Cincinnati Pops Announces Exciting 2016-2017 Season

The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra and Conductor John Morris Russell are pleased to announce the Pops’ 2016-2017 season, to be performed at Downtown Cincinnati’s historic Taft Theatre, the Orchestra’s “home away from home” while Cincinnati Music Hall undergoes a major renovation during the 2016-17 season. (The Pops will return to the renovated Music Hall for the 2017-18 season.) The star-studded season is a testament to the Orchestra’s steadfast commitment to innovation and extraordinary artistry. Entering his sixth season as Conductor of the world-famous Cincinnati Pops, Mr. Russell introduces guest artists and concert programs that continue to develop the wide variety of orchestral programming. The Orchestra also announces its summer 2016 concerts, to take place both at the Taft Theatre and Riverbend Music Center.

“We are thrilled to be presenting phenomenal stars and a diverse cross section of the American musical tapestry during the upcoming Pops season at the Taft,” said Mr. Russell. “The tradition of showcasing extraordinary popular music bathed in rich orchestral colors has made the Cincinnati Pops a worldwide sensation. It will be a season-long celebration of music's power to inspire and unite us all."

Highlights of the 2016-17 Taft Theatre season, presented by PNC along with the Pops Artist Series Sponsor, The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation, include performances by headliners Melissa Etheridge, Smokey Robinson, Ben Folds, Sara Evans, Vanessa Williams, Sutton Foster, Over the Rhine (in a one-night-only Christmas special) and more, along with the return of such popular programs as Holiday Pops and Lollipops Family Concerts. The season opens with an concert program dedicated to Hollywood’s best action/adventure film scores narrated by acclaimed Emmy Award-winning actor Edward James Olmos (of the television show Battlestar Galactica), and also features a Disney in Concert weekend.

Cincinnati Pops Orchestra: 2016-2017 at the Taft Theatre
 Action & Adventure in Hollywood featuring Edward James Olmos (Sept. 16-18) 
 Vanessa Williams (Oct. 9) 
 American Voice featuring Sara Evans (Nov. 4-6) 
 Holiday Pops featuring Melinda Doolittle (Dec. 2-4) 
 Melissa Etheridge (Jan. 8, 2017) 
 Smokey Robinson (Jan. 21-22, 2017) 
 Sutton Foster’s Broadway (Feb. 24-26, 2017) 
 Disney in Concert: Tale as Old as Time (Apr. 28-30, 2017) 
 Ben Folds (May 9, 2017)

Season Subscriptions and Single Tickets

Season subscriptions for the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra 2016-2017 season are available beginning Friday, February 26. Subscribers receive the best seating at the best pricing, along with other benefits including free guaranteed parking generously donated by Western & Southern Financial Group and free unlimited ticket exchanges, among various other exclusive benefits. Additionally, subscribers who purchase five or more 2016-2017 programs will receive one of the summer performances (E.T., Kristin Chenoweth, Patriotic Pops or Aretha Franklin) free. Most importantly, subscribers to both the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 season also receive priority seating both at the Taft Theatre and the newly renovated Music Hall during the 2017-2018 season. Subscribers who are unable to attend performances at the Taft Theatre for any reason are encouraged to renew their subscriptions for the 2016-2017 season and donate their tickets back to the Orchestra for a tax credit, and thus maintain seating priority for the 2017-2018 season at Music Hall. Subscription packages start at $115. Single tickets for the Pops summer concerts go on sale Monday, February 29 at 10 a.m. Single tickets for the 2016-2017 subscription season go on sale to the general public August 1, 2016. Single ticket prices for most concerts begin at $25. Visit cincinnatipops.org for complete information or contact the Cincinnati Pops Sales Office at (513) 381-3300. Kids’ tickets are just $15 for many performances, including Action & Adventure in Hollywood, Holiday Pops and Disney in Concert. Kids’ tickets for all other Pops subscription series shows are $20.

Courtney Phenicie

Courtney Phenicie is the Editor-in-Chief of CincyMusic, Director of Content Strategy at Patchboard, and an alum of Northern Kentucky University. She enjoys live music with strangers, singing in the car, and supporting local music.