2026 May Festival - The Water's Journey
Schedule
Sat, 16 May, 2026 at 07:30 pm
UTC-04:00Location
Cincinnati Music Hall | Cincinnati, OH
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Explore the elemental power of water through two bold visions. Duke Ellington’s jazz-infused The River flows with elegance and swing, portraying the river’s journey from tranquil beginnings to its powerful arrival at the sea. Its momentum leads into Ralph Vaughan Williams’ monumental A Sea Symphony, which sets the poetry of Walt Whitman in a choral celebration of the ocean’s mystery and majesty — part hymn, part voyage into the unknown. Together, these works invite us to listen deeply — to the pull of tide and current, and to the human longing for connection and discovery.ARTISTS
Cristian Măcelaru, conductor
Tamara Wilson, soprano
Norman Garrett, baritone
May Festival Chorus
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
PROGRAM
Duke Ellington: "The River"
Ralph Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 1, "A Sea Symphony"
PRE-CONCERT PERFORMANCES
6PM-6:30PM
Springer Auditorium
Cincinnati BoyChoir & May Festival Youth Chorus
6:30PM-7:15PM
Music Hall Foyer/Balcony Well
Meridian 8 from SCPA
PRE-CONCERT TALK
6:30PM-7PM
Corbett Tower
Matthew Swanson & Cristian Măcelaru
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Where is it happening?
Cincinnati Music Hall, 1243 Elm St, Cincinnati, OH 45202-7531, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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