The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Music Director Louis Langrée have revealed details regarding the reprisal of the popular One City, One Symphony initiative, designed to bring people together through music. The Orchestra, along with community partners, will provide opportunities for audiences to connect and discuss the music as it relates to relevant societal themes, leading up to the CSO’s performances on November 25-26 at 8 p.m. at Music Hall. This year’s program centers on the theme of “Speak Truth.”
The One City, One Symphony program will feature a world premiere work, Abound, from Philadelphia-based Emily Cooley. “The idea of abundance emerged as a theme for me because I was responding to this idea of speaking truth and the common phrase ‘speak truth to power.’ I think of power and oppression as limiting forces, and abundance can exist as a counter to that. I think of abundance as a sense of uncontrollable growth, a thriving that can't be tamed. I tried to bring that idea into my piece in the form of rich harmonies, resonant sounds, and elongated phrases-- particularly towards the end of the piece. I wanted there to be moments of excess sound, excess emotion,” said Ms. Cooley. Also on the program is Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1 and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6, two works that also strive to express ideas and emotions that were forbidden either politically or culturally.
A community event on November 9 at Artsville in Madisonville will spark dialogue on the theme in advance of the concert performances. “Speak Truth Through Art” will be a showcase of local visual and performance artists who utilize art as a means to speak truth to power. Artists in this event delve into the concept of what truth really is, both to themselves personally and to the universality of what truth comes to mean through art. With pieces ranging from paintings and sculpture to musical performances, dance, and aural stories, this event curates an atmosphere that will inspire guests to delve into the arts community, explore different artistic modes, and find their personal artistic truth.
In this showcase of creative talents, Cincy Stories will be present and will be joined by local storyteller Omope Carter-Daboiku, who will be orating stories to guests. Along with of the story tellers, there will be visual art crafted by Annie Ruth, SOS Art, and Storefronts, performances by PONES, Napoleon Maddox, Baoku Moses, and many more local artists. CSO musicians Joanne Wojtowicz and Timothy Berens will also perform.
There will be free light-bites from La Soupe kitchen at the event, and a cash bar will be available for guests. Two shows will be taking place that evening – one at 7:00 p.m. and one at 8:30 p.m., and the gallery opens at 6:00 p.m. Tickets are $5 and available through the CSO Box Office by calling (513) 381-3300 or visiting cincinnatisymphony.org. (This event is rated “PG-13”.)