Expect the Unexpected in Chamber Orchestra’s Summermusik 2017
Enquirer | 07.28.17

Eckart Preu is already putting his personal stamp on the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra.

As he leads his first Summermusik festival as music director next week, Preu (rhymes with “joy”) is planning something “different or fun” on each program. He’ll be auditioning four candidates to be the new concertmaster. And he’ll even play a little keyboard in one of the upcoming concerts.

“I think unpredictability and adventurousness are cool. That’s what we are going for – to make it colorful, visual, funky and original,” said the conductor by phone, a few days before leaving his Spokane home for an Airbnb in Cincinnati.

The Chamber Orchestra’s Summermusik – Aug. 5 to Aug. 26 – is anchored by four traditional concerts in the School for Creative and Performing Arts. Adding to its festival atmosphere, there also will be “Chamber Crawls” in bars and “A Little Afternoon Musik” in alternative spaces, where music will be served up with craft cocktails or beer.