What's Happening in Cincinnati, OH…

The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) is celebrating a major milestone soon, and is planning a special concert.

In 1895, the newly-formed Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra gave its first performance, with Frank Van der Stucken on the podium. This year marks the Symphony's 125th anniversary, and the celebration will include familiar works, as well as a world premiere.

The program features “Exil!” by Eugène-Auguste Ysaÿe, who was the music director of the CSO from 1918 until 1922. Ysaÿe was a celebrated violinist, so gifted that composers such as Camille Saint-Saëns and Claude Debussy dedicated compositions to him.

Works by two 20th-century American composers are on the program: ‘New World A-Comin’ by Duke Ellington, and Rhapsody in Blue, arranged for pianola and orchestra, by George Gershwin. Gershwin performed with the CSO in 1929, and technology will apparently allow him to “appear” with the orchestra again.

The orchestra is also presenting “Symphony No. 5, Prometheus, The Poem of Fire,” by Russian composer Alexander Scriabin. The last two works on the program were both commissioned by the CSO. The first is “Collider,” by Daniel Bjarnason, an Icelandic composer. William Winstead is the composer of the world premiere, which is as yet untitled.

Louis Langrée will conduct the concert, which is set for January 18, from 8:00 pm until 10.00 pm, at the Music Hall on Elm Street. Poster printing can be used to create beautiful advertisements for events like this.