CSO Presents 2015 'Masters and Dreamers' LUMENOCITY Festival This Weekend

The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra is delighted to announce the musical program for its wildly popular concert and community festival, LUMENOCITY, set to return for the third year in a row, this weekend, August 5-9, 2015 at Washington Park in Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine neighborhood.

The all-new artistic program will again feature 3-D image projection mapping, again designed by creative partner Brave Berlin, on the façade of historic Music Hall choreographed to music performed by the CSO under the leadership of Music Director Louis Langrée. The first half of the performance (sans image mapping) will feature the Orchestra performing popular favorites from film and Broadway, along with Americana standards, under the baton of Cincinnati Pops Conductor John Morris Russell.

The theme for this year's program is "Masters and Dreamers," which reflects the mastery of craft (such as the craft demonstrated by composers and musicians, as well as architects, designers and others who have helped build Cincinnati over the centuries), combined with the creative, innovative dreamers of past and present who continue to elevate the city.

Mr. Russell will begin the concert with the high-energy Pops rock 'n' roll version of Copland's iconic Fanfare for the Common Man. Other selections during the first half of the program range from Stephen Foster's "Ring, Ring the Banjo" to Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." Special guests from Cincinnati Ballet Second Company and soloists from the Cincinnati Opera will join the Pops for selections throughout the first half.

"The LUMENOCITY Pops opener will have all the familiar elements that folks love: the energetic dancing of CB2, amazing voices from Cincinnati Opera performing Broadway classics, the mighty May Festival Chorus, and the finest Pops orchestra on the planet," said Mr. Russell. "We'll feature several selections from our newest groundbreaking recording American Originals, as well as iconic rock 'n' roll favorites set with the full power of the Pops, and yes, there will be a surprise or two. It is always fun to put together a program where folks come to expect the unexpected-it's going to be a blast!"

The second half of the program, which includes the dramatic visual elements inspired by the music, is driven by the culture and history of Cincinnati. It begins with the epic "O Fortuna" from Orff's Carmina Burana, featuring the mighty May Festival Chorus. The concert continues with "Dream of a Witches' Sabbath" from Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique (which will kick off the CSO's subscription season September 25-26), followed by the Poco Adagio movement from Saint-Saéns' Third Symphony, known as the "Organ Symphony" (which the CSO performs in full May 6-7, 2016) A rarely performed work by Russian composer Alexander Mosolov, Iron Foundry, marks the rise of industrialization that eventually gave way to beautiful art and architecture still seen in Cincinnati today. The program closes with the finale from Brahms' First Symphony (which the CSO performs in full January 14 & 16, 2016, kicking off a two-year Brahms Festival), written around the time Music Hall was built.

"Music is the inspiration-the essence of LUMENOCITY. While putting together the program for this year's performances, I was inspired quite simply by Cincinnati's vibrant culture. This year's program highlights the history and culture of our city, including the rise of industrialization and the passion and beauty, embodied in Music Hall and Over the Rhine, that rose from the soot, sweat and hard work," said Mr. Langre?e. "Most importantly, the music featured in LUMENOCITY 2015 showcase our incredibly talented musicians of the Orchestra. It's going to be an incredible experience of sight and sound."

Creative Partner Brave Berlin is again designing the projection mapping in conjunction with the Orchestra's artistic leadership and inspired by the musical repertoire.

LUMENOCITY schedule
The dress rehearsal will take place Wednesday, August 5 ($15 admission) and will be ticketed at full capacity. Performances will take place Thursday, August 6 ($18 admission), Friday, August 7 ($20 admission), Saturday, August 8 ($20 admission) and Sunday, August 9 ($18 admission). The gates to the ticketed area, as well as LUMENOCITY Village (free and open to the public), will open at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and at 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. All performances (and the dress rehearsal) will begin at 8:30 p.m. with the Cincinnati Pops. After a short intermission, the CSO will perform during live projection mapping on the fac?ade of Music Hall starting at approximately 9:40 p.m.

Media Broadcasts
In the spirit of equity, access and generosity, the CSO will again be offering LUMENOCITY live via the free, public television airwaves on Saturday, August 8 thanks to an ongoing partnership with CET (Channel 48) and WCPO, 9 on Your Side (Channel 9). Last year's concert was seen by nearly 130,000 people across the region on TV and was the #1 rated television program in that time slot.

The CSO will also again partner with 90.9 WGUC to offer a live radio broadcast on Friday, August 7, so everyone with a view of Music Hall from in and around the city can hear the music. Finally, a live webcast will be available on lumenocity2015.com on Friday and Saturday to truly maximize access. Last year's webcast was experienced by 15,000 people in seven countries.

LUMENOCITY Village
The ticketed LUMENOCITY concert experience starts at 8:30 p.m. each of the respective nights, and the non-ticketed LUMENOCITY Village on the south end of Washington Park, outside of the LUMENOCITY viewing area, will be open to the public starting at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (August 5-7) and at 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday (August 8-9). The Village is free and open to the public, featuring pre-concert performances by community ensembles in the park's bandstand, along with booths featuring the work of local artisans and crafters and local food and beverage for purchase.

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