NEWS
Previews: "Cleveland Orchestra announces programs and prices of 2016 Blossom Music Festival"
The Plain Dealer and Akron Beacon Journal have published articles previewing The Cleveland Orchestra's 2016 Blossom Music Festival season, during which Associate Conductor Brett Mitchell will conduct three performances. Mr. Mitchell will first appear with the Kent/Blossom Chamber Orchestra on Saturday, July 30, leading a performance of Andrew Norman's The Great Swiftness and Beethoven's Symphony No. 8. He will then close the 2016 Festival with two performances of John Williams's Oscar-nominated score for 1981's Raiders of the Lost Ark on Saturday, September 3 and Sunday, September 4.
Please click here to read the article in The Plain Dealer, here to read the article in the Akron Beacon Journal, and here to view the press release from The Cleveland Orchestra.
Previews: "Cleveland Play House, Cleveland Orchestra collaboration with Pulitzer-winning playwright set for April"
The Plain Dealer and Broadway World have published articles announcing an upcoming, world-premiere collaboration between Cleveland Play House and The Cleveland Orchestra, which will be led by associate conductor Brett Mitchell. From The Plain Dealer:
"The Good Peaches," the hotly anticipated play for actors and orchestra written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Quiara Alegría Hudes, will make its world premiere at the Allen Theatre April 14-16 as part of the New Ground Theatre Festival, the Cleveland Play House's annual showcase of new theatrical works.
Hudes's new tale follows the heroic journey of a young girl named Aurora, tasked with delivering a wedding dress to a queen. But a violent storm knocks her off-course and into an adventure beyond her wildest imaginings.
Conducted by the Cleveland Orchestra's associate conductor, Brett Mitchell, the play will feature three actors and a 55-piece chamber orchestra performing selections from Benjamin Britten's "Sea Interludes" and "Shaker Loops" by John Adams.
To read The Plain Dealer's complete article, "Cleveland Play House, Cleveland Orchestra collaboration with Pulitzer-winning playwright set for April," please click here. To read Broadway World's article, "Cleveland Play House & The Cleveland Orchestra to Present THE GOOD PEACHES," please click here. To read Crain's Cleveland Business's article, "Cleveland Play House, Cleveland Orchestra to partner for play's world premiere," please click here.
Preview: Brett Mitchell discusses upcoming Cleveland Orchestra performances on Cleveland 19 News
Brett Mitchell appeared on this morning's Cleveland 19 News (CBS) to discuss The Cleveland Orchestra's upcoming performances of Back to the Future and Home Alone. To watch this interview, please click here.
Previews: Cleveland Orchestra "At the Movies"
Cleveland Scene and Cool Cleveland have listed two of Brett Mitchell's upcoming performances with The Cleveland Orchestra as must-see events this holiday season. To read the article in Cleveland Scene about Back to the Future, please click here. To read the article in Cool Cleveland about Home Alone, please click here.
Preview: "Cleveland Orchestra expects 'Back to the Future' show to be blast from the past"
The Plain Dealer (Cleveland) has published a preview of The Cleveland Orchestra's upcoming performance of Back to the Future, featuring Alan Silvestri's classic score led by Associate Conductor Brett Mitchell.
The Cleveland Orchestra isn't taking on "Back to the Future" because it's a cult classic or the year 2015 figures into its plot. It's playing the film because, like the soundtracks to "Psycho," "Fantasia" and others, the score by Alan Silvestri is genuinely worth playing. "The greatness of the music matters to us," Mitchell explained. "If you look at the caliber of projects we've chosen to do lately, you see we consider films only if the music in them is also great."
To read the complete preview, please click here. To purchase tickets to the event, presented this Thursday, December 10 at 7:30 p.m. at Severance Hall, please click here.
New Year's Eve with the Houston Symphony
Brett Mitchell will return to the Houston Symphony later this month to conduct their New Year's Eve gala program, an event he has led annually dating back to his tenure as the orchestra's Assistant Conductor from 2007 to 2011. For more information on this year's program and to purchase tickets, please click here.
Audio: Brett Mitchell previews the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra's first concert of the season on WCLV
Brett Mitchell joined host Bill O'Connell on WCLV this afternoon to discuss the first concert of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra's 30th season, presented this Sunday evening at Severance Hall. To hear this interview, please click here.
Preview: "Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra remains ambitious, enthusiastic going into 2015-16 season"
"Just try not to be impressed when the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra kicks off a new year Sunday night at Severance Hall."
The Plain Dealer (Cleveland) has published an article previewing the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra's first subscription concert of the 2015-16 season, featuring works of Kevin Puts, Leonard Bernstein, and Robert Schumann.
In an interview for this article, Brett Mitchell shared his thoughts about the current state of the orchestra at the outset of his third season as its music director: "The quality of the ensemble continues to go up and up. It's been a long line of gradually raising the bar and expectations. If you give a group a smart challenge, and help them execute it, the result will be so much more fulfilling than if you just play it safe."
Peppered throughout with references to the group's ambition, enthusiasm, "high standards," and "unrelenting appetite," the article details Sunday evening's program, and previews the remainder of the orchestra's 2015-16 season.
To read the article, please click here.
Preview: "The Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra Performs at Severance Hall"
Cool Cleveland has published a preview of the first subscription concert of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra's 2015-16 season, led by music director Brett Mitchell. The concert, which will be held this Sunday, November 22, at 8 p.m. at Severance Hall, will feature works by Kevin Puts, Leonard Bernstein, and Robert Schumann. To read this article, please click here.
Preview: "Cleveland Orchestra Miami warming up for special 10th anniversary season"
The Plain Dealer (Cleveland) has published a preview of The Cleveland Orchestra's 10th anniversary season in Miami. Discussing the orchestra's Miami residency, Associate Conductor Brett Mitchell says, "It is quite literally our second home. We've really translated it into a second home, complete with another family."
Commenting on the pair of education programs he will conduct this season for several thousand students from around south Florida, Mr. Mitchell added, "Projects like this can be so fulfilling. Any time I get to interact with young people about music, what more could I want? That's why I went into this, to share this great music."
To read the complete article, please click here.
Preview: "Cleveland Orchestra's 'At the Movies' includes 'Back to the Future'"
The Hudson Hub-Times (Ohio) has published an article previewing The Cleveland Orchestra's 2015-16 "At the Movies" series, which includes two productions led by Associate Conductor Brett Mitchell: Alan Silvestri's score for Back to the Future on Thursday, December 10, and John Williams's score for Home Alone on Wednesday, December 16. To read this article, please click here.
Preview: "Your guide to Cleveland Orchestra pops and youth concerts: 2015 Classical Music and Dance preview"
The Plain Dealer (Cleveland) has published an article previewing The Cleveland Orchestra and Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra's wide range of popular, family, holiday, and children's concerts throughout the 2015-16 Severance Hall season, many of which will be conducted by Brett Mitchell. To read this article, please click here.
Preview: "Cleveland Orchestra releases film schedule for upcoming 'At the Movies' three-concert series
Crain's Cleveland Business has published an article previewing The Cleveland Orchestra's 2015-16 "At the Movies" series, which includes two productions led by Associate Conductor Brett Mitchell: Alan Silvestri's score for Back to the Future on December 10, 2015, and John Williams's score for Home Alone on December 16, 2015. To read this article, please click here.
Preview: "Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra takes up American, contemporary music on 2015-16 season"
The Plain Dealer (Cleveland) has published a preview of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra's 2015-16 concert season, highlighting music director Brett Mitchell's increased programming focus on contemporary American works:
CLEVELAND, Ohio – When it comes to repertoire, the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra is giving its parent ensemble a run for its money.
In its just-announced 2015-16 season, the youth ensemble has included a notably high concentration of American and contemporary music. Higher, in fact, than that of its namesake.
"Part of the joy for me in programming for our young musicians is showing them how well contemporary music and old favorites can live side by side," said COYO music director Brett Mitchell. "[M]y aim with all these pairings is to share with our young musicians and audiences that classical music is just as relevant and meaningful to us in America in the 21st century as ever."
Over three concerts, from November to May, the orchestra and Mitchell will perform no fewer than two works by living composers, both of whom are American. Also on the programs: the rarely heard "Canticle of Freedom," by that most famous of American composers, Copland, and Bernstein's "Jeremiah" Symphony No. 1.
Not that there's anything wrong with older, European repertoire. On that front, too, COYO plans to excel, with performances of Schumann's "Rhenish" Symphony No. 3, Rachmaninoff's "Symphonic Dances," Stravinsky's "Petrushka," and Brahms' "Schicksalslied," with the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus.
To read the complete article, please click here.
Audio: The Cleveland Orchestra at Blossom Music Center
CLEVELAND — Brett Mitchell joined host Jacqueline Gerber on WCLV this morning to discuss his performances with The Cleveland Orchestra, soloist James Ehnes, and the Kent/Blossom Chamber Orchestra at Blossom Music Center tomorrow evening. To hear this interview, please click here.
Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra completes nine-day, four-city tour of China
Music Director Brett Mitchell (top center) and the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra on the Great Wall in June 2015 during their four-city tour of China.
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra and music director Brett Mitchell have returned from a highly successful nine-day, four-city tour of China, the ensemble’s second international tour and their first to Asia.
DATES & VENUES
Sun, Jun 14
Severance Hall - Cleveland, OH
—
Thu, Jun 18
Forbidden City Concert Hall - Beijing, China
Fri, Jun 19
Tianjin Grand Theatre - Tianjin, China
Sun, Jun 21
Shanghai Oriental Art Center - Shanghai, China
Mon, Jun 22
Ningbo Cultural Plaza Grand Theatre - Ningbo, China
REPERTOIRE
SHOSTAKOVICH - Festive Overture
KILAR - Orawa
BARBER - Medea’s Meditation and Dance of Vengeance
TCHAIKOVSKY - Symphony No. 4
ENCORE
Flower Drum Song from Feng Yang (arr. Huang Ruo)
ANNOUNCEMENTS & PREVIEWS
Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra's plans for new season include tour of China
–The Plain Dealer (Nov 18, 2014)
Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra to Launch China Tour and More This Summer
–Broadway World (May 13, 2015)
Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra looks to draw closer on upcoming tour of China
–The Plain Dealer (Jun 9, 2015)
Maestro Minutes (audio): Brett Mitchell previews the repertoire for COYO’s China tour
–Ideastream (Jun 22, 2015)
SEND-OFF CONCERT
Music Director Brett Mitchell leads the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra in performance at Severance Hall. (Photo by Roger Mastroianni)
Listen to complete audio of COYO’s send-off performance at Ideastream or via the player below.
Review: An orchestra “many cities would be happy to have as their professional orchestra”
On Sunday, June 14 at Severance Hall, a large and enthusiastic audience was treated to a thrilling send-off concert when music director Brett Mitchell led his talented young musicians in works by Shostakovich, Kilar, Barber, and Tchaikovsky.
The program opened with an exuberant performance of Shostakovich’s Festive Overture. Following the grand brass fanfare, Mitchell set a fast tempo for the wind section’s opening melodic lines, which they played with aplomb. Throughout, the orchestra produced a clear, lush sound…
Mitchell led COYO’s string section in an inspired performance [of Wojciech Kilar’s Orawa] and they sounded splendid…
Samuel Barber gives the wind section ample opportunity to shine in [Medea’s Meditation and Dance of Vengeance], and shine they did. Mitchell kept the tempos in check without losing any of the work’s wonderfully hysterical qualities.
Following intermission, Mitchell and his brass section held back nothing as they launched into Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4. As this ensemble has proven in the past, it is one that many cities would be happy to have as their professional orchestra. Mitchell again led a technically clean and musically thoughtful performance.
— Cleveland Classical (June 18, 2015)
VIDEOS FROM THE ROAD
INTERVIEW: TIANANMEN SQUARE
INTERVIEW: TOUR WRAP-UP
TOUR FAREWELL SPEECH
‘SOUND OF APPLAUSE’ RECAP
Upon returning home, Brett Mitchell sat down with host Dee Perry on Sound of Applause for a debrief to wrap up the tour. Listen at Ideastream or via the player below.
PHOTOS
Forbidden City Concert Hall, Beijing
Forbidden City Concert Hall, Beijing
Tianjin Grand Theatre, Tianjin
Shanghai Oriental Art Center, Shangai
Ningbo Cultural Plaza Grand Theatre
Dress rehearsal at Ningbo Cultural Plaza Grand Theatre
Shanghai Oriental Art Center, Shanghai
Shanghai program cover
The 2014-15 Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra and music director Brett Mitchell at home in Severance Hall. (Photo by Roger Mastroianni)
Preview: "The Cleveland Orchestra at Blossom Music Center: 10 picks for the 2015 classical season"
The Plain Dealer (Cleveland) has published a preview of the top ten performances of The Cleveland Orchestra's 2015 Blossom season, including Brett Mitchell's performance on Saturday, August 1. "Bartók's great Concerto for Orchestra receives the royal treatment in the form of a side-by-side performance with both the Cleveland Orchestra and the Kent/Blossom Chamber Orchestra under associate conductor Brett Mitchell." On the same program, Mr. Mitchell will also lead The Cleveland Orchestra in Dvořák's The Noon Witch and Barber's Violin Concerto with soloist James Ehnes; he will begin the evening with performances of Stravinsky's Danses concertantes and Prokofiev's Classical Symphony with the Kent/Blossom Chamber Orchestra. To read the complete article, please click here.
Audio: "COYO China Tour: Maestro Minutes with Brett Mitchell"
Brett Mitchell recently sat down at the WCLV studios to discuss the works the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra would be playing on their upcoming four-city tour of China. To hear his remarks on Shostakovich's Festive Overture, Wojciech Kilar's Orawa, Samuel Barber's Medea's Dance of Vengeance, and Tchaikovsky's Fourth Symphony, please click here.
Video: Interview from Beijing's Tiananmen Square
David Burnett interviews Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra music director Brett Mitchell in Beijing's Tiananmen Square on the morning of the ensemble's first performance of their four-city tour of China. To view this video, please click here.
Preview: "Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra looks to draw closer on upcoming tour of China"
The Plain Dealer (Cleveland) has published a story about the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra's upcoming four-city tour of China, led by music director Brett Mitchell. COYO's second international tour—and its first to Asia—will feature performances of works by Shostakovich, Kilar, Barber, and Tchaikovsky in Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, and Ningbo from June 15 to 24. The tour will launch with a send-off concert at Severance Hall on Sunday, June 14, which will be broadcast live at 3 p.m. Eastern on WCLV.org.