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Following the startling success of LumenoCity last summer, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra is expanding this groundbreaking free concert experience for the community in Cincinnati’s Washington Park on August 1, 2 and 3, 2014, by adding a third performance, and presenting an all-new visual and musical program. The event promises heart-pounding musical performances, stunning animation projected onto the façade of historic Music Hall, and a few surprises. The inaugural LumenoCity in 2013 drew record crowds to Washington Park and took the social media world by storm with over two million impressions on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Described as a “tipping point” by the Cincinnati Enquirer, the community-wide event brought 35,000 people over two nights to a former dilapidated park in the inner city, amplifying the revitalization of Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, Washington Park, the City’s burgeoning creative community and its reputation as a major cultural center in America.

Check out our gallery from last year's LumenoCity HERE!

The 2014 LumenoCity concert performances will begin at 8:30 p.m. each of the three evenings with John Morris Russell conducting the Orchestra as the Cincinnati Pops. After a brief intermission, Music Director Louis Langrée will lead the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra for an amazing display of sound and light. Three-dimensional image mapping will again be employed to create mind-blowing projected visual animations on the façade of Music Hall, quite literally shining a light on this treasured Cincinnati landmark and important community gathering place in need of revitalization and restoration. The visual effects will accompany a live 40-minute CSO program featuring a diverse array of great orchestral music.

The inaugural LumenoCity in 2013 also marked the beginning of Mr. Langrée’s tenure as CSO Music Director and LumenoCity 2014 reinforces the Orchestra’s commitment to being a place of experimentation under his leadership.

“The energy and excitement around LumenoCity last summer took my breath away,” said Mr. Langrée. “I can’t imagine a better way to have started my music directorship then a park full of people enjoying an incredible shared experience with the CSO. Everyone involved—the musicians, artists, technical crew, the audience and myself—experienced a deeply profound joy, one that touched and reawakened our very humanity.”

Inspiring music

The repertoire for the second half of the program includes music representing the CSO’s rich history and a preview of works to be found on the CSO’s 2014-2015 season. The second half, which incorporates the visual elements, begins with Copland’s iconic Fanfare for the Common Man, which was commissioned and premiered by the CSO in 1942 and has since become a mainstay of orchestral repertoire. The program also features Short Ride in a Fast Machine, a work by “the Dean of American composers,” John Adams. Two programs on the CSO’s upcoming season feature Mr. Adams’ work, including one conducted by the composer himself. LumenoCity will also feature the fourth movement from Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony, which also appears on the 2014-15 season (November 28-29), Elgar’s moving “Nimrod” from Enigma Variations, and Borodin’s high-energy and wildly popular “Polovtsian Dances” from Prince Igor. Details of the concert’s first half with Mr. Russell and the Cincinnati Pops will be announced at a later date.

The visual elements for the concert’s second half are being developed by Brave Berlin, a world-class creative design and production company based in Cincinnati. The visuals will be projected from trailers set up on Race Street, beaming across the park and onto the façade of Music Hall.

LumenoCity Village

Building on the community festival atmosphere of last year’s event, organizers are planning an all-new LumenoCity Village on the south side of Washington Park, outside of the LumenoCity viewing area. The village will feature pre-concert performances in Washington Park’s bandstand, arts and crafts, and greatly expanded food and beverage services. LumenoCity Village will be open starting at 3 p.m. on Friday, August 1, and open at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 2, and Sunday, August 3. More LumenoCity Village details will be announced at a later date.

A massive undertaking

“The inaugural LumenoCity far exceeded attendance projections, and the Orchestra is working diligently to safely accommodate as many people as possible for this summer’s concerts,” said Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestra President Trey Devey. “This is an important community event, and we’re expanding LumenoCity by adding a third performance and including other elements like LumenoCity Village that will enhance the overall experience.”

The CSO has engaged its wholly owned subsidiary, Music and Event Management, Inc. (MEMI), to oversee operations and event site planning at LumenoCity 2014. MEMI also manages Riverbend Music Center, the Taft Theatre, and past and present community events including Cincy Cinco and Tall Stacks.

Tickets are free and all are welcome

The designated viewing area in Washington Park will be fenced to better ensure guest safety and comfort, and attendance within that designated area will be capped at 12,500 people each night. LumenoCity is a community event where all are welcome, and this year’s concerts will again be free to the general public. Complimentary tickets will be available starting Monday, June 9 at 8 a.m. at lumenocity2014.com. A limit of 4 tickets per household for either the Friday, Saturday or Sunday night performance may be reserved. Tickets will be issued until capacity is reached.

For audience members without a computer or internet access, a supply of free tickets will be made available to several of the CSO’s community partner organizations. LumenoCity is a rain or shine event, and tickets are not exchangeable.

Advance tickets will be offered starting May 19 to CSO or Pops season ticket holders of five or more concerts to the 2014-15 season, and to donors of $250 or more to the Orchestra’s Annual Fund since September 1, 2013.

In addition to the lumenocity2014.com website, the CSO has established a LumenoCity telephone information line at 513-744-3372.