ClevelandClassical Previews eighth blackbird Concert

Our pals over at ClevelandClassical.com have posted interviews with Maestro Christopher Wilkins, ASO Director of Artistic Planning Renee Anthony Dee, and eighth blackbird flutist Tim Munro in anticipation of this weekend’s premiere of Jennifer Higdon’s On a Wire.

When the League of American Orchestras sent out an all points bulletin inviting orchestras to join in a commissioning project for a new piece by Jennifer Higdon featuring the contemporary music sextet eighth blackbird, the Akron Symphony’s director of artistic planning, Renee Dee, was immediately taken with the idea. “It looked very interesting to me. I forwarded the email to our music director, Christopher Wilkins, and he said ‘Hell, Yes!’

Read the full interviews here and here.

Plain Dealer Talks ASO and eighth blackbird

Zachary Lewis of Cleveland’s Plain Dealer wrote a nice piece about the Akron Symphony’s concert with eighth blackbird this Saturday at E.J. Thomas Hall.

Now the work, completed last year and titled “On a Wire,” is coming around to Northeast Ohio. Up first on Saturday is a performance by the Akron Symphony Orchestra, to be followed in May by another one with the Cleveland Orchestra and music director Franz Welser-Most.
“We’re getting to work with orchestras we might not work with otherwise, or even hear,” said flutist Tim Munro, speaking shortly after a sold-out appearance in December with the Vermont Symphony Orchestra.

Read the full article here.

Porgy and Bess Update From The Maestro

Music Director Christopher Wilkins updates us on the status of Porgy and Bess:

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We have had two rounds of chorus auditions this fall. The chorus positions are now 95% filled. I am thrilled beyond words at the quality and enthusiasm of our chorus. Without a doubt, it will be one of the most distinuguished professional choruses ever assembled in the Akron area.

The lead roles of Porgy, Bess and Crown were offered at the outset to Alvy Powell, Marquita Lister, and Lester Lynch. They are all considered the top artists in the world for this opera. Lester Lynch, as it turns out, is also a native of Northeast Ohio.

We have also heard about 20 people compete for the many remaining solo roles in Porgy and Bess. Several of these singers were invited subsequent to their successful audition for the chorus. The roles still available include Sportin’ Life, Serena, and Clara, among others. A second round of soloist auditions will be held this coming weekend. To this point, we’ve heard fine singers of all levels of experience at these auditions: well established professional singers, young artists just beginning their careers, and exceptional students from schools in the area, including several highly accomplished musicians from the University of Akron.

~ Christopher

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The Akron Symphony’s production of Porgy and Bess is sponsored by a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and will hit the stage at The University of Akron’s E.J. Thomas Hall on Saturday, April 16, 2011. Tickets are available from $20-$40 by calling (330) 535-8131 or online at Ticketmaster.com.

Maria Sellner Chats With ClevelandClassical

Newly appointed Akron Symphony Chorus (ASC) Director Maria Sensi Sellner recently spoke with ClevelandClassical.com’s Daniel Hathaway about her former life as an engineer, her future plans for the ASC, and their role in this Saturday’s concert.

New chorus Master Maria Sensi Sellner came onboard in July and had little to do with the selections on the menu for the chorus this year, but she’s excited about preparing the Vaughan Williams. “It’s not your typical choral piece with orchestra, with all the different solo lines and punctuations by full chorus which are often very short, but have to have a significant impact. There’s also the density of the choral texture. Voices are divided into six parts each, women and men, and often move in contrary motion in waves of phrases that almost seem to go against each other. Making them effective is a challenge!”

Read the entire article here.

ClevelandClassical Talks With Kristina Belisle Jones

Our friends at ClevelandClassical.com recently chatted with Akron Symphony principal clarinetist Kristina Belisle Jones about her role in this Saturday’s Early Romantics concert.

MT: The next Akron Symphony program is so interesting. I love the Weber clarinet concertos.

KBJ: Aren’t they fun!! They have such beautiful melodies, yet on the other hand, the tunes have such wit and so much character. They really are a joy to play.

MT: Is there any particular reason you chose the first concerto over the second?

KBJ: Well, I have performed the second many times, and I have taught the first a lot, but never performed it. I actually think they are both wonderful, but the first somehow pulls at your heartstrings just a little bit more then the second. And I wanted a chance to play it with an orchestra. My students play these concertos with a piano, but it is such a different world, playing with an orchestra. All of those strings, and the orchestration is just so beautiful that I really wanted to do it. I am so happy and so excited to be able to do it.

You can read the entire interview with Kristina at ClevelandClassical.com.

Ohio.com Covers Porgy & Bess Auditions

Kerry Clawson of Ohio.com/Akron Beacon Journal was present at the Porgy and Bess auditions held earlier this month. While there, she spoke with a number of audition hopefuls as well as Maestro Christopher Wilkins.

Auditioners ranged from professional singer Pat Harris from Cleveland, who sang the Puccini aria O mio babbino caro, to Kim Shores, who said she was singing in public for the first time and has always wanted to be in a musical.

”You’re having a breakthrough today,” said Wilkins, complimenting her after she sang You Can’t Stop the Beat from the musical Hairspray.

Full casting isn’t expected to be announced for a couple of months. Sunday’s jurors, who also included Johnson and Renee Anthony Dee from the symphony, took careful notes on each singer.

”We’ve had a phenomenal day. It’s just taken my breath away. The Gospel Meets Symphony Chorus has just come out in full force,” Wilkins said.

Read the whole article here. Additional auditions will be held on October 17. Details here.

The Akron Symphony’s production of Porgy and Bess is sponsored by a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and will hit the stage at The University of Akron’s E.J. Thomas Hall on Saturday, April 16, 2011. Tickets are available from $20-$40 by calling (330) 535-8131 or online at Ticketmaster.com.

Frank McClain To Direct Porgy & Bess

Acclaimed veteran director Frank McClain has been hired to direct the staging for the Akron Symphony’s upcoming production of The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess after recently working with Maestro Christopher Wilkins on a similar production in Orlando. Frank McClain served as the Resident Stage Director at the former Orlando Opera Company, where he directed Il Trovatore, L’elisir d’amore, Candide, and Le nozze di Figaro. Mr. McClain is also an actor in the Orlando area having performed such roles as The Sergeant in Pirates of Penzance and Dr. Pangloss in Candide. He has also performed at Walt Disney World and Universal Studios Florida.

Frank McClain joins a celebrated roster of artists, including stars Alvy Powell and Marquita Lister, coming together for the Akron Symphony’s first staged opera performance since La Traviata in 2007. The Akron Symphony’s production of Porgy and Bess is sponsored by a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and will hit the stage at The University of Akron’s E.J. Thomas Hall on Saturday, April 16, 2011. Tickets are available from $20-$40 by calling (330) 535-8131 or online at Ticketmaster.com.

Powell and Lister Cast As Porgy and Bess

Big news on the Porgy and Bess front this week. Not only did we officially announce the chorus and supporting role audition details at last weekend’s African American Festival, but I am really excited to report the first major casting news for the production.

The Akron Symphony’s April 2011 production of The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess will star Alvy Powell and Marquita Lister in the respective title roles. Not only did they both perform the parts for Maestro Christopher Wilkins in a production with the Orlando Philharmonic last year, but they both have become internationally recognized as two of the very best performers for the demanding roles of Porgy and Bess.

Mr. Powell has performed the role of Porgy more than 1,200 times, including a 2009 performance at Carnegie Hall and PBS’s Emmy-nominated Live at Lincoln Center broadcast of the New York City Opera production. Marquita Lister is equally synonymous with the role of Bess and performed opposite Powell in the Lincoln Center broadcast.

Both are also featured on the Nashville Symphony’s recording of Porgy and Bess released on the Decca label. Listen to samples or purchase the album from Amazon.com.

To follow the latest news surrounding the ASO’s production of Porgy and Bess, keep checking this blog as well as our Facebook page. More soon…

(Photo: courtesy New York City Opera)

Join The R/Evolution Here

We’re encouraging all friends of the Akron Symphony to visit a new website put together by the League of American Orchestras at orchestrarevolution.org. According to the League:

The climate for orchestras is changing. Orchestras need to change. The question is how? We’re convening in Atlanta for five days to discuss the future of orchestras. As a community that cares about orchestras, help determine questions for the global town hall being streamed live June 16. Nominate a question. Tell us what we should talk about.

Again, the URL is http://www.orchestrarevolution.org/

Busy 2010-2011 For Cavanaugh

One of the most exciting concerts planned for the Akron Symphony’s 2010-2011 season is Michael Cavanaugh in February. Check out the following for a little more about the man Billy Joel personally chose to sing his songs on Broadway.

Michael Cavanaugh was handpicked by Billy Joel to star in title role of Movin’ Out on Broadway and evokes a style rivaling the Piano Man. Cavanaugh appeared in the show for 3 years and over 1200 performances, which culminated in 2003 with both Grammy and Tony award nominations.

After the huge success from the orchestra show “The Songs of Billy Joel & more,” Cavanaugh’s newest show in the “Generations of Rock” series will feature some of the greatest hits by another great piano legend: Sir Elton John. Just as he did with his first orchestral show, Cavanaugh will be opening up the Rock ‘n’ Roll songbook and not only play songs by Elton John but will also feature selections by other legendary artists. Get ready for some surprises!

Read the entire article here.

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