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A delightful cadre of artists shines in solo and ensemble songs celebrating the season of love. The all-German program recalls an era of intimate salon concerts shared amongst close friends and pays homage to Cincinnati’s deep cultural roots.
Franz Schubert Der Tanz, D.826
Franz Schubert Skolie, D.306
Robert Schumann Tanzlied
Franz Schubert Seligkeit, D.433
Clara Schumann Walzer
Johannes Brahms Vergebliches Ständchen
Fanny Hensel Neue Liebe, neues Leben
Clara Schumann Die stille Lotosblume
Josephine Lang Wie glänzt so hell dein Auge
Josef Marx Waldseligkeit
Franz Schubert Willkommen und Abschied, D.767
Johannes Brahms Liebeslieder Waltzer, Op. 52
Program subject to change without notice.
A Message from Kevin:

I wanted to share brief producer profiles and notes on how each wine reflects the musical arc of this program. The choices were made with a focus on German producers, historical continuity, and expressive clarity, mirroring the progression of the repertoire from lightness and motion through intimacy and depth, and finally toward warmth and shared experience.

Each wine is intended to complement a distinct emotional phase of the program while remaining approachable, thoughtful, and grounded in place. Below you will find the sparkling, white, and red selections, with context for both the producers and the character of the wines themselves.

Thank you, and I look forward to sharing these wines alongside the music.

Warm regards,
Kevin
WINE SELECTIONS

Sparkling: Weingut Hild Elbling Sekt NV
Region: Mosel, Germany
Varietal: Elbling
Weingut Hild is deeply committed to preserving Elbling, one of Germany’s oldest documented grape varieties and a historic cornerstone of Mosel viticulture. At a time when Elbling has fallen out of fashion, the Hild family has made a conscious decision to keep it not only alive but relevant, placing it front and center in their work and conversations. Their approach is rooted in respect for tradition while allowing the grape’s natural character to speak clearly and without adornment.

Selection Notes
This is a wine of energy rather than weight, offering precision, clarity, and an unmistakable sense of place. While not overly serious in tone, it possesses remarkable focus for a cool climate white born of a nearly forgotten varietal. The wine is easy drinking yet articulate, vibrant without heaviness, making it an ideal opening gesture that mirrors lightness, motion, and social charm.

White: Weingut Dr. Uli Stein Palmberg Riesling Kabinett Trocken 2024
Region: Mosel, Germany
Varietal: Riesling
Dr. Uli Stein is internationally renowned for his uncompromising dedication to site expression, steep slope viticulture, and artistic independence. An outspoken advocate for individuality in wine, Stein has long challenged regulatory authority and conventional aesthetics while actively supporting artists, musicians, and marginalized voices. His wines are deeply personal statements rooted in place, time, and conviction.
The Palmberg vineyard, composed of old vines planted on extremely steep slopes, demands both physical endurance and deep understanding. Farming here is not for the faint hearted, and neither are the wines. They reward patience, attention, and curiosity.

Selection Notes
This wine is a reflection of place and moment, capturing the tension, minerality, and quiet complexity of the Palmberg site. Dry in style yet layered and expressive, it balances precision with emotional depth. The wine unfolds slowly, revealing nuance rather than spectacle, making it a natural partner for the program’s inward turn toward intimacy, poetry, and introspection.
Red: Weingut Kissinger “O” Ohm Red 2023
Region: Rheinhessen, Germany
Varietals: Primarily Spätburgunder Pinot Noir with complementary red varieties depending on the vintage
Moritz Kissinger represents a vital new voice in German wine. Grounded in four generations of grape growing and two generations of winemaking, Kissinger builds on family history while decisively shaping its next chapter. Extensive travel and global research have informed his outlook, allowing him to expand stylistic boundaries while remaining anchored in his home region.
His work speaks directly to a changing wine culture that values authenticity, curiosity, and openness over rigid tradition. Kissinger’s wines are thoughtful yet accessible, expressive without excess.

Selection Notes
“O” Ohm Red is warm, grounded, and human in character. It emphasizes texture, drinkability, and emotional resonance rather than power. This wine offers a sense of arrival and shared experience, making it an ideal closing companion that mirrors the program’s return to dance, now enriched by depth, warmth, and collective joy.
We look forward to welcoming you as an audience member at our live broadcasts. Below are a few helpful tips to ensure a great experience:
- Audience members must be arrived and seated 15 minutes before the advertised start of the concert. Latecomers may be seated at the discretion of CSI and Cincinnati Public Radio staff.
- Get ready to enjoy a unique experience as we’re guided by an on-stage host who provides interesting insights before each group of songs.
- Yes, you can clap! Even though the concert will be live on the radio, our on-air host will explain that the broadcast includes you - a live studio audience - and that we’ll be applauding to celebrate the wonderful artists and their performances like at any concert.
- Please note that audio and video recording will take place during the concert.
- As a courtesy to performers and fellow audience members, please turn off all cell phones before the concert begins.

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