Resonate

It’s not uncommon for a major American orchestra to travel to a foreign country and act as a musical ambassador (i.e. the New York Philharmonic performing in North Korea this month).  

It is unusual, however, to have an intranational residency. The Cleveland Orchestra has residencies in Vienna and in Lucerne, Switzerland, but the orchestra must also enjoy escaping the Midwestern winter to spent time in southern Florida.

The Cleveland Orchestra wrapped up a two-week residency in Miami with a concert on Saturday night featuring pianist Radu Lupu.

This is the orchestra’s second year of a planned 10-year residency in the city. Similar to last year, the orchestra will return to Miami for a week in late March for another round of performances. On March 28 and 29, violin virtuoso Midori will join the orchestra to perform Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto.

During their time in Miami, the orchestra members gave performances and taught workshops for the University of Miami, Miami-Dade public schools and for the Miami-based professional training orchestra New World Symphony. Several musicians also gave recitals, performed at a local temple and even ran the Miami Marathon.

The orchestra’s visit to Miami comes only weeks after the city’s year-old performing arts center was renamed the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts. The name-change was prompted by a $30 million donation from Arsht, the former chairwoman of TotalBank. It should be interesting to see what the center will do with its new funding.