NEWS
Review: Cultured Cleveland raves about Brett Mitchell's first concert as COYO Music Director
Cultured Cleveland has reviewed Brett Mitchell's first concert as Music Director of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra. "Talk about setting the bar high: For his Severance Hall debut with the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra, new [Cleveland Orchestra] Assistant Conductor Brett Mitchell programmed three 20th-century works, two of which would challenge any professional orchestra, along with Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. Thatʼs beyond bold. But it’s entirely in keeping with the career arc of Mitchell, 34, whose youthful demeanor and appearance belie his experience. The players responded [in Shostakovich’s Festive Overture] with a big, bright sound, particularly in the horns, and dexterous work in the strings and woodwinds. It was a brief but convincing display of outsized skills. The players handled [Wojciech Kilarʼs Orawa] with alacrity and poise, showing remarkable discipline and precision. Mitchell set a brisk pace for Pictures at an Exhibition, keeping the sound big rather than heavy. Overall the piece had a notably professional gloss, and finished with a satisfying sense of accomplishment. If their ambitious start with Mitchell is any indication, there’s an exciting two years ahead for players and audiences alike." To read the complete review, please click here.
Review: "Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra navigates difficult scores with panache under new music director's baton"
The Cleveland Plain Dealer has published a review Brett Mitchell's first concert as Music Director of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra. "Mitchell introduced himself to Cleveland audiences Sunday afternoon at Severance Hall, when he led the ensemble in an imaginatively programmed concert that featured mostly modern music. It was a pleasure to hear the young musicians navigate this difficult music with such maturity, alert to internal balances and complex intonations and, thanks to Mitchell’s very clear baton, confident with Stravinsky’s [Symphonies of Wind Instruments] peculiar rhetoric throughout. COYO’s strings were nothing short of breathtaking throughout. They played with supreme confidence and technical brilliance, and Mitchell’s grasp of the score ensured that [Wojciech Kilar’s] Orawa...was the surprise hit of the concert. In [Pictures at an Exhibition], one could sense that certain passages were pushing the young players close to their limits... But such individual moments were easily overcome by the players’ youthful energy and commitment to the score – and Mitchell’s leadership assured that the overall result was artistically sound and, for the young players, a real triumph." To read the complete review, please click here.
Review: ClevelandClassical.com praises Brett Mitchell's first performance as COYO Music Director
ClevelandClassical.com praised the "clear and crisp performances" delivered by the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra in their first concert under new music director Brett Mitchell. "A bright and chipper Festive Overture by Shostakovich opened the concert, revealing Mitchell to be a conductor full of charismatic energy and excitement as his enthusiasm prodded the musicians to exciting heights through sharp and precise gestures." Ravel’s orchestration of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition was "effectively played" with a "fine sense of contrast," by turns "confident, bold, reflective, contemplative, gnarly, haunting, playful, light, humorous, exciting, ominous, and spine-tingling... All the stops were pulled out as the COYO and Brett Mitchell played with a sense of arrival, mustering up all of the brilliance and grandeur needed to conclude Mussorgsky’s colorful work." To read the complete review, please click here.
Profile: Cleveland Orchestra Insider introduces Brett Mitchell
The Cleveland Orchestra Insider has published an extensive profile of Brett Mitchell as he commences his appointments as Assistant Conductor of The Cleveland Orchestra and Music Director of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra. To read this piece, please click here.
Profile: "Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra begins new season under conductor Brett Mitchell"
In advance of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra's first Severance Hall subscription concert of the season, the Cleveland Plain Dealer Magazine has published a profile of new music director Brett Mitchell. To read this piece, "Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra begins new season under conductor Brett Mitchell," please click here.
Profile: "Brett Mitchell takes up the reins of Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra"
ClevelandClassical.com has published a profile of Brett Mitchell on the eve of his Severance Hall debut as Music Director of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra. To read this piece, "Brett Mitchell takes up the reins of Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra," please click here.
Brett Mitchell featured on front page of today's Cleveland Plain Dealer
Brett Mitchell is featured with the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra on the front page (above the fold) of today's Cleveland Plain Dealer, offering a sneak peek at the orchestra's first subscription concert of the season this Sunday at Severance Hall. To view this page, please click here.
Fall 2013 newsletter released
The Fall 2013 edition of Brett Mitchell's newsletter has been released. This edition highlights his new positions as Assistant Conductor of The Cleveland Orchestra and Music Director of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra. To read (and for the option to subscribe), please click here.
Brett Mitchell returns to lead 7th consecutive New Year's Eve gala with Houston Symphony
Brett Mitchell will return to the Houston Symphony as guest conductor for his 7th consecutive New Year's Eve gala performance, held on December 31 at 8 p.m. at The Centrum. For more information or to purchase tickets for this year's event, entitled "Invitation to the Dance," please click the "SCHEDULE" link above.
Video: Brett Mitchell previews the SBSO's 2013-14 season
Brett Mitchell spoke with Catherine Bodak on this morning's "Better Mid-Michigan" about the Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra's 2013-14 season, which will be Mr. Mitchell's fourth as music director. To watch, please click here.
Broadcast schedule announced for Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra's 2013-14 season
WCLV 104.9 FM has announced that it will broadcast each of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra's 2013-14 subscription concerts twice, including a live broadcast of their season finale on Friday, May 9, 2014. All six broadcasts will be streamed live at WCLV.com. Complete broadcast schedule:
IN-SEASON BROADCASTS
Sunday, December 29, 2013 at 4 p.m. (November 2013 concert)
Sunday, April 20, 2014 at 4 p.m. (March 2014 concert)
Friday, May 9, 2014 at 8 p.m. (LIVE BROADCAST)
SUMMER REBROADCASTS
Saturday, August 9, 2014 at 8 p.m. (November 2013 concert)
Saturday, August 16, 2014 at 8 p.m. (March 2014 concert)
Saturday, August 23, 2014 at 8 p.m. (May 2014 concert)
Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra's 2013-14 season announced
The Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra has announced its 2013-14 subscription season, Brett Mitchell's first as Music Director. Large repertory works include Mussorgsky/Ravel's Pictures at an Exhibition, Hindemith's Symphony from Mathis der Maler, and Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique. The season will also feature collaborations with the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus on John Corigliano's Fern Hill and Mendelssohn's Hymn, Op. 96, as well as contemporary fare from Michael Torke and Wojciech Kilar. Works of Shostakovich, Stravinsky, and Beethoven round out the season. For complete information, please click the SCHEDULE link above.
Review: "Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra hits a milestone with Stravinsky"
Janet Martineau has published a review of the final concert of Brett Mitchell's third season at the helm of the Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra. “Quite simply the SBSO outdid itself, particularly in the performance of Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring. Watching maestro Brett Mitchell swing and sway and sweat in conducting it made up for the missing dancers in this ballet piece celebrating its 100th birthday this month. At the end, after thunderous applause and a standing ovation, Mitchell held the score over his head in triumph to the stellar performance. They left us breathless and amazed.” To read the complete review, please click here.
Video: Brett Mitchell previews the SBSO's "Rite of Spring"
Brett Mitchell spoke with Catherine Bodak on this morning's "Better Mid-Michigan" about the Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra's upcoming season finale, featuring a performance of Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring to commemorate the 100th anniversary of its premiere. To watch, please click here.
Audio: "Classical Classroom"
Brett Mitchell joins host Dacia Clay for the fourth episode of Houston Public Media's newest program, Classical Classroom. In this episode, Mitchell discusses John Williams's score for Star Wars, illustrating various leitmotifs at the piano, then putting them in context by playing examples from the original soundtrack recording. To listen to this episode, please click here.
Audio: "Rigoletto" interview
Brett Mitchell and director Buck Ross spoke with St.John Flynn on today's edition of KUHA's "The Front Row" about this weekend's performances of the Verdi's "Rigoletto" at the Moores Opera Center. To listen, please click here.
Video: Brett Mitchell's "conducting pointers" at Classical 91.7
Brett Mitchell has filmed a video offering pointers to the contestants as work their way through excerpts from Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries" and Strauss's "Also Sprach Zarathustra" in Classical 91.7's "air conducting contest." To view this video, please click here.
Brett Mitchell to remain with Saginaw while taking on Cleveland
Brett Mitchell will continue as Music Director of the Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra when his term as Assistant Conductor of The Cleveland Orchestra commences in September 2013. His current contract in Saginaw runs through June 2016. (For further details, please visit this article in today's "Saginaw News".) Mr. Mitchell, who will also become Music Director of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra this fall, will resign his other current post as Music Director of the Moores Opera Center at the close of the 2012-13 season.
Cleveland Orchestra press release: "Brett Mitchell announced as new Assistant Conductor"
The Cleveland Orchestra has issued a press release announcing the appointment of Brett Mitchell as assistant conductor of The Cleveland Orchestra and music director of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra. To read this release, please click here.
"Cleveland Orchestra appoints Brett Mitchell assistant conductor"
The Cleveland Plain Dealer has published an article about Brett Mitchell's appointment as assistant conductor of The Cleveland Orchestra and music director of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra. To read this article, please click here.