Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra - Cincinnati Articles

The Cincinnati Pops, which also performs as the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, is under the direction of John Morris Russell and presents a diverse array of musical styles, all bathed in the world-renowned “Cincinnati Sound.” The Pops was officially founded in 1977 with the late Erich Kunzel, and since 1980 the Orchestra has sold 10 million recordings around the globe.

The CSO was also the first American orchestra to be featured on a national radio broadcast in 1921, and today the players continue to reach millions of listeners every year across the country and around the world through a variety of radio broadcasts and online streaming.

While very rich in history and accolades worldwide, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra returned to Cincinnati Music Hall after a $143 million renovation and a three-week European Tour that included debuts at the Edinburgh International Festival and the BBC Proms. The CSO was also the first international orchestra to perform at the new Paris concert hall, La Seine Musicale, where they premiered a new and highly acclaimed edition of Gershwin’s An American in Paris.

The CSO’s Concertos for Orchestra album was released in 2016 and features three pieces commissioned by the orchestra. The album was nominated for two Grammy Awards and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra introduced the world to a variety of new commissions.

Music Director Louis Langree and the CSO have been pleased to welcome such acclaimed artists as Joshua Bell, Danil Trifonov, Alisa Wellerstein, Donald Runnicles, Yefim Bronfan, Sir Mark Eder and Composer-In-Residence Jonathan Bailey Holland.

Also of note, the Cincinnati Pops has had more albums on the Billboard charts than any other orchestra on the planet. Their recent project, American Original Volume 2 was recorded live at Music Hall and was released in the fall of 2018. In addition, the Pops’ American Soundscapes series of online videos has a global audience.

Conductor John Morris Russell and the Cincinnati Pops have also welcomed acclaimed artists such as Hamilton star Leslie Odom, Jr., Ashley Brown from the Indigo Girls, Amy Grant and Ms. Lisa Fischer, among others.

Finally, a “Pops In Space” program debuted in January of 2019, featuring dazzling visuals curated by Cincinnati’s own Lightborne Communications and a co-commission with NASA and the National Symphony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing by celebrated Hollywood composer Michael Giacchino.

As you can see, both the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and The Cincinnati Pops are highly regarded worldwide and continue to lead the way in innovative ways of staying current and involved in the local community.

For more information, visit cincinnatisymphony.org!

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