goers, musical director

In this cult classic, sweethearts Brad and Janet, stuck with a flat tire during a storm, discover the eerie mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter, a transvestite scientist. As their innocence is lost, Brad and Janet meet a houseful of wild characters, including a rocking biker and a creepy butler. Through elaborate dances and rock songs, Frank-N-Furter unveils his latest creation: a muscular man named Rocky. Celebrate Halloween with this deliberately kitschy rock ‘n’ roll sci-fi Gothic musical, which features popular hits such as “Science Fiction – Double Feature,” “Time Warp” and “Hot Patootie (Bless My Soul).” For mature audiences.

7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31
7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1
2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2
2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 3
Second Week Just Added:
7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov 7
7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov 8
2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9
2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 10
Cohen Family Studio Theater

The Rocky Horror Show is presented by special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, INC.
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CCMONSTAGE Presents

The Secret Garden

Secret Garden SQUARE WITH TITLES.jpg 02

Book and lyrics by Marsha Norman
Music by Lucy Simon
Based on the Novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Connor Gallagher, director and choreographer
Jeremy Robin Lyons, musical director

This enchanting classic of children’s literature is reimagined in musical style by composer Lucy Simon and Marsha Norman, the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright of ‘Night Mother. Orphaned in India, 11-year-old Mary Lennox returns to Yorkshire to live with her embittered, reclusive uncle Archibald and his ailing son Colin. The estate’s many wonders include a magic garden which beckons the children with haunting melodies and the “Dreamers,” spirits from Mary’s past who guide her through her new life, dramatizing The Secret Garden‘s compelling tale of forgiveness and renewal.

7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 5
7:30 p.m. Friday, March 6
2 p.m. Saturday, March 7
7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 7
2 p.m. Sunday, March 8
Corbett Auditorium

The Secret Gardenis presented by special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, INC.

CCMONSTAGE Production Sponsor: Macy’s
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Bright Star

Bright Star SQUARE WITH TITLES

Inspired by a True Story
Music, Book and Story by Steve Martin
Music, Lyrics and Story by Edie Brickell
Produced by Joey Parnes, Sue Wagner, John Johnson, Zebulon LLC, Jay Alix & Una Jackman, Len Blavatnik, James L. Nederlander, Carson & Joseph Gleberman, Balboa Park Productions, The Shubert Organization, Jamie deRoy/Catherine Adler/Cricket Jiranek
In Association with Rodger Hess, A.C. Orange International, Broadway Across America, Sally Jacobs & Warren Baker, Diana DiMenna, Exeter Capital, Agnes Gund, True Love Productions and The Old Globe

Katie Johannigman, director and choreographer
Stephen Goers, musical director

Inspired by a real event and featuring the Grammy-nominated score by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, Broadway’s Bright Star tells a sweeping tale of love and redemption set against the rich backdrop of the American South in the 1920s and ’40s. When literary editor Alice Murphy meets a young soldier just home from World War II, he awakens her longing for the child she once lost. Haunted by their unique connection, Alice sets out on a journey to understand her past – and what she finds has the power to transform both of their lives. Propelled by an ensemble of onstage musicians and dancers, the story unfolds as a rich tapestry of deep emotion, beautiful melodies and powerfully moving performances.

7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 2
7:30 p.m. Friday, April 3
2 p.m. Saturday, April 4
7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 4
2 p.m. Sunday, April 5
Cohen Family Studio Theater

Bright Star is presented through special arrangement with and all authorized performance materials are supplied by Theatrical Rights Worldwide, 1180 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 640, New York NY 10036. 866-378-9758 www.theatericalrights.com

CCMONSTAGE Musicals Four-Show Subscription Package: $119
Pricing is inclusive of all fees. All performances are reserved seating.

View subscription package details.


Jazz (Five Concerts)

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Swinging with Woody Herman: The Inaugural John Von Ohlen Memorial Scholarship Concert

CCM Jazz Orchestra
Scott Belck, music director

Hot off their Summer 2019 tour with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, the CCM Jazz Orchestra celebrates the legacy of Cincinnati jazz legend John Von Ohlen, who drummed with Stan Kenton and Woody Herman before joining CCM’s jazz faculty. This memorial concert raises scholarship funds in Von Ohlen’s honor.

7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22
Corbett Auditorium
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The Music of Stevie Wonder

CCM Jazz Lab Band
Craig Bailey, music director
Featuring guest artist Tyshawn Colquitt, vocals

The groove is guaranteed to be “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” in this musical tribute to one of Motown’s brightest stars! Hear the hits of Stevie Wonder brought to life by the CCM Jazz Lab Band and Cincinnati native Tyshawn Colquitt, a seven-time winner of Showtime at the Apollo and recent contestant on NBC’s The Voice singing competition.

7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 3
Corbett Auditorium
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Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite

CCM Jazz Orchestra and Jazz Lab Band
Featuring CCM Musical Theatre students
Scott Belck, music director
Diane Lala, choreographer

Enjoy our original retelling of Ellington’s remarkable adaptation of The Nutcracker Suite, brought to life with stunning choreography from CCM Musical Theatre’s stars of tomorrow.

4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24
Corbett Auditorium
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Essentially Ellington Festival: Gala Concert

CCM Jazz Orchestra
Scott Belck, music director

CCM’s Essentially Ellington Festival, sponsored by Wynton Marsalis’ Jazz at Lincoln Center, returns in full swing! The daylong event features the region’s top high school jazz ensembles, and the gala concert will feature the CCM Jazz Orchestra with a special guest artist from the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.

7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22
Corbett Auditorium
_____

The Music of Frank Sinatra

CCM Jazz Orchestra
Scott Belck, music director
Featuring guest artist Steve Lippia, vocals

Critically acclaimed jazz vocalist Steve Lippia joins CCM’s Big Band for a hard-swinging tribute to the legendary Frank Sinatra. Experience the romance of an evening filled with the hits of “Old Blue Eyes.”

7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 11
Corbett Auditorium

CCMONSTAGE Jazz Five-Concert Subscription Package: $99
Pricing is inclusive of all fees. All performances are reserved seating.

View subscription package details.

Additional concert performances will be offered outside of this new five-part series. CCM will announce its full schedule of 2019-20 choral, jazz, orchestral and winds concerts later this summer.


Plays (Four Productions)

Lady Windermere’s Fan

Lady Windermere SQUARE WITH TITLES

By Oscar Wilde

Susan Felder, director

Infidelity, blackmail, a birthday ball and a fan are at the center of this 19th-century satire set in London. Lady Windermere suspects that her husband is having an affair with a mysterious woman. Will she exact her revenge and find comfort in another man? What is the true identity of the mysterious Mrs. Erlynne — and why is Lord Windermere secretly giving her money? A witty evaluation of marriage, sex and gender politics, this classic by Oscar Wilde gave the world the iconic line: “We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”

7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3
7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4
2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5
2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6
Patricia Corbett Theater

CCMONSTAGE Production Sponsor: Macy’s
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The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

A young man stares into the night sky in a promotional image for the play 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.' Photo by Mark Lyons.

Based on the novel by Mark Haddon
Adapted by Simon Stephens

Richard E. Hess, director

In this 2015 Tony Award winning Best Play, 15-year-old Christopher uses his extraordinary brain to navigate everyday life. He is exceptional at mathematics but has never ventured alone beyond the end of his road. He detests being touched and he distrusts strangers, overwhelmed by sensory overload. When Christopher finds his neighbor’s dead dog, Wellington, he becomes determined to solve the mystery of who murdered the dog. His detective work takes him on a thrilling journey through London that overturns his entire world.

7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17
7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18
2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19
2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20
Cohen Family Studio Theater
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Clybourne Park

Two women look directly into the camera in a promotional image for the play 'Clybourne Park.' Photo by Mark Lyons.

By Bruce Norris

Richard E. Hess, director

Clybourne Park was awarded the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the 2012 Tony Award for Best Play. Inspired by Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun (1959), the play explodes in two high powered acts set 50 years apart. It imagines events in a racially charged America and reveals that underneath a house in a typical neighborhood, racial fault lines run deep and wide. This production contains strong language.

7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13
7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14
2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15
2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16
Patricia Corbett Theater

CCMONSTAGE Production Sponsor: Macy’s
_____

Punk Rock

A black and white photo of a young woman wearing a school uniform and Gothic make-up in a promotional image for the play 'Punk Rock.' Photo by Mark Lyons.

By Simon Stephens

Brant Russell, director

In the library of a British high school, William and his fellow classmates prepare for their final exams while navigating the pressures of teenage life. They are educated and aspirational young people, but the savagery and combustibility of their world infects them. For mature audiences.

7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 23
7:30 p.m. Friday, April 24
2 p.m. Saturday, April 25
7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 25
2 p.m. Sunday, April 26
Cohen Family Studio Theater

CCMONSTAGE Plays Four-Show Subscription Package: $89
Pricing is inclusive of all fees. All performances are reserved seating.

View subscription package details.


Ariel Quartet (Four Concerts)

ariel-quartet-by-marco-borggreve

Darkness and Light

HAYDN: String Quartet in D Minor, Op. 76, No. 2, “Fifths”
DUN: Eight Colors for String Quartet (1986)
SCHUBERT: String Quartet No. 14 in D Minor, D. 810, “Death and the Maiden”

7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24
Robert J. Werner Recital Hall
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The Fugue

This concert of fugues features Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 13 with its original final movement, the Grosse Fugue, which is often performed on its own as Beethoven’s Opus 133.

MOZART: Adagio and Fugue in C Minor, K. 546
BARTÓK: String Quartet No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 7
BEETHOVEN: String Quartet No. 13 in B-flat Major, Op. 130 and 133

7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22
Robert J. Werner Recital Hall
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A World Premiere

Featuring guest artist Alexander Fiterstein, clarinet

The Ariel Quartet continues its 2019-20 concert series with a world premiere by Christopher Theofanidis, commissioned by the Manchester Music Festival and written for the Ariel Quartet with guest artist Alexander Fiterstein.

BEETHOVEN: String Quartet No. 12 in E-flat Major, Op. 127
THEOFANIDIS: Clarinet Quintet
MOZART: Clarinet Quintet in A Major, K. 581

7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21
Robert J. Werner Recital Hall
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Hungary

Featuring guest artist and CCM alumnus Anton Nel, piano

HAYDN: String Quartet No. 62 in C Major, Op. 76, No. 3, “Emperor”
BRAHMS: Piano Quartet No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 25
DOHNÁNYI: Piano Quintet No. 2 in E-flat Minor, Op. 26

7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 10
Robert J. Werner Recital Hall

The Ariel Quartet’s 2019-20 CCM concert series is made possible by the generous contributions of an anonymous donor, The Estate of Mr. William A. Friedlander, Mrs. William A. Friedlander, Dr. Randolph L. Wadsworth, Mr. & Mrs. J. David Rosenberg, Mr. & Mrs. Harry H. Santen, Elizabeth C. B. & Paul G. Sittenfeld, Mr. & Mrs. Thomas E. Stegman, Dr. & Mrs. Theodore W. Striker and Mrs. Harry M. Hoffheimer

CCMONSTAGE Ariel Quartet Four-Concert Subscription Package: $79
Pricing is inclusive of all fees. All performances are reserved seating.

View subscription package details.


Dance (Three Productions)

The Art of Motion

Art of Motion SQUARE WITH TITLES

Deirdre Carberry, director

CCM Dance showcases an array of classic and contemporary works restaged and choreographed by CCM Dance faculty members.

7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5
7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7
3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8
Patricia Corbett Theater

CCMONSTAGE Production Sponsor: Macy’s
_____

Student Choreographers’ Showcase

Six women strike a dramatic modern dance pose in a promotional image for the dance production 'Student Choreographers' Showcase.' Photo by Will Brenner.

Michael Tevlin, director

Come experience the next generation of emerging choreographers as CCM dance majors take the stage with exciting and diverse new works.

7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 5
7:30 p.m. Friday, March 6
7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 7
2 p.m. Sunday, March 8
Cohen Family Studio Theater
_____

Serenade + The Rite of Spring

One male and two female ballet dancers strike a dramatic pose in a promotional image for the dance production 'Serenade + The Rite of Spring.' Photo by Will Brenner.

Jiang Qi, director
Mark Gibson, conductor

CCM Dance and the CCM Philharmonia present two ballets set to music by two master composers. The first original ballet created by George Balanchine in America, Serenade is set to romantic music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, who also composed Swan Lake, The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty. Set to music by Igor Stravinsky, The Rite of Spring was one of the first examples of modern music and dance when the ballet first premiered in Paris in 1913. Although a riot broke out at the premiere, the legendary work is now regarded as one of the most important ballets of the 20thcentury. CCM’s production of The Rite of Spring features new choreography by Jiang Qi.

7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 23
7:30 p.m. Friday, April 24
7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 25
2 p.m. Sunday, April 26
Corbett Auditorium

The performance of Serenade, a Balanchine® Ballet, is presented by arrangements with The George Balanchine Trust and has been produced in accordance with the Balanchine Style® and Balanchine Technique® Service standards established and provided by the Trust.

CCMONSTAGE Production Sponsor: Macy’s

CCMONSTAGE Dance Three-Show Subscription Package: $59
Pricing is inclusive of all fees. All performances are reserved seating.

View subscription package details.


CCMONSTAGE Subscription Benefits

THE BEST SEATS: CCMONSTAGE subscribers can guarantee their favorite seats for all of their favorite performances in CCM’s Corbett Auditorium, Patricia Corbett Theater and Cohen Family Studio Theater.

THE BEST PRICES: CCMONSTAGE subscribers can save as much as 25% off of single ticket prices. All CCMONSTAGE subscription prices are inclusive of all fees.

GUARANTEED PARKING: CCMONSTAGE subscribers can order prepaid parking at $8 each for every performance selected. Parking in the CCM Garage for a performance or special event is usually available for $8-$15.

Purchasing Your CCMONSTAGE Subscriptions

Subscription renewals are on sale now; renewal information will be mailed and emailed to current subscribers. New subscriptions and single tickets go on sale Monday, Aug. 19, 2019.

Subscription packages can be ordered:

  • ONLINE at ccmonstage.universitytickets.com
  • OVER THE PHONE at 513-556-4183
  • IN PERSON at the CCM Box Office in the Atrium of UC’s Corbett Center for the Performing Arts

Our Box Office staff is always ready to answer your questions by phone at 513-556-4183 or by email at boxoff@uc.edu.

Be the first to know about future ticket on-sale dates and more: sign up for our email list at ccm.uc.edu/boxoffice/subscribe.


A preeminent institution for the performing and media arts, the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) is the largest single source of performing arts presentations in the state of Ohio.

All event dates and programs are subject to change. For a complete calendar of events, please visit us online at ccm.uc.edu.

CCMONSTAGE

CCM Slideshows: ‘La Clemenza di Tito’

CCM’s brand-new take on Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito (The Clemency of Titus) opens this Friday, April 12, and continues through Sunday, April 14, 2019 in Corbett Auditorium. A dramatic tale of vengeance and forgiveness, CCM’s production is set during the Cuban Revolution in 1959.

View the slideshow below for your sneak peek at the opera. Mozart’s last opera seria, La Clemenza di Tito displays some of his most memorable and marvelous arias. Caught between his duty and his heart, Emperor Tito must choose whether to rule with mercy or with an iron fist after he narrowly avoids an assassination plot.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

La Clemenza di Tito runs April 12-14, 2019 at CCM’s Corbett Auditorium. Tickets on sale now through the CCM Box Office.

CCM’s production of La Clemenza di Tito will last 2 hours and 20 minutes, including a 15-minute intermission.

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LA CLEMENZA DI TITO
Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Edited for the Neue Mozart-Ausgabe by Franz Giegling
Used by arrangement with European American Music Distributors Company, US and Canadian agent for Baerenreiter-Verlag, publisher and copyright owner

Creative Team

  • Jiannan Cheng, conductor
  • Robin Guarino, director
  • Josh Cook*, assistant director
  • Rachel C. Boylan*, costume designer
  • Oran Wongpandid*, hair and make-up designer
  • Kathleen Kelly, musical preparation
  • Evan P. Carlson*, lighting designer
  • Sidney Martin*, props master
  • Mark Halpin, scenic designer
  • Hankyu Lee*, sound designer
  • Margo Leist*, production stage manager
  • Kathleen Kelly and Marco Nistico, language coaches
  • Ahyoung Jung*, Yang Lin* and Bin Yu*, rehearsal pianists

* CCM Student

Cast List

  • Salvatore Atti+, Carlos Cardenas^ as Tito Vespasian, Roman Emperor
  • Teresa Perrotta^, Jordan Stadvec+ as Vitellia, daughter of Emperor Vitellio
  • Brenda Iglesias^, Karis Tucker+ as Sesto, young patrician in love with Servilia
  • Grace Kiver^, Michelle La Jeunesse+ as Annio, young patrician in love with Servilia
  • Victoria Okafor+, Yewon Yoon^ as Servilia, sister of Sesto in love with Annio
  • Antonio Cruz^, John Siarris+ as Publio, commander of the Praetorian Guard
  • Chorus: Elana Bell, Justin Burgess, Victor Cardamone, Victoria Ellington, Anyeé Farrar, Christina Hazen, Ella Joyner Horn, Georgia Jacobson, Nicholas Kelliher, Jordan Krack, Brittany Logan, Jordan Loyd, Raven McMillon, Tayte Mitchell, Miguel Pedroza Gonzalez, Deborah Rivera, Turner Staton, Lindsay Webber, Ryan Wolfe

^ Friday, April 12 and Sunday, April 14

+ Saturday, April 13

Performance Times

  • 8 p.m. Friday, April 12
  • 8 p.m. Saturday, April 13
  • 2 p.m. Sunday, April 14

Location
Corbett Auditorium, CCM Village
University of Cincinnati 

Purchasing Tickets
Ticket prices start at $32. Discounts are available for UC and non-UC students. Service changes may apply for online orders.

Student rush tickets will be available one hour before each performance to non-UC students, based on availability. UC students can receive one free student rush ticket with a valid Bearcat ID, based on availability.

Tickets can be purchased in person at the CCM Box Office, over the telephone at 513-556-4183 or online through CCM’s e-Box Office.

Parking and Directions
Parking is available in the CCM Garage (located at the base of Corry Boulevard off Jefferson Avenue) and additional garages throughout the UC campus. Please visit uc.edu/parking for more information on parking rates.

For detailed maps and directions, please visit uc.edu/visitors. Additional parking is available off-campus at the U Square complex on Calhoun Street and other neighboring lots.

For directions to CCM Village, visit ccm.uc.edu/about/directions.
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Mainstage Production Sponsor: Macy’s

Opera Department Sponsor: Mr. & Mrs. Edward S. Rosenthal

Opera Production Sponsor: Genevieve Smith

CCM News CCM Slideshows Faculty Fanfare Student Salutes
Photography from CCM's Fall 2017 Mainstage Series production of 'Seussical' by Mark Lyons.

CCM Announces 2018-19 Mainstage Series of Acting, Dance, Musical Theatre and Opera

Photography from CCM's Fall 2017 Mainstage Series production of 'Seussical' by Mark Lyons.

Photography from CCM’s Fall 2017 Mainstage Series production of ‘Seussical’ by Mark Lyons.

The best is yet to come with CCM’s eight-part series of theatre arts productions! With new streamlined subscription packages, it’s never been easier to get the best tickets at the season’s best prices.

CCM will present eight masterworks spanning the spectrum of the theatre arts during its 2018-19 Mainstage Series of Acting, Dance, Musical Theatre and Opera. Running from October 2018 through April 2019, these productions will showcase the phenomenal talent and polished professionalism of CCM’s young performing, design and media artists.

This season’s Mainstage Series includes classic and contemporary musicals with Frank Loesser, Abe Burrows and Jo Swerling’s Guys and Dolls and Alan Menken, Stephen Schwartz and Peter Parnell’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame, the best of comedic and dramatic acting with Nikolai Gogol’s The Government Inspector and Timberlake Wertenbaker’s Our Country’s Good, great operas from master composers with Benjamin Britten’s The Turn of the Screw and W.A. Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito, and innovative dance programs that include a mixed repertoire concert of Birthday Variations and a fully-staged story ballet production of Prokofiev’s Cinderella.

The complete 2018-19 Mainstage Series lineup is listed below. Titles and dates are subject to change – rights pending. For the most current calendar of events, please visit us online at ccm.uc.edu.
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CCM’S 2018-19 MAINSTAGE SERIES
Acting, Musical Theatre, Opera, Dance

"The Government Inspector" promo image by Mark Lyons.THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR
Adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher from the original by Nikolai Gogol
Richard E. Hess, director

When the locals in a small Russian hamlet learn that an undercover government inspector is coming for a surprise visit, a case of mistaken identity sends the whole village spiraling into a world of panic and greed. Part farce, part slapstick and wholly entertaining, this timely and spirited adaptation of Nikolai Gogol’s classic play exposes the corruption of a provincial town with biting hilarity.

Performance Dates: Oct. 3 (preview), Oct. 4-7, 2018
Location: Patricia Corbett Theater

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"Guys and Dolls" preview photography by Mark Lyons.GUYS AND DOLLS
Book by Abe Burrows and Jo Swerling
Music and Lyrics by Frank Loesser
Based on The Idyll of Sarah Brown and characters by Damon Runyon
Diane Lala, director and choreographer
Roger Grodsky, musical director

Set in Damon Runyon’s mythical New York City, Guys and Dolls is the perfect musical comedy. Nathan Detroit is a gambler trying to find the cash to set up the biggest craps game in town while the authorities breathe down his neck. Meanwhile, his girlfriend and nightclub performer, Adelaide, laments that they’ve been engaged for 14 years. Nathan turns to fellow gambler Sky Masterson for the dough, and Sky ends up chasing straight-laced missionary Sarah Brown as a result. Guys and Dolls takes us from the heart of Times Square to the cafés of Havana, Cuba and even into the sewers of New York City, but eventually everyone ends up right where they belong.

Performance Dates: Oct. 19 and 21, Oct. 26-27, 2018
Note: A special gala performance of Guys and Dolls will be presented on Saturday, Oct. 20, in honor of CCM Musical Theatre’s 50th anniversary; special pricing applies.
Location: Corbett Auditorium

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"The Turn of the Screw" preview photography by Mark Lyons.THE TURN OF THE SCREW
Music by Benjamin Britten
Libretto by Myfanwy Piper, after a story by Henry James
Aik Khai Pung, conductor
Vince DeGeorge, director

Based on Henry James’ classic ghost-story novella, Britten’s compelling chamber opera presents the story of a governess charged with the care of two orphaned children at their absentee uncle’s country estate, where the ghosts of a former valet and his lover haunt the grounds. With a blend of 12-tone techniques, arresting motifs and stirring lyricism, the action moves with incredible fluidity, creating a chilling tale of sexual repression and the corruption of innocence. For mature audiences.

Performance Dates: Nov. 15-18, 2018
Location: Patricia Corbett Theater

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"Birthday Variations" preview photography by Mark Lyons.BIRTHDAY VARIATIONS
Jiang Qi, director

CCM Dance showcases an array of classic and contemporary works restaged and choreographed by CCM Dance faculty members. The thrilling highlight of the evening is Birthday Variations, originally choreographed by Gerald Arpino, former Artistic Director of the Joffrey Ballet, to music by Giuseppe Verdi. Birthday Variations is presented by arrangement with the Gerald Arpino and Robert Joffrey Foundation.

Performance Dates: Dec. 6-9, 2018
Location: Patricia Corbett Theater

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"Our Country's Good" preview photography by Mark Lyons.OUR COUNTRY’S GOOD
By Timberlake Wertenbaker
Based on the novel The Playmaker by Thomas Keneally
Susan Felder, director

Set in Botany Bay in 1789, Our Country’s Good is a darkly comedic tale based on the true story of Australia’s first theatrical performance. A marine lieutenant decides to put on a play to celebrate the king’s birthday. He casts the play with convicts who populate an Australian prison camp. Few of them can read, let alone act, and the play is produced against a background of food shortages and barbaric prison punishments. Our Country’s Good is as an inspiring tribute to the transforming power of drama. For mature audiences.

Performance Dates: Feb. 13 (preview), Feb. 14-17, 2019
Location: Patricia Corbett Theater

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"Hunchback of Notre Dame" preview image by Mark Lyons.THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME
Music by Alan Menken
Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz
Book by Peter Parnell
Based on the Victor Hugo novel and songs from the Disney film
Originally developed by Disney Theatrical Productions
Aubrey Berg, director
Stephen Goers, musical director
Katie Johannigman, choreographer

Based on the Victor Hugo novel and songs from the Disney animated feature, The Hunchback of Notre Dame begins as bells sound through the famed cathedral in fifteenth-century Paris. Quasimodo, the deformed bell-ringer, observes all of Paris reveling in the Feast of Fools, but he is held captive by his devious caretaker, the archdeacon Dom Claude Frollo. He escapes for the day and joins the boisterous crowd, only to be treated cruelly by all but the beautiful gypsy, Esmeralda. Quasimodo isn’t the only one captivated by her free spirit, though — the handsome Captain Phoebus and Frollo are equally enthralled. As the three vie for her attention, Frollo embarks on a mission to destroy the gypsies and it’s up to Quasimodo to save them all. Parental discretion is advised. Victor Hugo’s novel contains mature themes and situations, which may be distressing for young viewers.

Performance Dates: March 7-10, 2019
Location: Corbett Auditorium

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"La Clemenza di Tito" preview photography by Mark Lyons.LA CLEMENZA DI TITO
(THE CLEMENCY OF TITUS)
Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Libretto by Caterino Mazzolà
Jiannan Cheng, conductor
Robin Guarino, director

Mozart’s last opera seria displays some of his most memorable and marvelous arias! The story centers on Roman emperor Titus (Tito) who must choose a wife, but is unable to find a suitable match. In his search for an empress, Tito narrowly avoids an assassination plot instigated by his best friend Sesto and the former emperor’s daughter, Vitellia, who wants the throne for herself. Caught between his duty and his heart, the emperor must choose whether to rule with mercy or with an iron fist.

Performance Dates: April 12-14, 2019
Location: Corbett Auditorium

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CCM Dance preview image by Mark Lyons.CINDERELLA
Jiang Qi, director

Celebrate spring’s arrival with a fully staged fairytale ballet. A poor girl wishes to escape the authoritarian rule of her evil stepmother and stepsisters, so her fairy godmother gives her a ticket to the ball! The girl meets Prince Charming and they fall in love, but she vanishes when the clock strikes midnight. Set to music by Sergei Prokofiev, Cinderella is known for its jubilant melodies, lush scenery and graceful retelling of the timeless romance by Charles Perrault.

Performance Dates: April 26-28, 2019
Location: Patricia Corbett Theater

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Mainstage Series Subscriptions
The 2018-19 CCM Mainstage Series of Acting, Musical Theatre, Opera and Dance productions includes subscription packages for combinations of Eight Shows, Six Shows, Four Shows or Three Shows. Newly streamlined subscription packages make this process easier than ever before. Simply choose your shows and select whether you want seats in Section A (the best views) or Section B (the lowest prices)!

Renewal subscriptions are on sale now with packages ranging in price from $78-$176. Subscribers to CCM’s 2017-18 Mainstage Series can receive priority access to seating by renewing their subscriptions by May 1, 2018.

Subscription packages for new subscribers go on sale May 2, 2018, with packages ranging in price from $81-$192.

Single tickets go on sale beginning Sept. 10, 2018, but subscribing is the only way to guarantee your seats and your savings for CCM’s Mainstage Series!

To order subscriptions, contact the CCM Box Office at 513-556-4183 or boxoff@uc.edu.

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2018-19 MAINSTAGE SERIES PERFORMANCE TIMES

THE GOVERNEMENT INSPECTOR
Performance Times:

  • 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 3 (preview)
  • 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 4
  • 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5
  • 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6
  • 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6
  • 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7

Location: Patricia Corbett Theater

GUYS AND DOLLS
Performance Times:

  • 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19
  • 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20 (CCM Musical Theatre 50th Anniversary gala performance; special pricing applies)
  • 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21
  • 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21
  • 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 26
  • 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27
  • 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27

Location: Corbett Auditorium

THE TURN OF THE SCREW
Performance Times:

  • 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15
  • 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16
  • 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17
  • 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18

Location: Patricia Corbett Theater

BIRTHDAY VARIATIONS
Performance Times:

  • 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 6
  • 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7
  • 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8
  • 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9

Location: Patricia Corbett Theater

OUR COUNTRY’S GOOD
Performance Times:

  • 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13 (preview)
  • 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 14
  • 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15
  • 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16
  • 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16
  • 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 17

Location: Patricia Corbett Theater

THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME
Performance Times:

  • 8 p.m. Thursday, March 7
  • 8 p.m. Friday, March 8
  • 2 p.m. Saturday, March 9
  • 8 p.m. Saturday, March 9
  • 2 p.m. Sunday, March 10

Location: Corbett Auditorium

LA CLEMENZA DI TITO
Performance Times:

  • 8 p.m. Friday, April 12
  • 8 p.m. Saturday, April 13
  • 2 p.m. Sunday, April 14

Location: Corbett Auditorium

CINDERELLA
Performance Times:

  • 8 p.m. Friday, April 26
  • 2 p.m. Saturday, April 27
  • 8 p.m. Saturday, April 27
  • 2 p.m. Sunday, April 28

Location: Patricia Corbett Theater

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CCM Season Presenting Sponsor: The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation

Mainstage Season Production Sponsor: Macy’s

CCM News

The Ariel Quartet’s CCM Concert Series Continues on March 20

CCM’s String Quartet-in-Residence will perform works by Mozart, Brahms and the regional premiere John Harbison’s newly commissioned String Quartet No. 6.

CCM proudly presents the Ariel Quartet in concert at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 20, 2018 in CCM’s Corbett Auditorium. The performance features works by Mozart, Brahms and the regional premiere of John Harbison’s String Quartet No. 6, which was co-commissioned by the Ariel Quartet with the generous support of Ann and Harry Santen.

The concert opens with Mozart’s String Quartet No. 15 in D minor, which is part of a set of six string quartets that Mozart dedicated to his friend and mentor Joseph Haydn — who is often referred to as the “Father of the String Quartet.” Mozart’s String Quartet No. 15 in D minor is regarded as a pillar of the classical string quartet repertoire, and it is one of the most celebrated and performed works of the genre.

Next on the program is the regional premiere of Harbison’s String Quartet No. 6, which was composed in 2016 and co-commissioned by the Ariel Quartet through support from Ann and Harry Santen, the Lark Quartet, Telegraph Quartet and Tanglewood Music Center with the generous support of the Merwin Geffen, M.D. and Norman Solomon, M.D. New Commissions Fund. Harbison is a Grammy Award-nominated composer who has received multiple national and international commissions. He is also the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including a MacArthur Fellowship and a Pulitzer Prize.

The concert closes with Brahms’ String Quartet No. 2 in A minor, which was completed in 1873 after many years of work by Brahms. He sought to exhibit the same care as Mozart while composing his quartets, and he also sought to produce something worthy of performance in a genre widely dominated by Ludwig van Beethoven’s compositions. The work closes with a movement based on a Hungarian folk dance.

The Ariel Quartet is comprised of Alexandra “Sasha” Kazovsky, violin; Amit Even-Tov, cello; Gershon Gerchikov, violin; and Jan Grüning, viola. The group was formed in Israel in 1998 and has served as CCM’s string quartet-in-residence since 2012. Complete program information for the March 20 concert is below.
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REPERTOIRE
Please note that previously announced repertoire has been updated:
MOZART: String Quartet No. 15 in D minor, K. 421
HARBISON: String Quartet No. 6 (co-commissioned by the Ariel Quartet with the generous support of Ann and Harry Santen)
BRAHMS: String Quartet No. 2 in A minor, Op. 51, No. 2

PERFORMANCE TIME
8 p.m. Tuesday, March 20

LOCATION
Corbett Auditorium, CCM Village,
University of Cincinnati

PURCHASING TICKETS
Tickets are $25 for general admission, $15 for non-UC students and FREE for UC students with valid ID.

Tickets can be purchased in person at the CCM Box Office, over the telephone at 513-556-4183 or online now through our e-Box Office. Visit ccm.uc.edu/boxoffice for CCM Box Office hours and location.

PARKING AND DIRECTIONS
Parking is available in the CCM Garage (located at the base of Corry Boulevard off Jefferson Avenue) and additional garages throughout the campus of the University of Cincinnati. Please visit uc.edu/parking for more information on parking rates.

For detailed maps and directions, please visit uc.edu/visitors. Additional parking is available off-campus at the U Square complex on Calhoun Street and other neighboring lots.

For directions to CCM Village, visit ccm.uc.edu/about/directions.
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CCM Season Presenting Sponsor: The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation

Ariel Quartet Sponsors: Anonymous, The Estate of Mr. William A. Friedlander, Mrs. William A. Friedlander, Dr. & Mrs. Randolph L. Wadsworth, Mr. & Mrs. Frank Bloom, Mrs. Harry M. Hoffheimer, Mr. & Mrs. J. David Rosenberg, Mr. & Mrs. Harry H. Santen, Mr. & Mrs. Paul G. Sittenfeld, Mr. & Mrs. Thomas E. Stegman, and Dr. & Mrs. Theodore W. Striker

CCM News Faculty Fanfare
A model of the scenic design for CCM's production of 'Idomeneo.'

CCM Behind-the-Scenes: Lighting Design for Mozart’s ‘Idomeneo’

First-year graduate student Oliver Littleton’s first lighting design work was in churches, small theaters and tiny clubs. Now his designs will be seen in the Mainstage production of Idomeneo at UC’s College-Conservatory of Music.

The opera opens on Thursday, Mach 30 and continues through Sunday, April 2 in CCM’s Patricia Corbett Theater. Tickets are available through the CCM Box Office.

Littleton began his theatre training in Alabama at the age of 12. He wanted to be an actor, but always had an interest in lighting design. After earning a BFA in technical theatre from Adelphi University in New York, Littleton chose to pursue his graduate studies at CCM. He enrolled in CCM’s Theatre Design and Production program, where he studies lighting design and technology.

Light plays a key role in creating the “gods and monsters” in CCM’s production of Idomeneo. In an interview with CCM graduate assistant Charlotte Kies, Littleton shared some of his thoughts on the expressive power of lighting and its effect in Mozart’s first great opera seria.

What drew you to the lighting design program at CCM?
I loved the opportunity to be the lighting designer for a huge variety of genres including dance, opera, theatre and musicals. I value our large production scale and commitment to modern technology in all areas of the technical and design departments. Most important is probably my comfort within the culture of the CCM community.

It’s a hardworking environment that demands excellence, and does its best to surpass being just an educational institution in order to produce great art in a variety of fields.

How does your lighting design for Idomeneo compare to your work in other CCM productions?
This is my first Mainstage production at CCM so obviously scale is the big one! I designed Middletown in the fall and Transformations just a month ago, both in the Cohen Family Studio Theatre. Though they presented unique challenges, the sheer size of those productions was much smaller than this.

We’ve heard that lighting plays a significant role in establishing the abstract setting and in creating the “gods and monsters” of Idomeneo. Can you describe how you use light to create these “special effects?”
The metaphors of gods and monsters in this production of Idomeneo, in my mind, are far more important than their physical presence in the opera. To this end the “gods and monsters” are expressed in lighting with the contrast between restraint and excess.  Using color, intensity and texture to contrast between safe comfort, otherworldly mystery and grimy disappointment helps tell the story of monsters and heroes.  Our sea monster is of the mind.  It is doubt, hate, selfishness and it gets expressed with rich vivid color and powerful waves of light.  I want the lighting to drive this change and make the audience question who really are the monsters and gods of the piece.

A god-like face can be seen in Littleton's lighting design concept for 'Idomeneo.'

A god-like face can be seen in Oliver Littleton’s lighting design concept for ‘Idomeneo.’ Photo provided by Oliver Littleton.

What other roles does the lighting play in this opera?
When you start looking at abstract or ethereal lighting design, the first pitfall you see lighting designers take is forgetting that the point of the production is for audience members to sit in seats and watch people do things. All the fancy design in the world doesn’t amount to anything if the patrons can’t see the performers and understand what is going on in the story. The first job of every lighting designer is the help interpret the story and we do that in a number of ways. Lighting some areas of the stage while leaving others dark tells the audience where to look and focus. Using toplight and backlight that makes it difficult to see facial features gives a sense of drama and tension, while front light imbues a naturalistic nature to the stage. Every choice is informed by the question, “How does this serve the story,” and any choice that is not enslaved to it must be mercilessly eliminated.

Do you have anything else to add about your experience working on Idomeneo?
Idomeneo is a criminally underrated opera that is one of Mozart’s greatest offerings musically. I hope that everyone who watches the show leaves the theater saying things like “what a wonderful and interesting production” or “that was a beautiful way to share that music and story with us.” If they are talking about my lights or the set more than the characters’ choices or vocal prowess, then we as a design team have failed.

The greatest joy I take in my work is contributing to performers sharing stories and feeling with the audience. I hope this show does that for everyone who comes to see it.

CCM’s production of Idomeneo is directed by CCM artist diploma candidate Marcus Shields and conducted by Assistant Professor of Music Aik Khai Pung. It is sung in Italian with English supertitles. Find more information on the production in our press release.

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IDOMENEO
Composed by W.A. Mozart
Libretto by Giovanni Battista Varesco
Aik Khai Pung, conductor
Marcus Shields, director

Performance Times
8 p.m. Thursday, Mar. 30
8 p.m. Friday, Mar. 31
8 p.m. Saturday, April 1
2 p.m. Sunday, April 2

Location
Patricia Corbett Theater, CCM Village
University of Cincinnati

 Purchasing Tickets
Tickets to Idomeneo are $31-35 for adults, $22-25 for non-UC students and $18-21 for UC students with a valid ID. Tickets can be purchased in person at the CCM Box Office, over the telephone at 513-556-4183 or online at ccm.uc.edu/boxoffice/mainstage/idomeneo.html.

Parking and Directions
Parking is available in the CCM Garage (located at the base of Corry Boulevard off Jefferson Avenue) and additional garages throughout the UC campus. Additional parking is available off-campus at the U Square complex on Calhoun Street and other neighboring lots. Please visit uc.edu/parking for more information on parking rates.

For detailed maps and directions, please visit uc.edu/visitors.

For directions to CCM Village, visit ccm.uc.edu/about/directions.

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CCM Season Presenting Sponsor and Musical Theatre Program Sponsor: The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation

Mainstage Season Production Sponsor: Macy’s
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Story by CCM Graduate Student Charlotte Kies

CCM News Student Salutes

CCM Opera Presents Mozart’s Heroic Greek Tragedy, ‘Idomeneo’

A model of the scenic design for CCM's production of 'Idomeneo.'

A model of the scenic design for CCM’s production of ‘Idomeneo.’ Photo by Marcus Shields. Set Design by Matthew Hamel.

The Opera Department at UC’s College-Conservatory of Music presents an epic tale of love, war and sacrifice on March 30-April 2 in Patricia Corbett Theater. Hailed as Mozart’s first great opera seria, Idomeneo takes place in the aftermath of the fabled Trojan War.

Artist Diploma student Marcus Shields directs the CCM’s production of Idomeneo. Teetering on the edge between student and professional, Shields finds that he and the cast have a lot in common with Mozart, who composed this opera at the ripe young age of 25.

“This is essentially Mozart’s graduate thesis on the world,” says Shields. “It’s an amazing thing that he wrote this when he was 25, and we should be humbled by that fact. We’re all in the exact same place. In writing this challenging opera, Mozart was trying to prove himself — just like we are now.”

Idomeneo is a classic story of unrequited love, sacrifice and revenge. The plot revolves around King Idomeneo who is lost at sea during his journey home from war. To survive, he strikes a deal with vengeful god Neptune, but the king is then faced with an impossible decision — to sacrifice his entire nation or his son, Idamante. The King banishes his son from the kingdom, which separates the young prince from the two women who are in love with him.

While Idomeneo might not be as familiar as Mozart’s Cosí fan tutte, The Magic Flute or The Marriage of Figaro, the opera is just as exciting and inspired, Shields says. The work mostly adheres to the opera seria structure, which is known for its formulaic librettos and serious tone. However, Mozart “shatters the genre” in Idomeneo.

“The music is so amazing and virtuosic,” says Shields, “Mozart’s tap-dancing as hard as he can as he fights against the typical opera seria structure. It seems a bit stuffier on the outside because of the genre but it’s actually way more urgent and young.”

Mozart’s quest to infuse his own style in opera seria is similar to Shields’ unique vision for CCM’s production of Idomeneo. The opera is not set in a specific time period and has an abstract set, with lighting effects and costumes by CCM’s Theatre Design and Production Department. Shields uses costumes to represent the great division the characters feel from each other. Some cast members don stiff button-up coats reminiscent of the late eighteenth century and others wear full Greco-Roman attire.

“We are using the lighting, costumes and set to show people how to actually listen to the music,” Shields says. “It’s a beautiful harmonization of everything that this school can do.”

CCM’s production of Idomeneo is conducted by Assistant Professor of Music Aik Khai Pung, it is sung in Italian with English supertitles.
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IDOMENEO
Composed by W.A. Mozart
Libretto by Giovanni Battista Varesco
Aik Khai Pung, conductor
Marcus Shields, director

Cast

Idomeneo………………………………………………………………………Robert Stahley*,
Brandon Scott Russell^
Ilia………………………………………………………………………………..Grace Kahl*,
Erica Intilangelo^
Idamante…………………………………………………………Chelsea Duval-Major*,
Kayleigh Decker^
Elettra……………………………………………………………………..Nicolette Book*,
Murrella Parton^
Arbace/High Priest…………………………………………………………Dongwhi Baek*,
Benjamin Lee^
Voice of the Oracle…………………………………………………………Jacob Kincaide
Cretan Woman 1………………………………………………………………Maria Miller
Cretan Woman 2………………………………………………………..Briana Moynihan
Trojan 1………………………………………………………………………Logan Wagner
Trojan 2………………………………………………………………………Michael Hyatt
Chorus Men……………………………………Clayton Edwards, Michael Hyatt, Hayden Smith, John Tibbets, Logan Wagner
Chorus Women………………………………Brianna Bragg, Shannon Cochran, Page Michels, Maria Miller, Briana Moynihan, Claudia Neef

 * Thursday, March 30 and Saturday, April 1
^ Friday, March 31 and Sunday, April 2

Performance Times
8 p.m. Thursday, Mar. 30
8 p.m. Friday, Mar. 31
8 p.m. Saturday, April 1
2 p.m. Sunday, April 2

Location
Patricia Corbett Theater, CCM Village
University of Cincinnati

Purchasing Tickets
Tickets to Idomeneo are $31-35 for adults, $22-25 for non-UC students and $18-21 for UC students with a valid ID. Tickets can be purchased in person at the CCM Box Office, over the telephone at 513-556-4183 or online at ccm.uc.edu/boxoffice/mainstage/idomeneo.html.

Parking and Directions
Parking is available in the CCM Garage (located at the base of Corry Boulevard off Jefferson Avenue) and additional garages throughout the UC campus. Additional parking is available off-campus at the U Square complex on Calhoun Street and other neighboring lots. Please visit uc.edu/parking for more information on parking rates.

For detailed maps and directions, please visit uc.edu/visitors.

For directions to CCM Village, visit ccm.uc.edu/about/directions.
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CCM Season Presenting Sponsor and Musical Theatre Program Sponsor: The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation

Mainstage Season Production Sponsor: Macy’s
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Story by CCM Graduate Student Charlotte Kies
CCM News Student Salutes
The Ariel Quartet. From left to right: Alexandra Kazovsky, Jan Grüning, Amit Even-Tov and Gershon Gerchikov.

Ariel Quartet Concert Series Continues Oct. 25 at CCM

After its stunning opening performance of the 2016-17 season in September, the Ariel Quartet returns to CCM in concert at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 25 in Corbett Auditorium with a program featuring the works of Mozart, Shostakovich and Dvořák. Tickets are available through the CCM Box Office.

The Ariel Quartet, string quartet-in-residence at CCM.

The Ariel Quartet, string quartet-in-residence at CCM. Photo by Saverio Truglia.

The Ariel Quartet is comprised of Alexandra Kazovsky, violin; Amit Even-Tov, cello; Gershon Gerchikov, violin; and Jan Grüning, viola. Grand Prize winners at the 2006 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition and 2014 recipients of the prestigious Cleveland Quartet Award, the Quartet was formed in Israel 16 years ago and now serves as CCM’s distinguished string quartet-in-residence.

Cincinnati Enquirer writer Janelle Gelfand said nearly every seat in CCM’s Corbett Auditorium was filled for the Quartet’s Sept. 6 opening concert and praised the “vibrant” performance.

“I loved the way these musicians traded phrases in Beethoven’s Quartet No. 1 in F Major, Op. 18, No. 1,” she wrote on Janelle’s Notes. “It was conversational, witty and vibrant. The Adagio was the picture of beautiful singing line and depth of feeling. The German word “himmlisch” (heavenly) came to mind.”

Join us at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25 in Corbett Auditorium as CCM’s string quartet-in-residence presents works from powerhouse composers Mozart, Shostakovich and Dvořák.

Repertoire
MOZART: String Quartet No. 14 in G Major, K. 387
SHOSTAKOVICH: String Quartet No. 3 in F Major, Op. 73
DVOŘÁK: String Quartet No. 12 in F Major, Op. 96 (“American Quartet”)

Performance Time
8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25

Location
Corbett Auditorium, CCM Village,
University of Cincinnati

Purchasing Tickets
Tickets are $25 for general admission, $15 for non-UC students and FREE for UC students with valid ID.

Tickets can be purchased in person at the CCM Box Office, over the telephone at 513-556-4183 or online now through our e-Box Office! Visit ccm.uc.edu/boxoffice for CCM Box Office hours and location.

Parking and Directions
Parking is available in the CCM Garage (located at the base of Corry Boulevard off Jefferson Avenue) and additional garages throughout the campus of the University of Cincinnati. Please visit uc.edu/parking for more information on parking rates.

For detailed maps and directions, please visit uc.edu/visitors. Additional parking is available off-campus at the U Square complex on Calhoun Street and other neighboring lots.

For directions to CCM Village, visit ccm.uc.edu/about/directions.
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The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation: Season Presenting Sponsor and Musical Theatre Program Sponsor
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Story by CCM Graduate Student Charlotte Kies

CCM News
CCM Music Education students perform in the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris during a study abroad trip.

Summer Memories: Music Education Students Study Abroad in Europe

As part of the first music education study abroad trip, a group of 20 adventurous CCM students traveled to Europe to study in the countries where Western art music was born last summer.

Associate Professor of Music Education Eva Floyd hopes to organize a second study abroad trip in spring 2018. The first trip led the students to Budapest, Vienna, Salzburg and Paris on the 12-day adventure to deepen their appreciation and understanding of music. Students participated in master classes, performed in historic venues, attended concerts and visited cities in which some of classical music’s greatest composers lived and worked.

“When you see the places where Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven were born, lived or worked, it makes the music seem more human,” Floyd said, adding that half of the students had previously never travelled internationally.

Supported by grants from UC International and the Tangeman Sacred Music Center, this was the first study abroad trip for a CCM music education class, according to Floyd.

Traveling to the cities in which these great composers created masterpieces gave new life to their art and added personal dimension to music beyond what can be taught in a classroom.

Similar to learning a foreign language, music literacy is strengthened through studies as well as experience. The act of engaging with a culture first hand is a crucial step towards fluency. Likewise, studying and experiencing music in the countries of its origin encourages a broader understanding of music and music education.

Program participant Taylor Limbert, a junior in vocal music education, reflected on his experience with the program:

“Actually talking with and learning from and performing for people from other cultures was so enriching and I’m so glad I had that opportunity. I had been to Europe before last summer’s trip but this trip was by far the most important in my personal journey as an educator and a person.”

Students in front of Esterhazy Palace in Austria, home one of Haydn’s most important patrons.

Students in front of Esterhazy Palace in Austria, home one of Haydn’s most important patrons.

Students observed music classes of a variety of grades and levels and participated in workshops at the Kodaly Institute in Hungary and the Orff Institute in Salzburg. They had previously studied the famous “Kodaly approach” to music education“seeing it in person made them realize the full potential of music education,” Floyd said.

As part of the program students were able to walk in the figurative footsteps of classical giants. They visited Esterhazy Palace in Eisenstadt, Austria — home to one of Haydn’s most important patrons. Students also toured Liszt’s and Kodaly’s residences in Budapest, Beethoven’s and Haydn’s residences in Vienna and Mozart’s birth home and family residence in Salzburg. Participants also heard concerts while traveling through these historic cities, including the famous Vienna Boys Choir.

Not only did the students visit cultural landmarks, they also had the opportunity to perform in some of the most historically significant and recognizable venues such as the Kodaly Institute in Hungary, St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, Mondsee Cathedral outside Salzburg and Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

“It is a privilege to see and walk through historic cathedrals,” Floyd said. “To make music in such a space allows you to take a piece of it home in your heart.”

Floyd prepared the group’s choral repertoire and organized a choral conducting master class with Peter Erdei, professor at the Liszt Academy and Kodaly Institute, for both CCM and Kodaly Institute students.

“The interchange between students from all corners of the globe was very exciting and proved to be a rich experience for all,” said Floyd, who studied in Hungary for two years before joining CCM faculty.

“The experience is so much more than just learning content and traveling. It helps you learn about yourself. It is very beneficial to get out of your comfort zone, and to be an outsider with language and culture. This helps you empathize with others and find confidence within yourself.”

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Story by CCM graduate student Charlotte Kies

CCM News Faculty Fanfare Student Salutes