The Society for the Preservation of Music Hall

Recent pics of Music Hall: Opening night at Tosca this summer(Phil Groshong, photographer) and Erich Kunzel opens the Pops season last week. (Note his injured left hand! That's why new assistant conductor Tito Munoz is turning his pages...)

The annual meeting of the SPMH took place last night in Music Hall's Corbett Tower, to discuss many things, including points made by historian Bob Howes about the planned renovations.

But first, the CSO's Paavo Jarvi and Cincy Opera's Evans Mirageas addressed the good-sized crowd.

Paavo: "Every time I approach this hall, whether driving to work or stepping onstage, I feel a tremendous sense of history. We read in the news every day about the creation of new venues, all over the U.S. and Europe. My thoughts are, you cannnot build an old hall. ... We have sometimes been less than thoughtful about history. Our downtown is an example of how we're not taking care of our treasures.

"But our hall is magnificent. But then comes the question: How do we take care of it and what of our role and responsibility? Cleveland and Chicago (concert halls) are examples of what can happen when an old hall is preserved with a future in mind. You feel the fantastic history and realize the historic integrity that is completely intact. At the same time, modern needs are addressed.

"One of the great hopes of mine is to do something here similar, to create a modern environment where everyone feels at home. I'd like it to be the living room of Cincinnati -- a comfortable place to a modern concert goer.

"It's important to see the other tenants, the opera and the May Festival comfortable, as well.

"This hall makes me feel very small, because I know that real giants have walked on that stage, such as Stravinsky, Rachmaninoff. It takes work and continuous dedication to be worthy of the people we are following."

He thanked SPMH members for their dedication to preserving Music Hall (c. 1878), saying that these efforts are united.

Patricia Beggs introduced Evans with this remark: "Our goal is to make Music Hall provide the best possible experience for our patrons, and not affect the architectural or historical amenities."

Evans: "Maybe it's because I'm Greek, but I like statues," he said, referring to statues in Music Hall, such as Reuben Springer, wondering if Mr. Springer (who led the charge to build Music Hall) would rise up some night like the "Commendatore" (Don Giovanni)...

"This is one of the great architectural treasures of the United States and one of the greatest performing spaces of the world. But it is a treasure that must keep in step with the times. Beethoven, Brahms and Verdi may be dead, but their spirits are living. The CSO's Brahms concert this weekend proved that music written around the time Music Hall was built still has the power to move us to a standing ovation."

He said as he travels the world as an impresario for Cincinnati Opera, he tells singers and conductors, "If you come to Music Hall for the first time, you'll never want to leave."

During the business meeting, Prez Norma Petersen said that the recent Music Hall documentary had won a regional Emmy for WCET-TV and producter Joanne Grueter.

And here's what your donations purchased this year for Music Hall:

New radios for the private police around Music Hall (their old radios didn't connect to the Police Dept.)

New chairs for the Critics Club

For the first time, the group has an office at Music Hall, with a new computer and even furniture.

And coming up: A private donor is making possible the restoration and installation of the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ (formerly at the old Albee Theater) in the west end of the Ballroom.

And did you know you can schedule your own tour of Music Hall for a small fee?

The evening included beautiful singing by CCM opera grad student Bronwen Forbay (a native of S. Africa). She sang Violetta's great Act I aria, "Ah, fors' e lui," with the wonderful Sempre libera -- ever free -- as the cabaletta. She also sang "And this is my beloved." Carol Walker was the able accompanist.

The inimitable Jim Tarbell arrived late (having gone to a Linton Music Series event), announced that the 801 Plum Concerts will return to City Hall (yay!) and then took out his harmonica (insert eye-rolling here).

To contribute to SPMH or schedule a tour, call 513-744-3293, or visit their Web site.