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To•Day

DIARY: Thursday, April 16, 2026

by Daniel Hathaway

HAPPENING TODAY:

Tonight at 7:30 pm in Mandel Concert Hall at Severance Music Center, pianist Alexandre Kantorow will play works by J.S. Bach, Medtner, Chopin, Scriabin, & Beethoven, and Apollo’s Fire will reprise its Fencing Match program as a pre-tour send-off at Avon Lake UCC. At the same hour in Mixon Hall, CIM Perspectives will present cellist Timmy Mesa and pianist Michelle Michelle Cann in works by Debussy and Rachmaninoff.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

On Wednesday, The Cleveland Orchestra announced its 2026-2027 Season, which marks music director Franz Welser-Möst’s 25th and final year with the ensemble. Read the press release here.

R.I.P. jazz pianist Dan Wall, 72

Oberlin Conservatory Dean William Quillen writes that “The Oberlin community mourns the loss of Dan Wall, beloved professor of jazz piano, who passed away at 72. A gifted musician and teacher, Wall served on the Oberlin faculty from 2001 until his retirement in 2025. He inspired generations of students through his mentorship, generosity, and unwavering dedication to the art of jazz. “Information regarding a memorial service will be shared when available.’ [Read More…]

Pre•Views & Features

Pianist Alexandre Kantorow to make Cleveland debut

by Mike Telin

In 2019 at the age of 22, Alexandre Kantorow became the first French pianist to be awarded the Gold Medal at Tchaikovsky Competition, along with the Grand Prix, something that has happened only three times in the competition’s history. In 2024, he received the Gilmore Artist Award.

On Thursday, April 16 at 7:30 pm, Alexandre Kantorow will make his Severance Music Center debut as part of The Cleveland Orchestra Recital series. His program will feature works by Liszt, Chopin, Medtner, Alkan, Scriabin, and Beethoven. Tickets are available online.

Answering his phone in Paris, he told me he was taking care of real-life things like renewing his passport before heading back into the music world. His American tour begins on Tuesday, April 14 and continues until May 2.

[Read on…]

Apollo’s Fire: O Jerusalem! Crossroads of Three Faiths — Part 2

by Mike Telin

This week, Jeannette Sorrell and Apollo’s Fire will premiere a fresh version of their celebrated program O Jerusalem! Crossroads of Three Faiths. In this musical tour of the four quarters of Old Jerusalem (Jewish, Christian, Arab, and Armenian), surprising cross-influences emerge.

The program will be presented on Thursday, April 9 at The Bath Church UCC, on April 10 in Gartner Auditorium at the  Cleveland Museum of Art, and on April 11 at Congregation Mishkan Or, all at 7:30 pm. Pre-concert conversations will be presented by Daphna Mor and Ronnie Malley, one hour before each performance. Tickets are available online.

I caught up by telephone with Ronnie Malley, who, in addition to playing oud & accordion, served as the Arab musical and cultural consultant for this project. I asked him to talk about what he brought to the program.

Ronnie Malley: Jennette was very open to whatever I wanted to bring. And I thought, I am a Jerusalemite and I should  bring something from there. And the one thing that the city has always represented to me are the three Abrahamic faiths — Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

[Read on…]

David Russell brings Don Quixote to Cleveland Classical Guitar Society

by Mike Telin

The Cleveland Classical Guitar Society International Series will host celebrated guitarist David Russell on Saturday, April 11 at 7:30 pm at the Maltz Performing Arts Center.

Russell’s program will feature works by Mauro Giuliani, Isaac Albéniz, J.S. Bach, Stephen Goss, and Gabriel Estarellas. Tickets are available online.

On Sunday, April 12 at 2:00 pm, Russell will present a masterclass at the CCGS offices at 7100 Euclid Avenue in Cleveland.

I caught up with the guitarist in San Francisco where he was in the middle of his annual residency at the San Francisco Conservatory. I began our Zoom conversation by welcoming him back to Cleveland.

[Read on…]

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