Venezuela Ricardo Lorenz’s Rumba Sinfonica—for orchestra and latin band—has been played by no less than 22 orchestras, which is an astonishing number for a piece of new music ... No surprise. Everyone from hip hop artists to smooth jazzers to Dancing with the Stars wants a piece of Latin music these days ... And as Lorenz told Scene in an interview, the melding of styles is de rigueur in Cuban music ... “That is the story of Cuban music. You go back 100 years or more to the Son, that in
Pianist and music director Jorge Gomez, of Tiempo Libre was in Los Angeles with his band mates this morning, getting ready to record an episode of Dancing with the Stars. The twice-Grammy nominated Timba band is busy lately, with a new album (Bach in Havana, released in May, 2009), and a steady stream of bookings with orchestras to perform Ricardo Lorenz’s Rhumba Sinfonica—which they’ll do next week here with the Cleveland Institute of Music Orchestra, directed by Carl Topilow ... Tiempo
When a conductor like Franz Welser-Möst leads the Cleveland Orchestra through a piece of music that’s as great and as familiar as Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, you expect more than just refinement; you expect grand ideas and attitude. The orchestra’s most famous music directors — George Szell, Christoph von Dohnonyi and Welser-Möst — have all released recordings of the work. Welser-Möst takes it up once again as part of the orchestra’s season-opening benefit concert tonight. Tenor
Cleveland Orchestra music director Franz Welser-Möst opens the orchestra’s family season with an introduction to his ensemble today. He’ll lead them through music selections that showcase each section so kids can get a feel for the sounds of the different string, woodwind, brass and percussion instruments. You can show up an hour before the concert for free interactive activities, including an up-close introduction to the instruments. It starts at 2 p.m. at Severance Hall (11001 Euclid Ave,
In art and the economy, how do you measure success? ... by Michael Gill ... A few weeks before the Ingenuity Festival, Cuyahoga Arts and Culture released its first report to the public during a meeting at Severance Hall. Under the title "Sound Investment, Solid Impact," it tells of the services provided by arts groups in the county, thanks in part to support from CAC, plus a financial statement. The presentation had a liturgical feel as speakers — CAC board president Steve Minter, former
CMA's new galleries walk you through 200 years ... by Michael Gill ... From the glass jewel box facing south and east in the new wing of the Cleveland Museum of Art, you can see a couple of the region's major architectural projects. To the east, through the trees, there's Frank Gehry's vision of curled stainless ribbons. To the south there's Severance Hall, returned to symmetry and given a polish in 2000. This week, the Cleveland Museum of Art opens its latest contribution to the evolving