The Orchestra Returns to Blossom and All the Other Classical Music Events to Hit This Week

There are plenty of classical music concerts happening this week as we head into the Fourth of July. The Kent/Blossom Music Festival will present this year’s Kulas Guest Artist, violinist Jennifer Koh, on Wednesday, June 28 at 7:30 pm in Ludwig Recital Hall. The program includes J.S. Bach’s Sonata No. 2 in a, BWV 1003, and Partita No. 2 in d, BWV 1004, Missy Mazzoli’s Dissolve, O My Heart, and Luciano Berio’s Sequenza VIII. Click here for ticket information.

ChamberFest Cleveland finishes its sixth season with three imaginative concerts. On Thursday, June 29 at 7:30 pm in Mixon Hall, “Innocence—Corruption” features Alfred Schnittke’s Suite in Olden Style for Violin and Piano, Carl Maria von Weber’s Clarinet Quintet in B-flat, and Dmitri Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 15 in A in an arrangement for piano trio and percussion.

On Friday, June 30 at 7:30 pm in Reinberger Chamber Music Hall at Severance Hall, “Sunset” will be highlighted by Richard Strauss’s String Sextet from Capriccio, Robert Schumann’s Piano Trio No. 3 in g, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s String Quintet No. 6 in E-flat.

The Festival wraps up on Saturday, July 1 at 7:30 pm at the Maltz Performing Arts Center with “Full Circle.” The evening includes Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet in A and Antonín Dvořák’s Piano Quintet No. 2 in A. Tickets for all ChamberFest concerts available here.

Fresh off their win at the 2017 Fischoff Competition, the Milton String Quartet performs a recital as part of ENCORE Chamber Music on Friday, June 30 at 7:00 pm at the Tudor House at Gilmour Academy. Their program includes Haydn’s Quartet in F, Op. 77, No. 2, Bartók’s Quartet No. 3, and Mendelssohn’s Quartet No. 4 in e. Tickets available online.

On Friday, June 30 at 7:00 pm at Appletree Books in Cleveland Heights, No Exit cellist Nick Diodore will present a free concert of works by Kaija Saariaho, Witold Lutosławski, Luciano Berio, Krzysztof Penderecki, and Cleveland-area composers Andrew Rindfleisch and Timothy Beyer.

Also on June 30, Scott MacPherson will lead BlueWater Chamber Orchestra and the Cleveland Chamber Choir in the world premiere of Sam Guarnaccia’s The Emergent Universe Oratorio at 7:30 pm at the Maltz Performing Arts Center. The work is based on the 2011 Emmy Award-winning documentary Journey of the Universe by Mary Evelyn Tucker and Brian Swimme. The concert features a display of large oil paintings by Cameron Davis from his Endless Spring Series. Tickets available online.

There are three opportunities to celebrate the holiday with The Cleveland Orchestra, and Tchaikovsky’s “1812” Overture — along with fireworks (weather permitting) — is sure to be on the docket.

On Friday, June 30 at 9:00 pm at Mall B in downtown Cleveland, Loras John Schissel will lead the free Cleveland Orchestra Star-Spangled Spectacular. The concert includes works by Elmer Bernstein, John Williams, and J.P. Sousa.
On Saturday, July 1 and Sunday, July 2 at 8:00 pm at Blossom Music Center, Jahja Ling will lead the Orchestra in Shostakovich’s Tahiti Trot, Gershwin’s Concerto in F — featuring pianist Aaron Diehl — and Porgy and Bess: A Symphonic Picture. Tickets available online.

Also at Blossom Music Center, on Monday, July 3 and Tuesday, July 4 at 8:00 pm, Loras John Schissel will lead the Blossom Festival Band during the traditional, star-spangled celebration. The concerts will feature a mix of patriotic Sousa marches, Broadway favorites, Armed Forces Salute, and more — concluding with the “1812” Overture and fireworks. Tickets available online.

For details of these and many other events, visit the ClevelandClassical.com Concert Listings page.