CCM violin concerto competition winner performs Mozart with the CCM Philharmonia

The CCM Philharmonia concludes its Fall 2022 Concert Series with a performance featuring this year's winner of CCM’s annual violin concerto competition: Cassidy Franzmeier. Titled Mozart and More, the concert takes place at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 12, in CCM's Patricia Corbett Theater. Tickets are on sale now through the CCM Box Office.

The concert features Franzmeier on Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 5 in A Major, K. 219. The program also includes the Overture to Gioachino Rossini’s La Scala Di Seta and Felix Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4, Op. 90.

A piece by Italian composer Rossini opens the concert. Most known for his many operas, Rossini published La Scala Di Seta in 1812, with libretto by Giuseppe Maria Foppa. Though modern performances of this opera are rare, the Overture has become a regular part of orchestra repertoire. In fact, its challenging oboe solos are standard on professional auditions.

Often called the "Turkish" concerto, Mozart’s Concerto No. 5 was first premiered in Salzburg during the winter holiday season in 1775. Its nickname comes from a passage in the third movement, where – through change of meter and key, as well as the use of chromaticism – Mozart gives his impression of Turkish music. Considered by many to be the grandest of Mozart’s violin concerti, CCM Director of Orchestral Studies Mark Gibson spoke of the virtuosic demands of this work. "His music challenges every aspect of our musicianship and taste," Gibson says. "It demands pristine intonation, superb articulation, and above all, a sense of style."

Similarly, Mendelssohn’s fourth symphony is referred to as the "Italian" symphony. Premiered in 1833, this work was inspired during Mendelssohn’s 1829-31 tour of Europe, specifically his visits to Rome, Florence, Milan and Naples. Unsatisfied with his original work, Mendelssohn revisited this symphony in 1834. However, the revised edition was significantly less popular than the original, and rarely gets performed. Regardless of Mendelssohn’s discontent, Gibson says that this symphony is "generally recognized as one of the most perfect symphonies in our rep, in terms of craft, invention and sheer joy."

"Our audience should be ready for an evening of the best of classical music, played with verve by our best orchestra, featuring our best soloists," Gibson emphasized. "It will be a memorable evening!"

7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12

Patricia Corbett Theater, CCM Village
University of Cincinnati

Tickets are $25; student and group discounts available. Tickets can be purchased in person at the CCM Box Office, over the telephone at 513-556-4183 or online.

Learn about additional ticket options for current CCM students.

CCM is located on the campus of the University of Cincinnati. For detailed driving directions, visit ccm.uc.edu/directions.

Parking is available in UC's CCM Garage (located at the base of Corry Boulevard off Jefferson Avenue) and additional garages throughout the UC campus. 

CCM OnStage patrons can add pre-paid parking to their checkout carts when purchasing tickets. Pre-paid parking is date/performance specific. CCM Garage parking rates for a performance or special event is usually available for $10-15. Learn more about parking at UC's CCM Garage.

For additional information on parking at UC, please visit uc.edu/about/parking.

A preeminent institution for the performing and media arts, the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) is the largest single source of performing arts presentations in the state of Ohio. All event dates and programs are subject to change. For a complete calendar of events, visit ccm.uc.edu/onstage.  

Featured image at the top: Students perform in the CCM Philharmonia.