News Release
Sounds of the Holidays fill Severance Hall
at The Cleveland Orchestra’s annual concerts,
December 10-21
Mercedes-Benz of Bedford is new Holiday Festival sponsor
Cleveland Orchestra Store offers unique gift ideas
CLEVELAND, November 13, 2009 – The Cleveland Orchestra’s 2009 Holiday Festival sponsored by Mercedes-Benz of Bedford takes place from December 11-21. The 10-day festival consists of eight Christmas Concerts with The Cleveland Orchestra and Choruses; two performances of Eileen Ivers – An Irish Christmas (a concert featuring Celtic fiddler Eileen Ivers with The Cleveland Orchestra, telling the story of a real Irish Christmas through music and dance); and a performance by Burning River Brass, featuring the 12-member Burning River Brass ensemble and organist Todd Wilson. Performing with Eileen Ivers in the Irish Christmas concerts will be Tommy McDonnell, vocals and percussion; Buddy Connolly, accordion and whistles; Greg Anderson, guitar and back-up vocals; Leo Traversa, bass guitar; and Irish step dancers Patrick Campbell and Rebecca Brady-Campbell, of Cleveland. Updated calendars for these concerts follow this release.
Additional holiday concerts are two performances of Handel’s Messiah, on Thursday, December 10, and Saturday, December 12; and three different PNC Holiday Musical Rainbow programs for children up to age 10 – “Music of Chanukah,” “All About Kwanzaa,” and “Christmas Brass Quintet,” featuring members of the Orchestra and guests.
Families can arrive early for the 3:00 p.m. Christmas Concerts on December 12, 13, 19, and 20 and enjoy Lunch with Santa in Severance Restaurant from 12:00 p.m. until 3 p.m. Call (216) 231-7373 or email reservations@clevelandorchestra.com for reservations.
The Cleveland Orchestra’s holiday concerts season gets underway with the placement of a lighted wreath on the front of Severance Hall on Monday, November 30, at 11:00 a.m. Members of the media are invited to attend and film or photograph the wreath placement. Media interested in covering the event are asked to contact Media Relations Manager Jennifer Schlosser at (216) 231-7518 or jschlosser@clevelandorchestra.com in advance in order to arrange for their visit. Ms. Schlosser can also assist in planning coverage of any of the holiday concerts throughout the month of December.
An updated calendar for all holiday concerts at Severance Hall follows. Single tickets for all holiday concerts are now on sale. Tickets for groups of 10 or more are also available. Information on purchasing tickets is provided below.
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Holiday Gift Ideas
The Cleveland Orchestra Store offers many unique gift items for the holidays, including the latest Cleveland Orchestra CD and DVD recordings along with an extensive discography from years past, music boxes and decorative glass from Italy and Israel, music-themed holiday ornaments, stationery, books, stuffed toys and musical gifts for children of all ages, fashion scarves, jewelry, and Cleveland Orchestra logo apparel. The Store is open Tuesday through Friday during regular Store hours from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and before, during, and after concerts. The Store phone number is (216) 231-7478 and may be visited online at clevelandorchestra.com.
In addition, Cleveland Orchestra gift certificates and Blossom Lawn Ticket Books for The Cleveland Orchestra’s 2010 Summer Season at Blossom Music Center are available at the Severance Hall Ticket Office by calling (216) 231-1111 or (800) 686-1141.
For 42 years, the Schreibman family of Pepper Pike has sold engraved Silver Bells to benefit The Cleveland Orchestra’s education programs. The Silver Bells, engraved with “Christmas 2009” and priced at $20 each, have become a favorite holiday tradition and are available for purchase at the Cleveland Orchestra Store and several gift shops in greater Cleveland. Contact the Store at (216) 231-7478 for details.
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Ticket Servies
The Severance Hall Ticket Office is located in the Smith Lobby. The entrance and 15-minute Ticket Service parking are along East Boulevard. Single tickets for all concerts in the 2009-10 season are now on sale. Severance Hall Ticket Office Hours: M-F 9-6; Sat. 10-6. Closed Sundays and major holidays, except for those days with performances, when the Ticket Office opens three hours prior to the performance start time. To charge tickets by telephone on American Express, Discover Card, MasterCard, and Visa, call Cleveland Orchestra Ticket Services at (216) 231-1111 (Cleveland) or 800-686-1141 during the regular ticket office hours listed above. Subscriptions and single tickets are also available through The Cleveland Orchestra’s website. The website offers secure ticket transactions with any major credit card and provides complete concert listings.
Tickets for groups of 10 or more are also available for The Cleveland Orchestra’s holiday concerts. To order group tickets email groupsales@clevelandorchestra.com.
Media Contacts: Jennifer Schlosser, (216) 231-7518 / Email: jschlosser@clevelandorchestra.com
Ana Papakhian, Office: (216) 231-7476; Cell phone: (216) 370-2595 / Email: anap@clevelandorchestra.com
2009 Holiday Festival sponsored by Mercedes-Benz of Bedford
Cleveland Orhcestra Christmas Concerts
Traditional holiday programs of seasonal music, sing-along selections, and Christmas classics with choruses and The Cleveland Orchestra.
Friday, December 11, 2009 at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 12, 2009 at 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 13, 2009 at 3:00 p.m.
Friday, December 18, 2009 at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 19, 2009 at 3:00 & 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 3:00 & 7:00 p.m.
Severance Hall
THE CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA
ROBERT PORCO, conductor
CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA CHORUS (all concerts), Robert Porco, director
CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA CHILDREN’S CHORUS (Dec. 13, 19, and 20 at 3:00 p.m.), Ann Usher, director
MEMBERS OF THE CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA YOUTH CHORUS (Dec. 18, 19, and 20 evening concerts), Frank Bianchi, director
MEMBERS OF THE CLEVELAND STATE UNIVERSITY CHORALE (Dec. 11 and 12), Brian Bailey, director
TRADITIONAL/arr. Mack Wilberg – O Come, All Ye Faithful
J.S. BACH – “Sheep May Safely Graze” from Cantata No. 208
TRADITIONAL/arr. Carmen Dragon – God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
TRADITIONAL/arr. Barlow Bradford – Carol of the Bells
ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK – “Dream Pantomime” from Hansel and Gretel
JOHN RUTTER – What Sweeter Music
JOHN RUTTER – Donkey Carol**
PIOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY – Selections from The Nutcracker
- Chocolate (Spanish Dance)
- Coffee (Arabian Dance)
- Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy
- Polichinelle (The Clown)
TRADITIONAL/arr. John Rutter – Joy to the World
GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL – “Hallelujah” Chorus, from Messiah
TRADITIONAL/arr. Mack Wilberg – Fum, Fum, Fum
GEORGES BIZET – Farandole from L’Arlésienne
FELIX BERNARD/arr. Donald Miller – Winter Wonderland
LEON JESSEL/arr. Morton Gould – Parade of the Wooden Soldiers
HAVEN GILLESPIE & J. FRED COOTS/arr. Donald Miller – Santa Claus is Coming to Town
JOHN RUTTER – The Twelve Days of Christmas
LEROY ANDERSON – Sleigh Ride
IRVING BERLIN/arr. Randol Bass – White Christmas
** Indicates selection to be performed with the Children’s Chorus when applicable
TICKETS: $33-$63; Box seats $80. Call (216) 231-1111 or 800-686-1141
Eileen Ivers – An Irish Christmas
Wednesday, December 16, 2009 at 8:00 p.m.
Thursday, December 17, 2009 at 8:00 p.m.
Severance Hall
Eileen Ivers – An Irish Christmas
The Cleveland Orchestra
James Feddeck, conductor
Eileen Ivers, celtic fiddle
Fiddler Eileen Ivers joins The Cleveland Orchestra in performances of traditional Irish songs and airs from the 12th century to the present, telling the story of a real Irish Christmas through music and dance.
LEROY ANDERSON – A Christmas Festival
TRADITIONAL/arr. Turlough O’Carolan/Michael Starobin – Planxty Loftus Jones
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH/arr. Tony Finno – Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring
EILEEN IVERS & BRIAN KEANE/arr. Keith Sammut – Medley: Bygone Days
TRAD. /arr. Keith Sammut – The Holly Tree
TRAD. /arr. Keith Sammut – Medley: Deck the Halls
GEORGES BIZET – Farandole from L’Arlésienne
TRAD./arr. Keith Sammut – Pachelbel’s Frolics
TRAD. – Mrs. Fogarty’s Fruitcake
BILL WHELAN/arr. Pat Hollenbeck – Riverdance
TRAD. /arr. Tony Finno & Michael Levine – Medley: “Christmas Time is Here”
TICKETS: $33-$63; Box seats $80. Call (216) 231-1111 or 800-686-1141
Burning River Brass
Monday, December 21, 2009 at 8:00 p.m.
Severance Hall
Burning River Brass
Todd Wilson, organ
A holiday favorite, the twelve-piece Burning River Brass ensemble entertains with its signature style. The program includes Silent Night, Christmas Song, and a big-band version of The Little Drummer Boy.
TICKETS: $26-$48; Box seats $60. Call (216) 231-1111 or 800-686-1141
Additional Cleveland Orchestra Holiday Concerts
HANDEL’S “MESSIAH”
Thursday, December 10, 2009 at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 12, 2009 at 8:00 p.m.
Severance Hall
THE CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA
ROBERT PORCO, conductor
MARY WILSON, soprano
ANTHONY ROTH COSTANZO, countertenor
ALEK SHRADER, tenor
JOHN RELYEA, bass-baritone
CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA CHAMBER CHORUS, Robert Porco, director
HANDEL – Messiah
Concert Sponsor: National City, Now a part of PNC, a Cleveland Orchestra Partner in Excellence
TICKETS: $31-$92; Box seats $117. Call (216) 231-1111 or 800-686-1141
PNC Holidays Musical Rainbows
(for children up to age 9)
Friday, December 11, 2009 at 10:00 a.m.
Sunday, December 13, 2009 at 12:30 p.m.
Reinberger Chamber Hall at Severance Hall
Music of Chanukah
Carolyn Warner, violin and piano
Stephen Warner, violin
Kathryn Wolfe Sebo, cantor
Maryann Nagel, host
Thursday, December 17, 2009 at 10:00 a.m.
Saturday, December 19, 2009 at 11:00 a.m.
Main Concert Hall at Severance Hall
Christmas Brass Quintet
Jack Sutte, trumpet
Michael Miller, trumpet
Hans Clebsch, horn
Edward Zadrozny, trombone
Ronald Bishop, tuba
Maryann Nagel, host
Friday, December 18, 2009 at 10:00 a.m.
Reinberger Chamber Hall at Severance Hall
All About Kwanzaa
Barbara Eady, storyteller, from the Cleveland Association of Black Storytellers
William Clarence Marshall III, bass
Mell Csicsila, percussion
Andrew Pongracz, percussion
Maryann Nagel, host
TICKETS: $7 General Admission. Call (216) 231-1111 or 800-686-1141
The PNC Musical Rainbow Series is endowed by the Pysht Fund.
All artists and programs are subject to change.
