NEWS
Brett Mitchell to lead Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra on tour of China
Brett Mitchell will lead the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra on a tour of China in June 2015, including performances in Shanghai, Hangzhou, Tianjin, and Beijing. This will be the orchestra's first tour of Asia and their second international tour, following their tour of Europe in 2012. Further details will be announced in Fall 2014.
2014-15 season announcement: Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra
The Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra has announced its 2014-15 season, which marks Brett Mitchell's fifth and final season as music director. In addition to the orchestra's complete classical subscription series, Mr. Mitchell will lead various education, holiday, Pops, and chamber orchestra concerts. His final performance in April 2015 will feature works by the same three composers with which he opened his tenure in September 2010: Kevin Puts ("...this noble company"), Mozart (concert arias with bass-baritone Timothy Jones), and Mahler (Symphony No. 5). For more information, please click the "SCHEDULE" page above.
New York Times Video: Brett Mitchell leads The Cleveland Orchestra
CLEVELAND — Video footage of Brett Mitchell's last-minute subscription debut with The Cleveland Orchestra in March appears in an article in today's New York Times: "Finding Tomorrow’s Classical Fans."
Mr. Mitchell leads the orchestra in Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini with pianist Rudolf Buchbinder and J. Strauss II's Csárdás from Ritter Pázmán.
Western Washington University names Brett Mitchell Young Alumnus of the Year
BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Western Washington University has issued a press release announcing Brett Mitchell's selection as the recipient of the university's 2014 Young Alumnus of the Year award. This award, established in 1980, is the most prestigious honor bestowed on a young alumnus.
Mitchell earned a Bachelor of Music in composition from Western in 2001, and will return to WWU to accept this award and lead their orchestra in Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5 on June 2, 2014.
Review: "Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra concludes season in bright, joyous manner"
The Cleveland Plain Dealer has published a review of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra and Brett Mitchell's final performance of their first season together. "COYO had what can only be termed a blast as it romped through this fifty-minute showpiece [Berlioz's "Symphonie fantastique"]. At the inevitable ovation, Mitchell repeatedly singled out players for bows, but declined to take a bow of his own, instead passing along all credit to the orchestra, which in truth had more than earned it." To read the complete review, please click here.
Preview: "Cleveland Orchestra, city advocates looking forward to busy week 'At Home in Lakewood'"
The Cleveland Plain Dealer has published an article about The Cleveland Orchestra's upcoming residency in Lakewood, Ohio, including Brett Mitchell's various contributions to the project. To read this article, please click here.
Spring 2014 newsletter released
The Spring 2014 edition of Brett Mitchell's newsletter has been released. This edition highlights the significant press coverage surrounding Mitchell's recent last-minute subscription debut with The Cleveland Orchestra, news of upcoming debuts with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and at the Blossom Music Festival, and much more. To read (and for the option to subscribe), please click here.
Debut with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Brett Mitchell will make his debut with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in a series of three concerts on June 20, 21, and 22, 2014. These programs, entitled “An American Celebration,” will take place at Orchestra Hall (June 20 and 22) and Stony Creek Metropark (June 21). To read more about this program and the DSO's complete summer season, please click here.
Review: "Cleveland Orchestra gives seamless performance of Herrmann's 'Psycho' score"
The Cleveland Plain Dealer has published a review of Brett Mitchell and The Cleveland Orchestra's live performance of Bernard Herrmann's score to accompany a screening of "Psycho": "Mitchell conducted with precision and a good ear for balances, within the ensemble and with the soundtrack of the movie. The players were exceptionally fine, the proof of which was their complete integration with the movie: you forgot, as you watched Hitchcock's nasty shocker unspool, that there was a live orchestra onstage." To read the complete review, please click here.
2014-15 to be Brett Mitchell's fifth and final season with Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra
Brett Mitchell has announced that the 2014-15 season will be his last as Music Director of the Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra. "With my increasingly busy schedule as Assistant Conductor of The Cleveland Orchestra, Music Director of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra, and a growing list of guest conducting engagements, the time is right for me to move on to new opportunities and for our audience to experience the fresh perspective of new artistic leadership."
Since Mitchell began as the SBSO's ninth Music Director in 2010, the orchestra has set record attendance (including the first sell-outs in their 80-year history), pursued dozens of collaborations with local arts organizations and internationally renowned artists, established a special focus on contemporary American music, and founded a new chamber orchestra series.
For more information, please read this article in the Saginaw News.
Preview: "Cleveland Orchestra books a night at the Bates Motel with live 'Psycho' performance"
The Cleveland Plain Dealer has published a preview of Brett Mitchell and The Cleveland Orchestra's upcoming performance of Bernard Herrmann's complete score for Psycho with the premiere screening of the film in Severance Hall. To read this article, please click here.
Preview: "Cleveland Orchestra to offer free public concert with Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra"
The Cleveland Plain Dealer has published a preview of the upcoming side-by-side performance of The Cleveland Orchestra and the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra, which will be conducted by Brett Mitchell. To read this article, please click here.
Video: Brett Mitchell stars with Houston Symphony in ‘A Soundtrack for the City’
HOUSTON — A Soundtrack for the City, an original short film dedicated to the promotion of Houston and its creative community, features an original score recorded by Brett Mitchell and the Houston Symphony, whose performance appears throughout.
Brett Mitchell and the Houston Symphony record ‘A Soundtrack for the City’ in Jones Hall on March 12.
Preview: "The Cleveland Orchestra plans activities for Lakewood, including a free concert"
The Cleveland Plain Dealer has posted a preview of "The Cleveland Orchestra: At Home in Lakewood," "a neighborhood residency that began Feb. 17 when Cleveland Orchestra Assistant Conductor Brett Mitchell visited the Lakewood High School Chamber Orchestra." To read the complete article, please click here.
Review: "Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra soars amid 'The Planets'"
"I have no idea how maestro Brett Mitchell did it, but he made our orchestra sound like twice as many players were sitting up there on the stage, delivered every nuance you could possibly find in the piece, and generally raised hair on the back the neck. The colors in this performance were as brilliant as the sun." To read the complete review, please click here.
Review: Plain Dealer hails ‘all-Brett Mitchell weekend at Severance Hall’
Brett Mitchell leads The Cleveland Orchestra in his last-minute subscription debut at Severance Hall on Friday, March 7. (Photo by Roger Mastroianni)
CLEVELAND — The Plain Dealer has released full coverage of Brett Mitchell's three-program weekend at Severance Hall.
Cleveland Orchestra assistant conductor Brett Mitchell capped an unexpectedly eventful weekend at Severance Hall with a fine concert by the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra and Chorus Sunday night.
The previous two nights, Mitchell stood in for Franz Welser-Möst, who was indisposed by illness, and led subscription concerts that included works by Sibelius and various Strausses, as well as Benjamin Britten's sprawling Spring Symphony and a new work by Ryan Wigglesworth, not to mention a star turn by pianist Rudolf Buchbinder in Rachmaninoff's 'Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini.'
As if that weren’t enough, there were scheduled rehearsals for Sunday night's COYO concert, which featured repertoire just as varied. The conductor, however, evidenced no signs of fatigue as he came onstage Sunday.
To read the complete review, please click here.
Review: Cultured Cleveland praises the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra
Photo by Gregg Barckholtz
CLEVELAND — Cultured Cleveland has published a review of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra’s performance on Sunday, March 9:
An all-Brett Mitchell weekend at Severance Hall came to a roaring close on Sunday night with fireworks from the Cleveland Orchestra’s junior ensembles, the Youth Orchestra and Youth Chorus. With Franz Welser-Möst indisposed, Mitchell had to conduct the parent orchestra on Friday and Saturday night – in two different programs. The hat trick on Sunday gave him a chance to show what he can do with his own program and players.
To read the complete review, please click here.
Review: Brett Mitchell ‘hits a home run’ in last-minute Cleveland Orchestra debut
Brett Mitchell leads The Cleveland Orchestra in his last-minute subscription debut at Severance Hall on Friday, March 7. (Photo by Roger Mastroianni)
CLEVELAND — Cultured Cleveland has published a review of Brett Mitchell’s last-minute subscription debut with The Cleveland Orchestra on Friday, March 7:
Rudolph Buchbinder was his usual brilliant self playing Rachmaninoff on Friday night. But the star of the show was the Cleveland Orchestra’s assistant conductor, Brett Mitchell. Like a pinch-hitter in baseball, Mitchell has to be prepared to step up to the plate every week, though he rarely gets the call. When Franz Welser-Möst phoned in sick on Friday afternoon, it was Mitchell’s time to shine.
Which he did immediately with Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. This is a piece that can become heavy and schmaltzy, and almost always does. The audience fixates on the familiar melody in the 18th variation, and if it gushes, everybody goes home happy. Mitchell took the opposite tack, starting with a light, agile sound that complemented the dramatic piano lines, providing a buoyant backdrop that didn’t get in the way. He stayed just shy of sentimental in the melody, letting it swell but keeping it clean and crisp, never overwhelming the soloist.
The abbreviated Friday program offered a brief nod to the Richard Strauss anniversary year, the composer’s 1888 tone poem Don Juan. Mitchell offered a brisk, lively reading… polished and bright… showing fine control of the orchestra.
And a quick follow-up from the other Strauss – Johann Jr. – was effervescent, brimming with gaiety and charm. The waltz From the Mountains sounded anything but clichéd, flush with warm tones, sharp percussion, burnished horns and a champagne brio. The brief pauses, a trademark of Strauss waltzes, were clear and precise, putting a fine edge on the whirling melodies. A closing Czárdás opened with a witty gasp from the violins, then set off on a free-spirited romp, galloping to a snappy finish.
A last-minute sub had just hit a home run.
To read the complete review, please click here.
BREAKING: Brett Mitchell returns to Cleveland Orchestra podium tonight
Brett Mitchell leads The Cleveland Orchestra in his last-minute subscription debut at Severance Hall on Friday, March 7. (Photo by Roger Mastroianni)
CLEVELAND — Brett Mitchell will again lead The Cleveland Orchestra on this evening's Severance Hall concert, following his subscription debut last night as a last-minute substitute for music director Franz Welser-Möst. This evening’s repertoire:
SIBELIUS - Lemminkäinen's Return
RACHMANINOFF - Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
Rudolf Buchbinder, piano
RYAN WIGGLESWORTH - Locke’s Theatre (U.S. premiere)
BRITTEN - Spring Symphony
Cleveland Orchestra Chorus and Children’s Chorus
Kate Royal, soprano
Jamie Barton, mezzo-soprano
John Tessier, tenor
BREAKING: Brett Mitchell to step in at this evening's Cleveland Orchestra concert
CLEVELAND — Brett Mitchell will step in for an ailing Franz Welser-Möst to conduct this evening's Cleveland Orchestra subscription performance with the following program.
RACHMANINOFF - Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
Rudolf Buchbinder, piano
R. STRAUSS - Don Juan
J. STRAUSS Jr. - Aus Den Bergen
J. STRAUSS Jr. - Csárdás from Ritter Pázmán
This program marks Mr. Mitchell's subscription debut with The Cleveland Orchestra.