From Russia with Love: CCM Celebrates Tchaikovsky

This fall, the music-filled days and magical White Nights of Russia will find a new home at the

University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM)

. CCM proudly hosts the

Tchaikovsky Festival

(Oct. 14­–Nov. 5, 2008), showcasing the genius of Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

Though morbidly shy in person, Tchaikovsky's expressive music made him one of the most famous composers of the late Romantic period. Tchaikovsky studied law and took a post with the Ministry of Justice before finding his true calling at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, and he remains one of the most performed composers of the late 19th century.

After a lunchtime concert in the CCM Atrium, the festival officially launches with

Curtain Rising: Tchaikovsky Festival Opening Concert

on

Tuesday, Oct. 14

. This very special concert event will feature the CCM Philharmonia Orchestra along with the winner of the CCM Piano Concerto Competition and will serve as a welcome to CCM's new dean, Douglas Knehans. Cocktails and dinner with the dean will precede the concert. The celebrations continue through Wednesday, Nov. 5, and along the way, CCM features full-scale orchestral concerts, an intimate chamber music event and a special conducting workshop, all heralding the greatness of this master composer.

Orchestral concerts include a performance of the final duet from Tchaikovsky's

Eugene Onegin

, Op. 23 by CCM students Kimberly Buczek, (soprano) and Jonathan Lasch (baritone), with pre-concert lectures by Breighan Brown. The Chamber Music concert will feature the Tchaikovsky Trio—

Anna Reider

(violin),

Michael Mermagen

(cello) and

Elisabeth Pridonoff

(piano)—performing with guest artists

Catharine Carroll

(viola) and

Masao Kawasaki

(violin). A lunchtime Atrium Series—nicknamed

Tuesdays with Tchaikovsky

—features additional student artists.

Tickets to the Oct. 14 Curtain Rising event are $10-$150. For ticket information, please call CCM External Relations at 513-556-2100. All other Tchaikovsky Festival events are FREE and open to the public, taking place on the CCM campus. Please see below for event details. Contact the CCM Box Office at 513-556-4183 for additional information.

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TCHAIKOVSKY FESTIVAL

Schedule of events

ORCHESTRAL CONCERTS

All Tchaikovsky Festival Orchestral Concerts take place in CCM's Corbett Auditorium.

Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2008; 5:30 p.m. cocktails and dinner, 7:30 p.m. concert
Curtain Rising: Tchaikovsky Festival Opening Concert
Featuring the CCM Philharmonia Orchestra
Mark Gibson, music director & conductor
Featuring the winner of the CCM Piano Concerto Competition
Cocktails and dinner with incoming dean Douglas Knehans precedes the concert

• Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat Minor, Op. 23
• Romeo and Juliet, Overture-Fantasy (1880)
• 1812 Overture

Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008; 8 p.m.
Concert Orchestra
Annunziata Tomaro, music director & conductor
Featuring the winner of the CCM Violin Concerto Competition
Pre-concert talk by Breighan Brown

• Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35
• Symphony No. 5 in E Minor, Op. 64

Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008; 8 p.m.
Tchaikovsky Festival Closing Concert
Featuring the CCM Philharmonia Orchestra
Mark Gibson, music director & conductor
Featuring the winner of the CCM Cello Concerto Competition
Kimberly Buczek, soprano
Jonathan Lasch, baritone
Pre-concert talk by Breighan Brown

• Variations on a Rococo Theme
• Final duet from Eugene Onegin, Op. 23
• Symphony No. 6 in B Minor, Op. 74 (Pathétique)

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CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERT
The Tchaikovsky Festival Chamber Music Concert takes place in CCM's Robert J. Werner Recital Hall.

Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2008; 8 p.m.
Tchaikovsky Trio
Anna Reider, violin; Michael Mermagen, cello; Elisabeth Pridonoff, piano
With guest artists Catharine Carroll, viola and Masao Kawasaki, violin

Featuring trios by Tchaikovsky and Brahms

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ATRIUM SERIES
Atrium Series events take place in the CCM Village Atrium.

Oct. 14, 21, 28 and Nov. 4, 2008; 12 noon
Tuesdays with Tchaikovsky
Selections will vary. Guests are encouraged to bring a sack lunch.

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CCM CONDUCTING WORKSHOP
Conducting Workshop events take place in CCM's Corbett Auditorium.

Friday, Oct. 24: 2 p.m.­4p.m. and 4 p.m.­6 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 25: 10 p.m.­1 p.m., 2 p.m.­ 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.­10 p.m.
Featuring conductor Mark Gibson (faculty) and Gustav Meier (guest artist)

• Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture (1880)
• Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat Minor, Op. 23
• Symphony No. 5 in E Minor, Op. 64 (selections)
• Symphony No. 6 in B Minor, Op. 74 (Pathétique) (selections)

Maestro Meier will join CCM faculty artist Mark Gibson to lead a series of special master classes with conducting students from CCM and around the country. All sessions are free and open to the public.

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THINKING ABOUT MUSIC LECTURE
Thinking About Music Lectures events take place in CCM's Baur Room

Friday, Oct. 10, 2008; 2 p.m.
Featuring Joseph Kraus (Florida State University) presenting "Levels of Nostalgia and Narrative Collapse in the 'Pastorale' from Tchaikovsky's Manfred Symphony"