Northern Lights
Following last season’s highly acclaimed concert Norden, Fulbright Scholar and celebrated soprano Alisa Jordheim brings us another jewel of a program from the North. Featuring stunning songs in Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian, and Danish, we’ll once again be transported from the Queen City to the quiet passion of the Nordic region.
Mack Attack!
CSI embarks on its third staged song project, co-produced with CCM Opera, featuring the creative and cinematic music of Evan Mack. Two unique works journey through the myriad of human experiences, from thrill, longing, hope, disappointment, fame, nostalgia, and acceptance, brought to life through theatrical flare.
Arrive early to explore Cincinnati’s oldest Vaudeville house, grab a custom cocktail, and settle in for an entertaining evening like no other!
Liebeslieder Salon
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.
Norden
Friends of CSI enjoy priority booking two weeks before general tickets go on sale, as well as complimentary pre-concert Wine Notes receptions. Become a Friend today.
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Journey through the rugged beauty and quiet mystery of the Nordic landscape in this effervescent program. Songs in Norwegian and Swedish capture the region’s stark natural contrasts, folk traditions, and introspective lyricism—hallmarks of the uniquely Nordic aesthetic. From icy fjords to sunlit midsummer nights, these songs echo a culture shaped by nature and nuance.
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Curated by Alisa Jordheim, Fulbright Scholar and Fellow of the American Scandinavian Foundation
Bo Linda Två Sånger
Tor Aulin Fyra Serbiska Folksånger
Jean Sibelius Norden / Var det en dröm? / Säv, säv, susa / Flickan kom ifrånsin älsklings möte
Edvard Grieg Ku-Lok / Haugtussa, Op. 67Program subject to change without notice.
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Enjoy curated wine pairings at a pre-concert reception by our friends at Hart & Cru. Complimentary access for the Friends of CSI, or available as a ticket add-on when booking.
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“What a fun and unique experience! 10/10!” -2025 Audience Member
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.
Meet the Artists
Artists subject to change without notice.
Just a taste from the program…
Grown from a Miracle
The launch of Cincinnati Song Initiative’s tenth season brings us together with familiar stories of passion, pain, longing, nostalgia, and ecstasy. From cool, dew-filled mornings to warm summer Tennessee evenings, this evocative program features iconic twentieth century American giants alongside some of the greatest English and American composers of the next generation.
Dayenu
Cincinnati Song Initiative, in partnership with the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust and Humanity Center and the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, presents the second of two installments celebrating Jewish culture and history. Experience the story of Passover like never before through vibrant multi-genres, new works and arrangements, and the soulful and diverse Jewish musical traditions of the holiday.
Harmonies of Heritage
Cincinnati Song Initiative, in partnership with the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust and Humanity Center and the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, presents the first of two installments celebrating Jewish culture and history. Harmonies of Heritage explores rarely-performed classical songs in Hebrew, Yiddish, and Ladino languages for a powerful and unique evening of music.
Goethe: Aus den Büchern
CSI's second program dedicated to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe - and the final in its German poets series The Belletrists - explores songs taken from the books of the great writer. The world of Wilhelm Meister offers notes of innocence, suffering, and longing, while The Book of Suleika brings out the interplay of passionate earthly love and transcendent, spiritual desire in a blend of Eastern and Western literary traditions.
Goethe: Unbounded
Experience the magic of song in a concert celebrating the poetry of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, one of the most revered figures in literature. Often exploring the interplay between nature, the human spirit, and the quest for personal fulfillment, Goethe's text reflect a deep journey of self-discovery and emotional depth.
To the Woods
The science is conclusive: our planet is warming to alarming degrees, and only we have the power to slow its effects. Be inspired to take action through the visceral words of Edna St. Vincent Millay, Henry David Thoreau, and UC poetry professor Felicia Zamora in this powerful Earth Day program.
An Afternoon with Will Liverman & Myra Huang
Will Liverman, the multi-talented baritone, composer, and producer who knows no creative boundaries, joins the inimitable pianist Myra Huang for a one-time-only experience here in Cincinnati. Join these two dazzling artists for a varied and poignant journey through song.
The Belletrists: Josef von Eichendorff
In the third program of its series The Belletrists, Cincinnati Song Initiative explores an array of settings from the Romantic literary giant Josef von Eichendorff. Themes of wandering, the passing of time, and nostalgia permeate this program that explores German culture, poetry, and music.
Under Your Wing
The Mainstage season opens with a unique opportunity to explore the human condition through song. In partnership with the Cincinnati Music & Wellness Coalition, world-class artists share musical stories of life, love, struggle, and triumph, all through the lens of physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Americana: What Shall We Remember?
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Three artist-storytellers bring a program of varied American song to life. Nostalgic calls from the past, fused with jovial, reflective, and empowering stories of today help provide a path forward for the journey ahead.
Unforgettable: The Golden Age of the Great American Songbook
CSI and Queen City Cabaret team up to present a delectable program of Golden-Age tunes from the Great American Songbook. Featuring selections from the 1930s through 1960s, take a trip with some of Cincinnati’s greatest cabaret personalities and explore all this era has to offer!
Narrative of a Slave Woman: Songs of Suffering, Hope, and Freedom
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Cincinnati Song Initiative presents the internationally-performed lecture recital Narrative of a Slave Woman, providing arguably the most comprehensive journey in contextualizing the words of Spirituals with the very real-world stories they tell from the darkest chapter of this nation. Join distinguished artists LaToya Lain and Casey Robards for this profound journey that places the Spiritual - and everything it stands for - in the spotlight.
Cincinnati songSLAM
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We’re back with the fourth annual Cincinnati songSLAM! Don't miss your chance to award $2,000 in cash prizes to your favorite teams premiering brand new songs! Hosted this year by the Queen of the Cincinnati Poetry Slam herself, DuWaup!
The Belletrists: Friedrich Rückert
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In the second program of its series The Belletrists, CSI explores a wide array of settings from the iconic Friedrich Rückert. Additionally, enjoy exclusive access to a pre-concert lecture by distinguished musicologist Susan Youens as a member of CSI Digital.
To the Distant Beloved
CSI’s seventh season opening concert takes us on a journey of love separated by distance. Songs in Italian, German, and English guide the way through the emotional highs and lows, ultimately leading to peace and contentment with an experience felt by so many in this world.
Let it Be New
Cincinnati Song Initiative presents the commissioned songs from the 2021-2022 National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) composer mentorship program mentees.
Americana: Carrying Gravity
CSI’s sixth season finale encapsulates the profound human stories of everyday people. Moments of joy, anger, love, fear, death, power, and so much more make for a riveting evening of music.
An Evening with Jeanine De Bique & Jonathan C. Kelly
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Cincinnati Song Initiative and Cincinnati Opera proudly present Jeanine De Bique and Jonathan C. Kelly in a stunning program ahead of the Trinidadian soprano’s Carnegie Hall debut.
Winter Song Festival: Cincinnati songSLAM
We’re back with the third annual Cincinnati songSLAM! Don't miss your chance to award $2,000 in cash prizes to your favorite teams premiering brand new songs!
Winter Song Festival: The Andrée Expedition
Andrée’s arctic balloon expedition of 1897 was an effort to reach the North Pole in which all three Swedish expedition members – Salomon Andrée, Knut Frænkel, and Nils Strindberg – perished. In 1982, American composer Dominick Argento composed the tour-de-force song cycle depicting this harrowing journey.
The Belletrists: Heinrich Heine
In the first program of its new series The Belletrists, CSI explores a wide array of settings from the influential Heinrich Heine. Additionally, enjoy exclusive access to a pre-concert lecture by distinguished musicologist Susan Youens as a member of CSI Digital.
The Great American Songbook
The dynamic Amy Burton and John Musto help bring Cincinnati roaring back to live performance with selections from The Great American Songbook.
Let it Be New
In its largest commissioning project to date, Cincinnati Song Initiative will commission a single song from each of the ten composers taking part in the inaugural National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) composer mentorship program.
A World of Song: Celebrating Latinx Voices
In the final installment of A World of Song, and the culmination of CSI’s three year project Alma de España, four dynamic artists explore some of the greatest Spanish-language song from Latin America.
A World of Song: On Belonging
The captivating Fleur Barron and Myra Huang explore the profound complexities of Asian identity, culture, and a sense of home. Presented in partnership with Wear Yellow Proudly, an Aural Compass Projects initiative.
Winter Song Festival: Elena Villalón & Samuel Martin
CSI welcomes a familiar face back to Cincinnati for a special spotlight performance. Former Associate Artistic Director and 2019 Metropolitan Opera Council Grand Finals winner Elena Villalón appears with Artistic Director Samuel Martin in an adventurous program featuring songs both beloved and off the beaten path.
Winter Song Festival: Cincinnati songSLAM
The second Cincinnati songSLAM goes digital! Support brand new art song by voting for your favorite performance of the night! Help award $1,500 in cash prizes all while being part of history as we showcase some of the best up-and-coming composers of song.