NEWS
Preview: "Cleveland Orchestra & Pennsylvania Ballet to perform 'George Balanchine's The Nutcracker'"
ClevelandClassical has published a preview of The Cleveland Orchestra's upcoming production of The Nutcracker with Pennsylvania Ballet, conducted by Brett Mitchell:
Although the San Francisco Ballet produced the first complete Nutcracker in the United States in 1944, it was Russian-born choreographer George Balanchine’s production, premiered at City Center in New York on February 2, 1954, that is credited with making this holiday classic famous in the U.S.
Next week, The Cleveland Orchestra and Philadelphia’s Pennsylvania Ballet will join forces for seven performances of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker at the State Theatre in Playhouse Square beginning on Wednesday, November 30 at 7:00 pm. Brett Mitchell conducts these rare, full-orchestra performances of Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s delectable musical confection, which include the Cleveland Orchestra Children’s Chorus.
To read the complete preview, please click here.
Preview: "Holiday Arts Guide 2016: A wonderful, busy time for classical music and dance in Cleveland"
One of the longest and most revered holiday traditions in Northeast Ohio: The Cleveland Orchestra's Christmas Concerts. This year the popular programs will be led by associate conductor Brett Mitchell. (Photo by The Plain Dealer)
The Plain Dealer (Cleveland) has published its annual, curated selection of holiday performances in Northeast Ohio, including two programs presented by Brett Mitchell and The Cleveland Orchestra:
Cleveland Orchestra
Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 10-18; Severance Hall, 11001 Euclid Ave., Cleveland.
Performances at 7:30 p.m. (Dec. 10, 11, 15 and 16) and 2:30 p.m. (Dec. 10, 11, 17 and 18).
$45-$105; clevelandorchestra.com or 216-231-1111.
In a change of pace, associate conductor Brett Mitchell presides over the Cleveland Orchestra's popular holiday show this year, in lieu of Robert Porco. The rest of the program, however, remains the same. Expect performances of traditional and lesser-known holiday music by the Cleveland Orchestra and Cleveland Orchestra Chorus, contributions by area choirs, sing-along selections and a visit from you-know-who.
Pennsylvania Ballet/Cleveland Orchestra
Wednesday, Nov. 30-Sunday, Nov. 4; State Theatre, Playhouse Square, Cleveland.
Performances at 7 p.m. (Nov. 30-Dec. 3), 11 a.m. (Dec. 2) and 2 p.m. (Dec. 3 and 4).
$15-$99; playhousesquare.org or 216-241-6000.
If you plan to attend only one production of "The Nutcracker" this season, this may be the one to catch. The great Philadelphia-based Pennsylvania Ballet returns to collaborate with the Cleveland Orchestra on a lavish account of the famous tale, in the version conceived by George Balanchine. This is the standard to which most other productions aspire.
To read the complete preview, please click here.
Preview: "The biggest name in American opera will sing with the Colorado Symphony next year"
Soprano Renée Fleming will join Brett Mitchell for his first concert as Music Director of the Colorado Symphony in September 2017. (Photo of Ms. Fleming by Decca/Andrew Eccles. Photo of Mr. Mitchell by Roger Mastroianni.)
The Denver Post has published a preview of Brett Mitchell's first concert as Music Director of the Colorado Symphony in September 2017, featuring special guest artist Renée Fleming:
Soprano Renée Fleming, the biggest name in American opera, will sing with the Colorado Symphony next year, accompanying conductor Brett Mitchell in his first official performance as CSO’s new music director.
The concert, set for Saturday, Sept. 9, kicks off the orchestra’s 2017/18 season. The repertoire is yet to be announced....
The event, at Boettcher Concert Hall, the orchestra’s home, will be a splashy kickoff for Mitchell, who comes to the CSO from Cleveland, where worked as the Cleveland Orchestra’s associate conductor and as music director of the organization’s Youth Orchestra.
To read the complete preview, please click here.
Preview: "'The Nutcracker' and Five More Classical Music Events to Hit This Thanksgiving Weekend"
Cleveland Scene has published a brief preview of Brett Mitchell's upcoming performances of The Nutcracker:
The Cleveland Orchestra and Philadelphia’s Pennsylvania Ballet will join forces for seven performances of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker at the State Theatre in Playhouse Square beginning on Wednesday, November 30 at 7:00 pm. Brett Mitchell conducts these rare, full-orchestra performances of Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s delectable musical confection, which include the Cleveland Orchestra Children’s Chorus. More performances on Thursday, December 1 at 7:00 pm; Friday, December 2 at 11:00 am and 7:00 pm; Saturday, December 3 at 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm; and Sunday, December 4 at 2:00 pm. Tickets are available online.
To read the complete preview, please click here.
Preview: "Twelve things to do in Northeast Ohio through Nov. 24"
Music director Brett Mitchell leads the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra in performance at Severance Hall. (Photo by Roger Mastroianni)
Crain's Cleveland Business has published a brief preview of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra's first concert of the 2016-17 season:
Watch youth be served as the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra performs at Severance Hall. The youth orchestra bills itself as one of northern Ohio's premier musical destinations for aspiring student musicians. In its opening night of its Severance Hall season, the youth orchestra will host a program featuring Bruckner's Symphony No. 4 and the world premiere of Roger Briggs' Fountain of Youth, commissioned by the youth orchestra. The group is led by Brett Mitchell. (Friday, Nov. 18, at 8 p.m.)
To read the complete preview, please click here.
Preview: "Classical music events to catch this week"
Brett Mitchell leads the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra in performance at Severance Hall. (Photo by Roger Mastroianni)
Cleveland Scene has published a brief preview of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra's opening concert of the 2016-17 season, presented this weekend under the baton of music director Brett Mitchell:
The Cleveland Orchestra is off on Friday evening, but the lights will be on at Severance Hall for a concert by the orchestral musicians of the future. Brett Mitchell will lead the impressive Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra in the world premiere of Roger Briggs’ Fountain of Youth and in Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 4.
To read the complete preview, please click here.
Audio: Brett Mitchell discusses Bruckner and a world premiere
Brett Mitchell spoke with WCLV's Bill O'Connell about the first concert of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra's 2016-17 season, presented on Friday, November 18 at Severance Hall.
On the program will be the world premiere of Roger Briggs's Fountain of Youth and Bruckner's Fourth Symphony.
To listen to the complete interview, please click here.
Preview: "Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra takes the stage at Severance Hall"
The Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra and music director Brett Mitchell onstage at Severance Hall. (Photo by Roger Mastroianni)
CoolCleveland has published a brief preview of the first subscription concert of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra's 2016-17 season on Friday, November 18:
The Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra will take over the stage at Severance Hall for its autumn concert to show off the high-level talents of these advanced adolescent musicians.
The group’s director, Brett Mitchell, will conduct the ensemble as they perform a program that includes the world premiere of Briggs’ Fountain of Youth, which was commissioned by the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra and Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No 4, one of his best-known works.
To read the complete article, please click here.
Preview: "Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra premiere"
ClevelandClassical has published the final installment in a three-part series previewing the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra's world premiere this weekend of Roger Briggs's Fountain of Youth, led by music director Brett Mitchell:
Music director Brett Mitchell leads the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra in performance at Severance Hall. (Photo by Roger Mastroianni)
Like youth in all its exuberance, fountains make a powerful ascent until the water reaches its highest point. Then, like growing old, it begins to fall back down into the pool. In his new work, composer Roger Briggs uses this metaphor as the inspiration for his eighteen-minute tone poem. On Friday, November 18 at 8:00 pm at Severance Hall, the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra (COYO) under the direction of Brett Mitchell will present the world premiere of Briggs’ Fountain of Youth, commissioned by COYO. The program will also include Bruckner’s Symphony No. 4 (“Romantic”).
In the last of three feature articles, we speak with two orchestra members: violinist Daniel Fields and cellist James Hettinga. Click here to read an interview with conductor Brett Mitchell, and here to read an interview with composer Roger Briggs.
To read the complete article, please click here.
Preview: "Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra: a conversation with composer Roger Briggs"
ClevelandClassical has published the second installment in a three-part series previewing the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra's upcoming world premiere of Roger Briggs's Fountain of Youth, led by music director Brett Mitchell:
Composer Roger Briggs
Whether you’re a member of a “Big Five” orchestra or not, the prospect of performing a newly-composed work is always exciting. On Friday, November 18 at 8:00 pm at Severance Hall, the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra (COYO) under the direction of Brett Mitchell will have that opportunity when they present the world premiere of Roger Briggs’ Fountain of Youth, commissioned by COYO. The program will also include Bruckner’s Symphony No. 4 (“Romantic”).
For composer Roger Briggs, the COYO commission was immediately attractive to him for two reasons: first, it provided him with the opportunity to write a new work that would be conducted by a former student. “Brett Mitchell studied composition and conducting with me at Western Washington University. He was a marvelous talent,” Briggs said during a telephone conversation.“I remember playing Billy Joel’s Just the Way You Are on the piano in class one day, and afterwards he politely came up and told me that I had left out a note of a chord, and he sat down and played the chord adding the note.” Briggs recalled. “I told him I didn’t think he was correct, so I immediately went to the score, and he was right!”
Second, it would be his first commission for a large-scale symphonic work from a youth orchestra. “The Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra has the reputation of being one of the finest youth orchestras in the world, so I wrote the piece as though I was writing for a professional orchestra — I knew I didn’t need to write down to them,” the composer said.
To read the complete article, please click here.
Preview: "This Week's Classical Music Event Picks"
Brett Mitchell leads The Cleveland Orchestra in performance at Severance Hall. (Photo by Roger Mastroianni)
Cleveland Scene has published a preview of Brett Mitchell's concert this weekend with The Cleveland Orchestra:
The Cleveland Orchestra will join Beachwood High School Ensembles under the baton of Brett Mitchell to celebrate the renovation of the Beachwood High School Auditorium on Saturday, November 5 at 7:00 pm. There’ll be music by John Williams, Ludwig van Beethoven, Michael Daugherty, and a side-by-side performance of an excerpt from Maurice Ravel’s Bolero. Free tickets will be distributed on the school’s website.
To read the complete article, please click here.
Preview: "Classical music — Week of Nov. 3"
Brett Mitchell leads The Cleveland Orchestra in performance at Severance Hall. (Photo by Roger Mastroianni)
The Akron Beacon Journal has published a brief preview of Brett Mitchell's concert this weekend with The Cleveland Orchestra:
The Cleveland Orchestra — 7 p.m. Saturday, Beachwood High School, 24601 Fairmount Blvd., Beachwood. Brett Mitchell, conductor. Program: John Williams, Celebrate Discovery!; Beethoven, Overture to The Consecration of the House; Michael Daugherty, Movement V (“Red Cape Tango”) from Metropolis Symphony; Beethoven, Leonore Overture No. 3; and Ravel, Bolero (excerpt). There is a wait list for tickets; go to www.beachwoodschools.org/clevelandorchestra.aspx.
To read the complete article, please click here.
Preview: "Eleven things to do in Northeast Ohio through Nov. 3"
Crain's Cleveland Business has published a brief preview of Brett Mitchell's upcoming concert with The Cleveland Orchestra:
Swap those dress slacks for some blue spandex and a red cape. As part of its Halloween Spooktacular, conductor Brett Mitchell will lead the orchestra through a performance of all things Superman in "Superman at the Symphony." The show will feature music from John Williams' score for the "Superman" film and Michael Daugherty's Metropolis Symphony — all accompanied by classic images of the Cleveland-born Man of Steel. Pro-tip: Leave that kryptonite at home. (Sunday, Oct. 30, at 3 p.m.)
To read the complete article, please click here.
Preview: "4 classical concerts not to miss this week as Halloween holiday approaches"
The Plain Dealer (Cleveland) has published a preview of Brett Mitchell's concert this weekend with The Cleveland Orchestra featuring music by Michael Daugherty and John Williams:
Another fall week in Northeast Ohio, another busy stretch of concerts. The Cleveland Orchestra is responsible for the bulk of it. In addition to a regular subscription evening, the estimable resident of Severance Hall also has slated two concerts for Halloween.
Closest to the actual holiday is "Halloween Spooktacular: Superman at the Symphony." On this family program Sunday, Oct. 30 at Severance Hall, associate conductor Brett Mitchell will lead the orchestra in works about or related to Cleveland's native-born superhero.
To read the complete article, please click here. To learn more about this concert, please click here.
Audio: Brett Mitchell discusses Cleveland Orchestra's Rotary celebration
Rotarian Mike Johns and associate conductor Brett Mitchell at the WCLV studios on Wednesday, October 19, discussing this weekend's special performance by The Cleveland Orchestra.
CLEVELAND — The Rotary Foundation, founded one hundred years ago by Clevelander Arch Klumph, will be honored with a Cleveland Orchestra concert this Sunday, October 23 at Severance Hall. Before leading the program of Beethoven, Debussy, Chabrier, Liszt, and John Williams, associate conductor Brett Mitchell joined Rotarian Mike Johns to speak with WCLV's Bill O'Connell about the concert. To listen to or download the complete interview, please click here.
Preview: "Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra to premiere Briggs' 'Fountain of Youth'"
From Cleveland Classical:
The first in a series of articles highlighting the world premiere of Roger Briggs’ Fountain of Youth.
The prospect of performing a newly-composed work is always exciting. On Friday, November 18 at 8:00 pm at Severance Hall, the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra (COYO) under the direction of Brett Mitchell will have that opportunity when they present the world premiere of Roger Briggs’ Fountain of Youth, commissioned by COYO. The program will also include Bruckner’s Symphony No. 4 (“Romantic”).
Premiering Briggs’ eighteen-minute tone poem is especially exciting for Brett Mitchell. “It’s impossible to overestimate the impact Roger Briggs had on me,” the conductor said during a telephone conversation. “If it weren’t for the opportunities he provided me, I wouldn’t be here now.”
Mitchell first met Briggs twenty years ago when pursuing his undergraduate degree in composition at Western Washington University, where Briggs was the head of the department as well as director of orchestras. “Roger was my primary composition teacher,” Mitchell said. “I also studied conducting with him and found my way onto the podium more and more as the years went by.”
Mitchell also credits Briggs for encouraging him to continue embracing his love of jazz. “When Roger talked about harmony, he was just as likely to point to recordings by McCoy Tyner as he was to textbooks by Schoenberg and Persichetti. The breadth of his musical knowledge inspired me to not narrow my focus only to classical music.”
The idea to commission Briggs to write a piece for COYO originated after Mitchell sent out an email announcing that his contract with The Cleveland Orchestra had been extended and he would be promoted to associate conductor. Briggs responded with his congratulations, adding that someday he hoped to be able to write a piece for one of Mitchell’s orchestras. “I thought, why wait for someday?” Mitchell recalled. “It would be so special to have my teacher from when I was in my late teens write a piece for me to play with my 17- and 18-year-olds.”
Before getting into rehearsals, Mitchell told his players about Briggs and his music. He noted that one challenge was teaching the young musicians a new musical language. “At the first rehearsal I emphasized that the opportunity to perform a world premiere is rare, but what was about to happen was even more magical — this would be the first time any group of musicians had ever played these notes. We had to make a few stops along the way to pick up the luggage that fell out of the station wagon, but we did get through the whole piece at that rehearsal.”
How does the conductor prepare to rehearse a piece of music that has never been seen or heard before? He opens the score and looks at the first page for a few seconds, taking it in with a wide-angle lens. Then he repeats that process until he has been through the entire score. “I want to be sure that I have the overall picture of the piece, because my job is to communicate the essence of it to the musicians and to the audience. And if I’m wrapped up in every little detail from bar one to the end, I won’t be able to see the forest for the trees.”
Mitchell gave some specifics about his experience learning the Briggs. “The first page of the score is marked ‘energetic with great precision,’ and I saw a lot of activity all over the page with changing meters — the strings playing here, and the brass and winds playing there. I noticed how that develops, where it gets smaller, and where it gets thicker. Rehearsal number 22 seems to be a climax, and at number 23 there is a shift into a different texture.”
Mitchell is often asked if it is difficult to conduct a world premiere as there is no recording of the piece. But he said the process is no different from preparing to conduct any piece of music for the first time. “Besides, if you only know a piece of music through a recording, then you don’t actually know the piece, you know somebody’s interpretation of that piece.”
Mitchell and the COYO musicians are having a great time learning Fountain of Youth. “The players are really engaged in the process — they’re asking questions and pointing out inconsistencies. I’ve been communicating with Roger and giving him progress reports. It’s going to be wonderful to get his thoughts when he hears it. But he trusts the process and knows that his baby is safe in our hands.”
To read the complete article, please click here.
Preview: "Cleveland Orchestra Playing Concert at Beachwood High School"
Brett Mitchell leads The Cleveland Orchestra in performance at Severance Hall. (Photo by Roger Mastroianni)
The Beachwood Patch has published a preview of Brett Mitchell's upcoming concert with The Cleveland Orchestra:
The Cleveland Orchestra will commemorate the grand opening of the new Beachwood High School auditorium with a free community concert on Nov. 5. Tickets for the concert are already sold out, but interested attendees can join a waiting list for seats that come open.
Concert tickets opened to the public on Oct. 13 and were sold out in less than 90 minutes. Luckily, the concert will begin at 7 p.m. but anyone who isn't in their seat by 6:40 p.m. may have their seat given to someone on the waiting list.
Additionally, the school has repeatedly said they anticipate more seats becoming available as the date of the concert approaches.
Following a musical 'showcase' from the Beachwood High School Orchestra, Band and Choir, The Cleveland Orchestra will take the stage to present a concert that will include Beethoven's Overture to The Consecration of the House, his Lenore Overture No. 3 and more. The concert will conclude with a "side by side" performance where The Cleveland Orchestra will be joined by Beachwood student musicians performing an excerpt from Ravel's Bolero.
To read the complete article, please click here.
Preview: "Eight (yes, eight) classical concerts not to miss this busy fall week in Northeast Ohio"
Associate conductor Brett Mitchell leads the Cleveland Orchestra this Sunday afternoon at Severance Hall in a special program celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Rotary Foundation. (Photo by Roger Mastroianni)
The Plain Dealer (Cleveland) has published a preview of Brett Mitchell's concert this weekend with The Cleveland Orchestra:
In addition to its regular subscription program, the Cleveland Orchestra this Sunday also will headline the Rotary Centennial Celebration, a public concert at Severance Hall in honor of Rotary International, the worldwide organization founded by Clevelander and musician Arch Klumph with the intent of eradicating polio. The concert, led by associate conductor Brett Mitchell, features works by Beethoven, Debussy, Chabrier, Liszt, and John Williams. A private benefit dinner follows. (3 p.m., trf100.com)
To read the complete article, please click here.
Preview: "Enter the Fortissimo of Solitude at superhero-themed Cleveland Orchestra concert"
Brett Mitchell will lead The Cleveland Orchestra in works of John Williams and Michael Daugherty to celebrate Cleveland's heritage as the birthplace of Superman.
CoolCleveland has published a preview of Brett Mitchell's upcoming concert with The Cleveland Orchestra featuring the music of Superman, including works by John Williams and Michael Daugherty:
Look! Up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s more jobs leaving the area! No, it’s the Cleveland Orchestra’s annual kiddie offering for Halloween.
The Halloween Spooktacular: Superman at the Symphony happens in a Severance Hall open to youngsters in costume (there will be contest judging). Superman and Supergirl are the themes (so Batman probably broods somewhere, as usual). John Williams’ music from the Hollywood adaptations will be played by the Cleveland Orchestra under mild-mannered conductor Brett Mitchell, along with projected Man of Steel imagery.
To read the complete article, please click here.
Preview: "BBHHS to host a Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra Performance"
Music Director Brett Mitchell leads the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra in performance at Severance Hall. (Photo by Roger Mastroianni)
The Plain Dealer (Cleveland) has published a preview of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra's upcoming run-out performance, led by music director Brett Mitchell:
The Brecksville Kiwanis Club and the Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School Orchestra will be hosting the extraordinarily talented Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra (COYO) on Monday, Nov. 14 at 7:30 p.m. at the Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School Auditorium to kick off their 31st season. This very special performance is one of only two that will be performed outside of their Severance Hall home. The evening will feature Bruckner's Symphony No. 4 and the world premiere of Roger Briggs's Fountain of Youth, which was commissioned by the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra.
Director Brett Mitchell states, "It's going to be a landmark season for us at COYO, and I can't wait for our audiences to hear these one hundred extraordinary young musicians in action!"
To read the complete article, please click here.