Information regarding the October 19 Memorial Concert
Remembering Erich Kunzel
1935-2009
We are all saddened by the death of Erich Kunzel. Erich debuted at the Cincinnati Zoo Opera in 1966, leading a cast of opera greats including Martina Arroyo, Placido Domingo and John Alexander. We had hoped to celebrate the 40th anniversary of those appearances by having him conduct the The Tales of Hoffmann in our 2006 season, but alas, Erich’s busy schedule prevented it from happening. Erich was also slated to be a star conductor of our 90th Anniversary Gala Concert this coming June, and we had already met to discuss plans for a joint opening ceremony for the 2012 World Choir Games. These events will go on without him, but they will be infused with the spirit of this great man.
I have a personal Erich Kunzel story to share that demonstrates the reach and influence of this amazing man who knew how to connect with audiences in the most unexpected places. I was in a cab in New York, and the driver asked where I was from. After replying Cincinnati, he said “Do you know….” You got it. Not Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, Chris Collinsworth or Marge Schott … but Erich Kunzel. It seems he had a complete collection of Erich’s recordings. Scroll forward to London a few years later, and the same scenario. One of the famous London cabbies, upon hearing I was from Cincinnati, asked the identical question: Do you know Erich Kunzel?
How fortunate I was to be able to say yes, and how grateful we all are that he has been a part of this company’s legacy. He was not only a great musician, innovator, communicator, entertainer and convener, but he was an irreplaceable ambassador for Cincinnati and its wonderful musical heritage.
Patricia K. Beggs
General Director & CEO
Erich Kunzel loved opera. He was a true friend of our company, and we will miss him. He made his debut with Cincinnati Opera in 1966, long before the brilliant idea of the Cincinnati Pops took shape. Anyone who ever attended a Cincinnati Pops concert could see that Erich's love of the theatrical was front and center, attesting to the fact that the opera conductor in him was also never far from the surface. Just take a browse through his amazing discography on Telarc with the Pops, and you'll see opera again and again in his programming.
Erich had actually planned to return to his opera roots with us in the summer of 2006 to conduct The Tales of Hoffmann. Only a too hectic schedule (Erich seemed to be always the busiest conductor on the planet) kept us from fulfilling that dream. We took solace in the plans we made immediately thereafter for Erich to be an integral part of our 90th Anniversary Gala Concert in 2010, and we looked forward to working closely with him on the ambitious citywide plans for the World Choir Games of 2012. We were immensely touched by the memorable tribute to us he led at Riverbend in the summer of 2007.
As many can also attest, Erich was a generous mentor to young artists. Just look at the countless careers he fostered, not the least of which is his remarkable protégé, Steven Reineke, now a familiar maestro to many orchestras around the country and the recently appointed music director for the New York Pops. Erich also was a fervent supporter of Marcus Küchle, our own director of artistic operations as well as a superb pianist. Marcus performed as piano soloist with Erich in Florida last year, and plans are set for him to return again at Erich's behest.
Others will write eloquently of Erich's passion for education and the beautiful legacy he leaves in the soon-to-be-completed School for Creative and Performing Arts. Others will speak of his tremendous verve as a symphonic conductor and his tireless devotion to Cincinnati. I can only add that we have lost a dear friend and a valued colleague whose memory we all will cherish and honor.
Evans Mirageas
The Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director
We are greatly saddened to hear of the passing of Maestro Erich Kunzel. His contributions to the Cincinnati community are endless. It was Erich’s dream that created the idea for the New School For Creative and Performing Arts. It was his passion and leadership that fueled and continued the efforts for fulfillment of that dream over a twelve year period.
That dream is now a bricks and mortar reality on Central Parkway and Elm Street. It will be a fitting and lasting physical testimonial for his public service to our community. It will have a positive and creative impact for future generations of students – a personal quest that was vitality important to him. The Greater Cincinnati Arts and Education Center will continue to pursue the completion and perpetuation of his dream.
Thomas J. Klinedinst, Jr.
Greater Cincinnati Arts and Education Center Chairman
What are your Erich Kunzel memories? You are invited to visit the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra’s website to share your thoughts.
Visit Cincinnati Pops Orchestra's Erich Kunzel Memorial Page.
