Informative Podcasts for Music Lovers
Holocaust remembrance concert
April 20-21, 2023
Concert preview for April 20-21 Holocaust remembrance concert honoring lesser known music by early 20th-century Jewish composers
Mari Sato (violin), Tracy Rowell (bass) and Elizabeth DeMio (piano), members of the Pantheon Ensemble, share details about their process for selecting music for this important program. Watch through to the end when bassist, Tracy Rowell, reveals a surprise!
”The Visionary Clarinet”
March 16-19, 2023
In this concert preview, Jim Mehrling provides an overview of the program titled The Visionary Clarinet.
Conductor Joel Smirnoff shares insight into what it’s like to lead a full orchestra in a piece, Beethoven’s “Kreutzer” Sonata, originally scored for two instruments. Clarinetist Daniel Gilbert joins the conversation to discuss his approach to learning klezmer.
Explorations for Clarinet, Strings and Piano
February 25, 2023 at 7:00 p.m.
In this concert preview, Jim Mehrling provides an overview of the program titled Explorations for Clarinet, Strings and Piano.
Composer and jazz bassist Gregg August shares the inspiration for his powerful new work titled Recitations and Dedications (to be premiered February 25), work that stemmed from Gregg's continued desire to explore race following his record, Dialogues on Race.
“Music in the Time of Goya”
January 27, 2023 at 7:00 p.m.
In this concert preview, Jim Merling highlights the Spanish-influenced works our CityMusic Cleveland Baroque ensemble musicians will perform on Friday, January 27 at 7pm at Praxis Fiber Workshop in Cleveland, Ohio.
Soprano Andréa Walker sits down with Classical radio host Eric Kisch to share her joys of singing a concert in Spanish, Andréa’s native language.
Chamber Concerts for Strings
November 11 & 18, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.
Jim Mehrling walks us through the November string quartet and quintet programs in this concert preview.
Akua Dixon talks about the concept behind her commissioned work We The People, and how her style draws from jazz, classical and African musics.
“Batonless Beethoven”
October 27-30, 2022
Jim Mehrling introduces our first chamber orchestra concert without a conductor, Batonless Beethoven.
Learn about the music on this program in more detail: Jessie Montgomery “Starburst;” Beethoven Symphony No. 1 and Violin Romance No. 2, and Dvořák Romance for Violin in F Minor.
Concertmaster Laura Hamilton gives a behind-the-scenes perspective on what it takes to lead a conductorless orchestra.
Grammy-nominated violinist Tessa Lark shares her perspective on being a musician during the pandemic, and her joy at reconnecting with live audiences.
“A Tuba Among Strings”
September 16, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.
Jim Mehrling introduces this chamber concert featuring the unusual ensemble of tuba and string quartet.
Eric Kisch talks with tuba player Laura Potter about Lon Chaffin’s multimedia work “Doors” for tuba, string quartet, and slideshow.
CityMusic Podcasts: Meet Your Hosts
CityMusic Cleveland is proud to partner with two local experts to produce these informative podcasts about musical works and upcoming concerts.
Eric Kisch was the host for “Musical Passions,” a weekly classical music radio show which aired on WCLV-FM for nearly 17 years, where his recording engineer and collaborator was Jim Mehrling. Kisch is a graduate of Melbourne University and holds two Masters degrees from Columbia University. A retired market researcher and consultant, his lifelong passion for classical music led to an avocation of research and writing on the subject, eventuating in his becoming producer and host of the radio show. He has taught many courses on music for Case Western Reserve University’s Siegal Lifelong Learning Program, most recently on “Music and Epidemics.” Eric also organizes speakers on wide-ranging topics for the Rowfant Club of Cleveland. He and Jim are entering a third season of creating video podcasts for CityMusic Cleveland.
Jim Mehrling has been active in commercial broadcasting in NE Ohio since 1973, including 13 years at WERE-AM in Cleveland as Production Director and over 25 years on the air and behind the scenes at classical WCLV-FM. He has won Radio-Television Council of Greater Cleveland awards for best radio promo, best commercial, and multiple specialty categories, and in 2019, he was honored by his peers with a Presidents’ Award from the Cleveland Association of Broadcasters.