Saengerfest is an event in Cincinnati that I have looked forward to for the last few years that helps kick off the Holiday Season….
over the rhine
Christmas Saengerfest Returns December 2 & 3
Cincinnati Pops Presents American Originals
I’m really excited about the American Originals concert presented by the Cincinnati Pops at Music Hall. The line up of incredible artists includes one of my personal favorite bands “Over the Rhine” who are a local favorite. This is truly going to be a historic night with so many talented artists creating a truly unique musical experience.
America’s legendary song-writer Stephen Foster created the first pages of the American Songbook in Cincinnati while working as a book keeper at his brother’s steam-boat shipping company in the mid-1800s. American Originals celebrates the remarkable legacy of Stephen Foster as well as the music of 18th century America that created the foundation of our nation’s musical ethos. These concerts bring together some of the most significant singers in the wave of roots/traditional music that is sweeping across the country, giving their own spin on these classics.
Leading the cast is Rosanne Cash, whose decades-long career has helped define American music. Her latest album,The River and The Thread, is nominated for three Grammy Awards, including Best Americana Album and is being called “The best of her career” (USA Today). “I think Stephen Foster is an enormously important figure in the canon of American music.‘Hard Times’ alone is worth a whole genre!” said Ms. Cash. “I think I draw inspiration from Foster in a very long and slightly convoluted line,but tracing things back to him makes sense to me.”
Also on the concert is American singer-songwriter Joe Henry, a critic’s darling also known for producing Grammy-winning albums for such artists as Hugh Laurie, Elvis Costello, Over the Rhine and more. “I have never before had the opportunity to perform with a full orchestra, and have longed to; and I very much look forward to striking a balance between the broad expanse of such instrumentation and the intimacy of the material,” said Mr. Henry.
Hometown heroes Over the Rhine, the duo comprised of Karin Berquist and Linford Detweiler and named for the Cincinnati neighborhood that houses Music Hall, add wistful vocals and haunting guitar to Foster’s beloved tunes. “Sometimes when sitting at the piano, we try to imagine Stephen Foster having a musical conversation with another more modern musician. We’ve certainly felt echoes of his writing in several of our songs over the years,” the duo said in an interview.
Dom Flemons’ (formerly of the Carolina Chocolate Drops) latest album was named one of NPR’s top 10 folk albums of 2014. Mr. Flemons’ music has gained praise for digging deep into the American repertoire, ranging from ragtime, Piedmont blues, spirituals, southern folk music, string band music, jug band music, fife and drum music, and ballads idioms with showmanship and humor, reinterpreting the music to suit 21st century audiences. “Stephen Foster’s music is the bedrock of American popular music. It’s also a complex representation of life in post-Civil War America,” said Mr. Flemons.
A favorite guest of Garrison Keillor (A Prairie Home Companion), The Goat Rodeo Sessions and festivals across the globe, Aoife O’Donovan adds her folk talent to “American Originals.”
Rounding out the cast is The Comet Bluegrass All-Stars. The house band at The Comet, located in Cincinnati’s Northside neighborhood, the All-Stars have a robust following. Performing original music as well as bluegrass standards, the All-Stars have performed with the Pops on several occasions, including at the Closing Ceremonies of the World Choir Games. “
All of these artists lend their talents to new arrangements of Stephen Foster’s most popular tunes.
The songs will showcase the lush sounds of the Pops while re-imagining these classics for the 21st century. The concerts will be recorded live, including participation from the audience, for release on the Orchestra’s Fanfare Cincinnati label in late 2015.
Molly Wellmann Bourbon Tasting and Pre-Concert Entertainment
Cincinnati’s renowned craft cocktail creator and entrepreneur Molly Wellmann has curated a small-batch Kentucky bourbon tasting, exclusively for fans of the Cincinnati Pops.
Prior to the concerts on Friday and Saturday, January 23-24 (doors open at 6:30), guests are invited to Corbett Tower at Music Hall as Ms. Wellmann leads an interactive sampling of premium bourbons from artisanal Kentucky distilleries.
*Tickets for the bourbon tasting, which includes a flight of three bourbons and light appetizers, are available for $20 (does not include concert ticket).
****Pre-concert entertainment begins in the Music Hall lobby one hour prior to all three performances. Hear from three of Cincinnati’s favorite local band: The Ridges (Friday), Young Heirlooms (Saturday) and Hickory Robot (Sunday).
You do not want to miss out on this once in a lifetime concert event!
Cincinnati Pops Presents American Originals January 23-25
Friday January 23 8pm
Saturday January 24 8pm
Sunday January 25 2pm
*Tickets start at $25
Tickets are available by phone at (513) 381-3300, on the Internet at www.cincinnatipops.org,
or in person at: CSO Box Office at Music Hall, 1241 Elm Street, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Disclosure: I was given media tickets for review purposes. All opinions are my own.
Sleeping Beauty at the Ensemble Theatre
Sleeping Beauty at the Ensemble Theatre is a play that is so fun to watch! The costumes reminded me of the wardrobe from characeters in “The Hunger Games.” They were whimsical and quirky which added to the characters.
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Queen City Underground Tour in Cincinnati
Cincinnati has so much history and as a native to the area, it can be easy to take that history for granted. I’ve really enjoyed taking various tours around the city because it’s opened my eyes to all of the details that I’ve overlooked as a local.
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Venice on Vine ~ Good Food for a Great Cause
My family has been going to Over the Rhine pretty frequently and we had been curious about Venice on Vine for a while. A few weeks ago, I attended a blogger event to find out more about the heart behind Venice on Vine that included sampling a variety of food from their restaurant and catering menu.
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Around the World in 80 Days at the Ensemble Theatre
(Ken Early* as Phileas Fogg- Michael G. Bath* as Passepartout)
I recently attended the opening night performance of Around the World in 80 Days. I was not familiar with the play but as someone who loves adventure, I was intrigued by the title and knew this would be a fun show to watch. I was not disappointed.
(Company of Around the World in 80 Days.)
It is 1899 and the mysterious, brilliant, mathematically precise Englishman Phileas Fogg has wagered his considerable fortune that the world can now be circumnavigated in a mere 80 days. Will bandits, buffalo, winter storms and even the meddlesome Scotland Yard prevent him and his wily valet, Passepartout, from completing this daunting task? Jumping between trains and steamships, even employing an elephant, this magical family-friendly adventure leads Fogg to discover a wider world as well as his own heart in this swashbuckling musical retelling of Jules Verne’s classic tale.
(Sara Mackie*, Deb G. Girdler,* and Buz Davis* as Company)
The cast did a fantastic job of giving the audience the feeling of traveling around the world. The creative stage design allowed the audience to use their imagination for elements of the play. There were also several funny surprise cameos but I’m not going to give those secrets away.
(Sola Thompson, Andrew Maloney, Jeremy Carlisle Parker and the Company.)
My two favorite characters from the play were Michael G. Bath* as Passepartout and Annie Fitzpatrick* as Inspector Fix. Passepartout was a comical Frenchman, who added so much life to the show. It was also enjoyable to watch Inspector Fix add more mayhem for Phileas Fogg and his travel companions.
It was fun to watch Ken Early as Phileas Fogg, who’s adventures kept on escalating as the trip continued.
Deb G. Girdler* as Company -Ken Early* as Phileas Fogg
All of the actors demonstrated so much talent. Overall, this show was really enjoyable to watch and an interesting way to step back in time.
(Michael G. Bath* as Passepartout – Ken Early* as Phileas Fogg)
(Michael G. Bath* as Passepartout Ken Early* as Phileas Fogg)
Don’t Miss Out!
You can still catch a performance of Around the World in 80 Days.
(Torie Wiggins* as Aouda)
Around the World in 80 Days Runs from December 4, 2013-January 4, 2014
(Annie Fitzpatrick* as Inspector Fix – Michael G. Bath* as Passepartout – Ken Early* as Phileas Fogg- )
Performance Times:
Select Tues-Fri at 7:00 pm; Sat at 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm; Sun at 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm
Tickets:
Adults, $39-$43; Students, $25; Children (12 and under), $16
Half-Price Rush Tickets:
All remaining tickets for the current day’s performance(s) are available two hours prior to each show time for half-price (discount does not apply to senior or children’s tickets) when purchasing by phone or in person. $15 Student Rush Tickets: Students may purchase up to two $15 student rush tickets two hours prior to show time with valid student I.D. Available in person only.
AAA, ArtsWave Fun Card, Cincinnati Public Radio Perks Card, Military/Educator and ETA discounts available. Group discounts available for 10+. Complete details available at www.ensemblecincinnati.org.
Disclosure: I was given complimentary tickets for review purposes. All opinions are my own.
* All images courtesy of the Ensemble Theatre
The Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati is located at 1127 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202.
Spirit of Christmas Tour in Over the Rhine
I recently joined some other bloggers for a “Spirit of Christmas” tour in historic Over the Rhine in Cincinnati. The tour begins at the Cincy Haus on Vine street in OTR.
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Segway of Cincinnati Riverfront Tour
LumenoCity
LumenoCity took place at Washington Park in Cincinnati on August 3rd and 4th. LumenoCity featured images projected on Music Hall during a free live performance by the Cincinnati Symphony.
The turn out was HUGE!
The buzz from a Friday rehearsal and Saturday performance resulted in crowds that began swelling the park 2.5 hours prior.
The first half of LumenoCity showcased a blend of performances by the Cincinnati Ballet, Cincinnati Pops, May Festival Chorus, and soloists from the Cincinnati Opera.
After the intermission, the glow sticks were passed around and we knew that we were in for a fun experience.
Here is just a small taste of what we experienced.
The finale at the end was really fun as balls were bounced into the crowd.
The LumenoCity experience really set the bar for every city to find innovative ways to mix technology and the classic arts. You can find more upcoming events on the Cincinnati Symphony website.
Did you see LumenoCity? I would love to hear what your favorite part was.