It is hauntingly beautiful, heartrendingly emotional, and unabashedly romantic. Rachmaninoff wrote of his Second Piano Concerto, “What I try to do when writing down my music is to make it say simply and directly what is in my heart.” Bartók’s dazzling, thrilling, and immensely popular concerto is a virtuosic tour de force for the entire orchestra.

EPSG:4326

Rachmaninoff's Second Piano Concerto

Severance Music Center

This performance is free, but tickets are required. Free parking is available in the Karamu House parking lot.

Legacy: Past, Present & Future

Karamu House

“The hottest artist on the classical music planet” (The New York Times), superstar Lang Lang plays sold-out concerts in all continents of the globe; he returns to Cleveland to perform Saint-Saëns most popular concerto. In his Symphonie fantastique, the young Berlioz bared his soul in music  —torturing himself with the extreme passion he had once felt for his beloved. Through visions of dreams, opium-induced nightmares, and tender musical kisses, this masterpiece includes a riveting “March to the Scaffold” you won’t soon forget.

Lang Lang Plays Saint-Saëns

COYO Spring Concert

In his Fantasy Symphony, the young Berlioz bared his soul in music  —torturing himself with the extreme passion he had once felt for his beloved. Through visions of dreams, opium-induced nightmares, and tender musical kisses, this masterpiece includes a riveting “March to the Scaffold” you won’t soon forget. 

Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique

This performance is free. Tickets are required.

Finale

Keynote speaker Kai Bird is a Pulitzer Prize—winning biographer, journalist, and co-author of American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer, on which the blockbuster movie Oppenheimer was based. He is the executive director and distinguished lecturer of the Leon Levy Center for Biography at the CUNY Graduate Center in New York City.

An Evening with Kai Bird

One of the greatest operas ever written, Mozart’s timeless classic is about the search for truth and reason, love and enlightenment, and how power is used for good or evil. It draws us into a world where a prince, Tamino, and a princess, Pamina, triumph over every obstacle in their search for wisdom and are finally united in love. Throughout their journey, audiences are delighted with the lovers’ soulful arias, the stratospheric vocal fireworks of the villainous Queen of the Night, the subterranean depths of the formidable high priest Sarastro, and the comic melodies of the lovable bird catcher Papageno.

Mozart's The Magic Flute

In November 1918, Sergei Rachmaninoff arrived in his newfound homeland, the United States, after a tumultuous year fleeing the political unrest of his native Russia. Through this thoughtfully constructed program, pianist Conrad Tao presents a fascinating dialogue between Rachmaninoff’s former and present homes, discussing the power of old world and new, tradition and innovation.

Conrad Tao in Recital: Power and Influence

Join us on Saturday, May 18 for The Magic Flute for Kids, an enchanting one-hour performance hosted by Caldecott Medalist and New York Times bestselling author/illustrator Christopher Raschka in the intimate Reinberger Chamber Hall. Raschka, an opera lover and musician himself, will use projections of his beautifully illustrated book, The Magic Flute, to share the story of Mozart’s beloved opera interspersed with live musical highlights for children 7 and older.

The Magic Flute for Kids

Join us for an enlightening evening at the Mandel Concert Hall, Severance Music Center, on Sunday, May 19, 2024, at 4:00 PM for "Power Dynamics: Diverse Perspectives on Classical Music." This event, part of the 2024 Mandel Opera & Humanities Festival: Power, promises to be a thought-provoking exploration of the role of diversity and representation in classical music.

The evening will be split into two halves. The first segment features a panel of barrier-crushing artist advocates discussing the critical questions facing the classical music field today. Topics will include how classically trained artists of diverse backgrounds can captivate future audiences, the power dynamics that need to be navigated to enhance representation on stage, in the audience, and in leadership positions, and the initiatives currently advancing diversity in classical music both locally and nationally.

In the second half, celebrated radio host, commentator, and writer Terrance McKnight will curate and lead a unique session of conversation, reflection, and music. This segment will offer insights through the lens of different protagonists from Mozart's "The Magic Flute," focusing on themes of power and representation.

This event is presented in partnership with Assembly for the Arts and is a general admission and open seating event. Tickets are available now, so be sure to reserve your spot for an evening of insightful discussion and reflection on the power dynamics within classical music.

Don't miss this opportunity to engage with key questions and initiatives shaping the future of classical music. Get your tickets today for "Power Dynamics: Diverse Perspectives on Classical Music" on May 19, 2024.

Power Dynamics: Diverse Perspectives on Classical Music

Renowned for his trumpet prowess and composing skills, seven-time GRAMMY® Award winner Terence Blanchard makes his Severance Music Center debut with Absence, an evening of music honoring his mentor, jazz icon Wayne Shorter. Joined by longtime collaborators the E-Collective and Turtle Island Quartet, Blanchard celebrates both the brilliance of Shorter’s legacy and the inspiration he has given Blanchard, influencing his ever-expanding amalgam of music and storytelling.

Terence Blanchard and Friends: A Celebration of Wayne Shorter

Known to contemporary audiences through the movie Amadeus, Mozart’s Serenade for winds was taken from obscurity to immortality as Salieri is transfixed by his introduction to the composer’s music: 

“On the page it looked nothing. The beginning simple, almost comic. Just a pulse, bassoons, and basset horns, like a rusty squeezebox. Then suddenly, high above it, an oboe, a single note, hanging there unwavering, till a clarinet took over and sweetened it into a phrase of such delight! This was no composition by a performing monkey! This was a music I’d never heard. Filled with such longing, such unfulfillable longing. It seemed to me that I was hearing the very voice of God.” — from Amadeus

Mozart's Gran Partita

An afternoon of joyous vocal performances at Severance Music Center representing the rich diversity of the Greater Cleveland choral community.

United in Song! A Free Community Choral Celebration

The Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra and the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra are coming together for a unique exchange experience. Please join us in welcoming the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra to Blossom Music Center for a performance that will include a side-by-side orchestra of nearly 200 young musicians performing Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4.

The Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra and the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra

Blossom Music Center

Saluting our heroes. Our annual tradition featuring stirring patriotic music along with a special tribute to NASA featuring videos taken from actual space flights, furnished by NASA Glenn in Cleveland.

A Tribute to our Armed Forces

The Odem High School Wind Ensemble, under the Direction of Steven Rash, travels to Cleveland, OH for a special joint concert performance in the Mandel Concert Hall. Joining them are The Cleveland Youth Wind Symphony, under the direction of Darren Allen, and a very special group ‘Ciepluch and Friends’ under the direction of Dr. Gary Ciepluch, Professor Emeritus of Case Western Reserve University. This great evening of wind band music will feature music from a variety of classic and modern wind band composers!

Connections

An evening honoring entrepreneurs shaping our future through outstanding achievement, significant efforts in community building, and reflective knowledge of financial literacy.

The Pink & Black Honors Award Gala

Relive the magic as Indiana Jones, armed only with his hat, whip, and wits, travels the world to recover the lost Ark of the Covenant — before it falls into the wrong hands.

Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark

Blossom’s traditional, star-spangled celebration with the Blossom Festival Band returns with a mix of patriotic marches, Broadway favorites, an Armed Forces Salute, and more — concluding with a spectacular fireworks display.

Salute to America 2024

Experience a fresh take on an American classic. Béla Fleck, “arguably the greatest living banjo player in the world” (NPR), marks the centennial of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with a dazzling new banjo transcription of this beloved showpiece. Conductor Brett Mitchell rounds out this all-American evening with orchestral gems by Leonard Bernstein, Samuel Barber, and William Grant Still.

Rhapsody in Blue

Rachmaninoff’s Third Symphony baffled listeners at its 1936 premiere, but the composer predicted it would one day “be rediscovered ... and become a sensational success.” Hear why this electrifying work is now considered one of the composer’s finest creations. Arutunian’s Trumpet Concerto — featuring Principal Trumpet Michael Sachs — and Borodin’s Polovtsian Dances complete this sparkling program led by Domingo Hindoyan.

Rachmaninoff's Third Symphony

An evening of classics under the stars. Celebrated violinist Christian Tetzlaff brings to life Mozart’s Fifth Violin Concerto, which bubbles with the composer’s quintessential craft and charm. Antonello Manacorda complements this favorite with Mendelssohn’s breezy Midsummer Night’s Dream Overture and Beethoven's indomitable Seventh Symphony.

Tetzlaff Plays Mozart

Don’t miss the Tony and Grammy award–winning vocalist, songwriter, author, and actor, known for his breakout role as the original Aaron Burr in the smash hit Broadway musical Hamilton, as he makes his debut with The Cleveland Orchestra.

An Evening with Leslie Odom, Jr.

An apology or an act of defiance? Shostakovich composed his Fifth Symphony in 1937 after receiving an official reprimand from the Soviet Union, responding with one of the most powerful — and enigmatic — symphonies in the orchestral repertoire. Conductor Hannu Lintu pairs this with a sweeping tone poem by Sibelius and Walton’s virtuosic Cello Concerto, performed by Principal Cello Mark Kosower.

Shostakovich's Fifth Symphony 2024

10K Movement presents the fourth annual ‘Lords of the Land’: Hip Hop & Street Dance Festival (LoTL), held the last weekend of July (26-27th) in Cleveland, Ohio. Bringing together renowned dancers & creators from around the continent with the local Cleveland dance community, LoTL highlights the excellence, elite athleticism, and artistry of three different styles of Street Dance.

Lords of the Land IV: International Hip Hop & Street Dance Tournament

Quarter-finalists will be expected to arrive in Cleveland no later than July 24. In addition, Quarter-Finalists may be asked to participate in up to two Zoom sessions before the rounds to discuss their career trajectories and areas of needed support.

Cleveland International Piano Competition 2024Quarter-Final Round

In the Semi-Final Round, contestants are required to play a work by a composer from a traditionally underrepresented background. This composer may be from the contestant’s origin country if that country is not well represented in the Western Art Music canon.

Cleveland International Piano Competition 2024Semi-Final Round

One ring to rule them all... This summer at Blossom, The Cleveland Orchestra presents The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King with live orchestral underscore. In the conclusion of J.R.R. Tolkien's epic masterpiece, as armies mass for a final battle that will decide the fate of Middle Earth--and powerful, ancient forces of Light and Dark compete to determine the outcome--one member of the Fellowship of the Ring is revealed as the noble heir to the throne of the Kings of Men.

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

This special performance will feature songs and stories with 12-time Grammy winner John Legend. Experience intimate reimaginings of his greatest hits (“All of Me,” “Ordinary People,” “Tonight”), unexpected stories from Legend’s life and career, and selections from his most recent release, LEGEND (“Nervous,” “Wonder Woman”) at Blossom this summer.

An Evening with John Legend

The Program should weave together performances and speaking to tell the story of your recital. Speaking may include introductions of specific pieces or composers, a personal narrative, or other descriptive language. Speaking should be done in English; if this is not possible, Piano Cleveland will provide a translator in the contestant’s language.

Cleveland International Piano Competition 2024Final Round

Franz Welser-Möst returns to Blossom with Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony, which journeys from dark inner turmoil to an unwavering celebration of life. The “breathtakingly brilliant pianist” Víkingur Ólafsson (Gramophone) also joins the Orchestra for Robert Schumann’s Piano Concerto, a marvelous showcase for soloist and orchestra that the composer once referred to as “a compromise between a symphony, a concerto, and a huge sonata.”

Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony

Singer/pianist/songwriter Tony DeSare takes on the legend of Ol’ Blue Eyes himself in a critically acclaimed tribute to the great Frank Sinatra that includes songs like “Come Fly with Me,” “I’ve Got the World On a String,” “The Summer Wind,” “I Get A Kick Out of You,” “Night and Day,” “New York, New York,” “My Way,“ and so many more Sinatra classics.

Sinatra and Beyond

Dizzying acrobatic heights and eye-popping feats come together with top Broadway hits from Les Misérables, Frozen, Miss Saigon, and more. Fun for the whole family and the perfect way to close out the summer.

Cirque Goes Broadway

Tchaikovsky’s Pathétique

Severance Music Center is Cleveland’s home for symphonic music and other presentations, including Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel Concert Hall and Reinberger Chamber Hall. We are strongly committed to making everyone feel welcome. The doors to Severance open three hours prior to most performances.

Kolesnikov in Recital

Bronfman Plays Rachmaninoff

This program’s Concert Preview lectures will be presented by Rabbi Roger Klein, The Temple Tifereth Israel

Harding Conducts Schumann

Salonen Conducts Salonen

Mahler’s Third Symphony

Tan Dun Conducts Tan Dun

Beethoven Piano Concerto Cycle Program 1

Beethoven Piano Concerto Cycle Program 2

Beethoven Piano Concerto Cycle Program 3

Mahler's Song of the Earth

Gerstein in Recital

Ax Plays Mozart

Holiday Concerts with The Cleveland Orchestra and Cleveland Orchestra Chorus return in 2024! Join us for an unforgettable experience that will fill Mandel Concert Hall with the sounds of the holiday season.

Cleveland Orchestra Holiday Concerts 2024

An American in Paris

Hahn Plays Brahms

Experience the majestic harmonies of Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8 as The Cleveland Orchestra takes the stage at the Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami, FL. This enchanting performance, scheduled for January 31 and February 1, 2025, promises an unforgettable evening under the baton of Stéphane Denève, featuring the prodigious talent of Spanish violinist Maria Dueñas in her Cleveland Orchestra debut.

The concert will showcase a rich program beginning with the vibrant Suite from L’Arlésienne by Bizet, followed by Lalo's Symphonie espagnole, a piece that perfectly complements Dueñas's virtuosity with its fiery Spanish rhythms. The evening culminates with Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8, a masterpiece that evokes the pastoral beauty of Bohemia, performed in a unique collaboration with musicians from the New World Symphony.

This performance is not only a celebration of classical music but also a partnership with the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, a beacon of cultural excellence in downtown Miami. The center is renowned for its commitment to connecting all people to the arts and each other, making it the perfect venue for this event.

Tickets and subscriptions are available for both nights, offering a splendid opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of classical music with one of the most prestigious orchestras in the world. Don't miss this chance to be part of a musical journey that bridges continents, cultures, and communities.

Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8

Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts

Also Sprach Zarathustra

**Bruckner’s Seventh: A Symphony of Depth and Beauty**

Join The Cleveland Orchestra for an unforgettable performance of Bruckner’s Seventh Symphony, under the baton of the renowned conductor Fabio Luisi. This event promises to be a highlight of the 2024-25 Classical Season, showcasing the orchestra's unparalleled artistry in the majestic Mandel Concert Hall at Severance Music Center.

**Event Details:**

- **Dates:** February 13-15, 2025
- **Venue:** Mandel Concert Hall, Severance Music Center
- **Conductor:** Fabio Luisi
- **Featuring:** The Cleveland Orchestra with Tim Mead, countertenor

**Program Highlights:**
- SILVIA COLASANTI: Time’s Cruel Hand (US Premiere)
- BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 7

**Performance Schedule:**
- Thursday, February 13, 2025, at 7:30 PM
- Saturday, February 15, 2025, at 8:00 PM

Subscriptions are available for those who wish to experience not just this magnificent performance but the entire season of musical wonders. The Cleveland Orchestra continues to enchant audiences with its dedication to musical excellence, and "Bruckner’s Seventh" is a testament to their enduring legacy.

**Venue Information:**
Severance Music Center is not just the home of The Cleveland Orchestra; it's a beacon of culture and music in Cleveland. With its commitment to accessibility, the center ensures that everyone can enjoy the beauty of music. Parking is conveniently located at Case Western Reserve University's CWRU Lot 29 Campus Center Garage, adjacent to the music center.

**Accessibility:**
The Cleveland Orchestra and Severance Music Center are dedicated to making performances accessible to all. Wheelchair access and seating, assistance for the deaf or hard of hearing, and services for the blind or persons with low vision are available to ensure an inclusive experience for all attendees.

Don't miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in the profound beauty of Bruckner’s Seventh Symphony, performed by one of the world's leading orchestras. Secure your subscription today and be part of a musical journey that transcends the ordinary.

Bruckner’s Seventh

Join us for an extraordinary musical experience as The Cleveland Orchestra presents "Adès Conducts Adès" at the Severance Music Center's Mandel Concert Hall. This special event, taking place on February 20 and 22, 2025, features the world-renowned conductor Thomas Adès leading the orchestra in a captivating program.

Event Dates:
- Thursday, February 20, 2025, at 7:30 PM
- Saturday, February 22, 2025, at 8:00 PM

The program includes a rich selection of works:
- SIBELIUS: The Oceanides
- SAARIAHO: Oltra Mar
- THOMAS ADÈS: America: A Prophecy (US Premiere TCO co-commission)
- IVES: Orchestral Set No. 2

Performing alongside The Cleveland Orchestra will be the talented mezzo-soprano Kelley O’Connor and The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus, promising an evening of unforgettable musical artistry.

Venue:
Mandel Concert Hall, Severance Music Center, is Cleveland’s premier destination for symphonic music. The center is dedicated to making everyone feel welcome, with doors opening three hours prior to most performances. For those attending, the most convenient parking option is Case Western Reserve University's CWRU Lot 29 Campus Center Garage, located directly adjacent to Severance Music Center.

Accessibility:
Severance Music Center is committed to accessibility for all guests. Features include wheelchair access & seating, companion wheelchair seating, assistance for the deaf or hard of hearing (including Infrared Assistive Listening Devices), assistance for the blind or persons with low vision (including large print programs and Braille texts upon request), and service animal accommodation. Fully accessible restrooms are available in the Smith Lobby.

Don't miss this unique opportunity to witness Thomas Adès conduct a program of both classic and contemporary works, including the US premiere of his own composition. Subscribe now for "Adès Conducts Adès" and be part of a memorable musical journey with The Cleveland Orchestra.

Adès Conducts Adès

Ólafsson and Wang in Recital

Beethoven’s Eroica

Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony

Haydn & Strauss

Prokofiev's Fourth Symphony

Andsnes in Recital

Bach’s Easter Oratorio

Mozart and Elgar

Daniel Harding leads The Cleveland Orchestra from the Miami seaside to the farthest reaches of the solar system! Elgar’s sublime song cycle "Sea Pictures" provides open water for Avery Amereau to demonstrate her rich, velvety contralto. Later, Holst’s orchestral suite "The Planets" conjures a galaxy’s worth of emotions — from the bellicose dissonance of “Mars, the Bringer of War” to the electrifying “Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity.”

Holst’s The Planets

Join us for an unforgettable evening as The Cleveland Orchestra presents "Kissin in Recital" on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at 7:30 PM. This exclusive performance will take place at the prestigious Mandel Concert Hall within the Severance Music Center, offering a unique opportunity to experience the world-renowned pianist, Evgeny Kissin, in an intimate setting.

The recital will feature a carefully curated selection of pieces that showcase Kissin's unparalleled mastery of the piano. The program includes Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 7, a series of Chopin's Nocturnes and Polonaise in A major, Op. 40, No. 1, "Military", as well as Shostakovich's Piano Sonata No. 2 and a selection of his Preludes and Fugues. This diverse repertoire promises an evening of emotional depth and technical brilliance, highlighting the extraordinary talent of Evgeny Kissin.

Severance Music Center is known for its commitment to accessibility and comfort, ensuring that all guests can enjoy the performance to the fullest. The venue offers wheelchair access and seating, infrared assistive listening devices for the deaf or hard of hearing, large print programs, and service animal accommodations, among other services. Parking is conveniently available at Case Western Reserve University's CWRU Lot 29 Campus Center Garage, located directly adjacent to the Severance Music Center.

Don't miss this chance to witness a musical genius at work. Subscribe now for "Kissin in Recital" and secure your seats for an evening of exquisite music that promises to be a highlight of the 2025 Miami Season.

Kissin in Recital

Mozart’s Symphony No. 40

Janáček’s Jenůfa

The Cleveland Orchestra is thrilled to announce its captivating performance, "Vox Humana," set to take place on May 23-24, 2025, at the prestigious Mandel Concert Hall within the Severance Music Center. Under the baton of the renowned conductor Franz Welser-Möst, this event promises to be an unforgettable experience for classical music enthusiasts.

The performance will feature a diverse and emotionally rich program, including Poulenc's "La voix humaine," J.S. Bach's "Concerto from Komm, Jesu, komm" and "Aria from Komm, Jesu, komm," Ustvolskaya's "Symphony No. 5, Amen," and R. Strauss's "Symphonic Fantasy on Die Frau ohne Schatten." The Cleveland Orchestra will be joined by the talented soprano Sarah Aristidou, narrator Tony Sias, and the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus, ensuring a night of exquisite musical artistry.

This event is part of the 2025 Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel Opera & Humanities Festival, highlighting the orchestra's commitment to delivering performances of the highest caliber. Tickets are available for subscription, offering attendees the chance to secure their seats for this much-anticipated event.

The Severance Music Center, known for its commitment to accessibility and inclusivity, offers a range of services to ensure all attendees can enjoy the performance comfortably. These include wheelchair access and seating, companion wheelchair seating, assistance for the deaf or hard of hearing, assistance for the blind or persons with low vision, and service animal accommodations. Pre-paid parking passes for the adjacent Case Western Reserve University's CWRU Lot 29 Campus Center Garage are also available for select performances.

Don't miss the opportunity to experience the profound beauty and emotional depth of "Vox Humana" performed by The Cleveland Orchestra. Secure your tickets now for an evening of unforgettable musical excellence.

The Cleveland Orchestra

26 - 28 Apr, 2024

Rachmaninoff's Second Piano Concerto

May 1, 2024

Legacy: Past, Present & Future

2 - 4 May, 2024

Lang Lang Plays Saint-Saëns

May 3, 2024

COYO Spring Concert

May 3, 2024

Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique

The Cleveland Orchestra

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