Artelize - A Harmonic Journey: Celebrating the May Festival's Musical Extravaganza
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A Harmonic Journey: Celebrating the May Festival's Musical Extravaganza

The May Festival, renowned for its remarkable choral and orchestral performances, presents an exceptional lineup of events from December 2024 to May 2025. From the resonant melodies of Bach's Christmas Oratorio to the visceral experience of Verdi's Requiem, the festival promises a musical journey that transcends time and emotion. With world-class performers like Renée Fleming and Norm Lewis, audiences will revel in a diverse array of genres, including Baroque, choral, and modern compositions. This year, the May Festival not only celebrates music but also the collaborative spirit with organizations like the Cincinnati Boychoir.

Dec 2, 2024
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1. Bach's Christmas Oratorio
Johann Sebastian Bach's Christmas Oratorio blends the soaring melodies of Baroque music with the joyous spirit of the holiday season. The rich harmonies and intricate counterpoint come together in jubilant choruses and tender arias, narrating and reflecting upon the stories of the Feast of Christmas. Richard Egarr leads the May Festival Chorus and soloists in the timeless glories of music that resonates with the warmth and wonder of Christmas.
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6 - 7 Dec, 2024
The May Festival

The Geraldine V. Chavez Center for the Choral Arts

2. Holiday Pops
There’s nothing quite as magical as the memories made during the holiday season and, thanks to you, Holiday Pops has allowed us to share and create those memories year after year. With sold-out performances in a decked-out Music Hall, we invite you to join us again this year as Broadway star Norm Lewis joins JMR and the Pops with choruses, vocalists and dancers from around the city bringing festive favorites and holiday classics to life!
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13 - 15 Dec, 2024
The May Festival

The Geraldine V. Chavez Center for the Choral Arts

3. All Together Now
Can't wait until May? Hundreds of singers take the stage at Music Hall in February to celebrate a new alliance between the May Festival and the Cincinnati Boychoir! Featured performances by the Cincinnati Boychoir, May Festival Youth Chorus and May Festival Chorus culminate in the world premiere of a new work by Cincinnati's own Howard Helvey, commissioned for the occasion.
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Feb 16, 2025
The May Festival

The Geraldine V. Chavez Center for the Choral Arts

4. Verdi Requiem
Visceral and soul-gripping, Verdi’s Requiem will rip your heart out and put it back together again. From its tender solo moments to the terrifying cries of the “Dies irae,” it’s a journey both fragile and powerful as the May Festival Chorus and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra combine for this breathtaking Mass for the departed.
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May 16, 2025
The May Festival

The Geraldine V. Chavez Center for the Choral Arts

5. CHASING THE DAWN: A Choral Journey
Follow the unbroken path of light from sunset to sunrise as the May Festival Chorus, Chamber Choir, Youth Chorus and Cincinnati Boychoir Ambassadors illuminate Springer Auditorium through song, staging and dynamic lighting in a choral music event like never before.
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May 18, 2025
The May Festival

The Geraldine V. Chavez Center for the Choral Arts

6. The Brightness Of Light
Glimpse into the love, life and intimacy between two of the 20th century’s most prominent artists. Celebrated soprano Renée Fleming and baritone Rod Gilfry portray painter Georgia O’Keeffe and photographer Alfred Stieglitz as a montage of their lives, captured through art, photos and love letters, is revealed on a screen above the stage
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May 22, 2025
The May Festival

The Geraldine V. Chavez Center for the Choral Arts

7. VOICE OF NATURE: The Anthropocene
In a performance inspired by her 2023 Grammy-Award winning album, experience the turbulence and resilience of Mother Nature's life as Renée Fleming performs music by Handel, Nico Muhly, Björk and Lord of The Rings' Howard Shore—all set against a backdrop of stunning film from the National Geographic Society.
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May 24, 2025
The May Festival

The Geraldine V. Chavez Center for the Choral Arts

Conclusion
The May Festival 2024-2025 season is a testament to the transformative power of music. By bringing together exceptional talent and diverse repertoires, the festival creates a space where tradition meets innovation. From the festive cheer of Bach's Christmas Oratorio to the evocative narratives of 'The Brightness of Light', each performance offers a unique experience. As the festival concludes with 'VOICE OF NATURE: The Anthropocene', it leaves us with a powerful reminder of music’s role in storytelling and its ability to evoke emotion, reflection, and inspiration. This season, the May Festival not only entertains but also enriches our cultural landscape.
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