Playlist for a Picnic

It’s Memorial Day Weekend. For many, this holiday marks the unofficial start of summer. Across the country, people are barbequing with friends and family, enjoying the warmer weather and time outdoors. I thought it would be fun to add a little music to your weekend plans. Here’s the perfect playlist to accompany a picnic. Enjoy!

Meet Naomi Lewin!

WGUC has the pleasure of welcoming Naomi Lewin back to the studio this week. While she’s in town, let’s get to know her. How did she first come to WGUC? How does she go about constructing Classics for Kids? What’s her guilty pleasure? Find out when you listen to this interview she did with Suzanne Bona back in 2018. And be sure to listen to 90.9 this week to hear Naomi pitch during WGUC’s spring fund drive!

It's May Festival Season!

May Festival season is upon us here in Cincinnati. This historic, annual festival was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest and most prestigious choral festivals in the Western Hemisphere. Their annual festival consists of two weekends of outstanding concerts backed by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and internationally-acclaimed guest artists. This year, they even throw in a few extra concerts (see below for the full schedule of what to expect!)

Did you know that in the mid-1800s, German immigrants who resided in Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine community had a deep appreciation for the arts? They ended up forming singing groups and invited similar choirs in nearby towns to join them in a song festival. This eventually grew to be an annual gathering that took place in various Midwest cities. In 1870 when it was Cincinnati’s turn to host, it was decided that Saenger Hall would be built as a temporary structure to house the festival. This building was constructed where Music Hall now stands but was not an ideal setting for the festival since it was built with a tin roof!

In 1873, renowned conductor Theodore Thomas happened to be traveling through Cincinnati on tour with his New York-based orchestra and noticed that the city’s residents had great musical potential. He decided to work with local arts-advocates Maria Longworth Nichols and George Ward Nichols to create a large music festival that wasn’t tied ethnically to the current “Saengerfest” held at Saenger Hall. This was the beginning of the May Festival. It started as a 108-piece orchestra and 800-person choir that came together biannually, and eventually sparked the building of Music Hall in place of Saenger Hall, in order to provide a better facility for the festival. The third May Festival was the first to take place inside the new Music Hall in 1878. At the time, it was the largest concert hall in America.

Since the May Festival’s conception, it has remained one of the nation’s most eminent choral festivals, attracting internationally-acclaimed artists to join them in their annual performances. So what are you waiting for? Get your tickets now at mayfestival.com. Not able to attend? WGUC is recording the Friday and Saturday performances and will broadcast them on Sunday evenings at 8 p.m. in October!

2019 May Festival Concert Schedule

Friday, May 17, 8 p.m., Music Hall

Juanjo Meno, conductor; Roomful of Teeth; Rod Gilfry, baritone; May Festival Chorus; Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

BRAHMS: Schicksalslied

VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Toward the Unknown Region

MARK SIMPSON: The Immortal (U.S. Premiere)

Saturday, May 18, 8 p.m., Music Hall

Sir James MacMillan, conductor; Lauren Michelle, soprano; May Festival Chorus; Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

POULENC: Gloria

JAMES MACMILLAN: Seven Last Words from the Cross

Friday, May 24, 8 p.m., Music Hall

James Conlon, conductor; Morris Robinson, bass; Sarah Vautour, soprano; Taylor Raven, mezzo-soprano; Richard Trey Smagur, tenor; Donnie Ray Albert, baritone; May Festival Chorus; Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra; Cincinnati Youth Choir

MAHLER: Das klagende Lied

BOITO: Prologue from Mefistofele

MUSSORGSKY: Prologue and Farewell Scene from Boris Godunov

Saturday, May 25, 7 p.m., Music Hall

Juanjo Mena, conductor; Berit Norbakken Solset, soprano; Carlos Mena, countertenor; Werner Güra, tenor; James Newby, baritone; Hanno Müller-Brachmann, bass-baritone; May Festival Chorus and Youth Chorus; Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

BACH: St. Matthew Passion

Extra Concerts:

Wednesday, May 15, 7 p.m., Woodward Theater

Roomful of Teeth

Sunday, May 19, 7 p.m., Music Hall

Juanjo Mena, conductor; Sir James MacMillan, conductor; May Festival Chorus

FREE COMMUNITY CONCERT

Thursday, May 23, 7 p.m., Patricia Corbett Theater – University of Cincinnati

Craig Hella Johnson, conductor; Vocal Arts Ensemble

CRAIG HELLA JOHNSON: Considering Matthew Shepard

What is Impressionism?

May the fourth be with you!

For all the Star Wars fans of the world, May 4^th is an unofficial holiday. To honor Star Wars composer John Williams, I’ve put together a playlist with some of my top picks from his film scores.

Most people’s minds automatically go to John Williams when asked to name a film-music composer. Williams’ output of cinematic scores is outstanding with major blockbuster hits including Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jurassic Park, and Saving Private Ryan.

What is your favorite film that uses a John Williams score? If it’s not on my playlist, let me know in the comments below and I’ll add it to our list.

May the fourth be with you!