CINCINNATI, OH – The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) is pleased to announce a partnership with Bell’s Brewery of Kalamazoo, Michigan surrounding its upcoming performances of Gustav Holst’s The Planets on February 19 & 21. Holst’s seven brilliantly scored and wildly popular portraits of the planets—from the cold brutality of Mars, the Bringer of War to the ethereal Neptune, the Mystic—served as inspiration for brewery owner Larry Bell. Bell’s Brewery created a line of craft beer with each beer representing a different movement of the music. The beer will be available for tasting and purchase during the CSO’s performances of The Planets at Music Hall.

The concerts on Thursday, February 19 (7:30pm), Saturday (8pm) and Sunday (2pm) will be led by guest conductor Peter Oundjian and also feature Khachaturian’s Waltz fromMasquerade Suite and Piano Concerto with acclaimed soloist Jean-Yves Thibaudet. Tickets for all three performances are available by visiting cincinnatisymphony.org or calling the CSO Box Office at 513.381.3300.

Taste the Planets

Owner of Bell’s Brewery, Larry Bell, has been an admirer of Gustav Holst’s Planets suite ever since he first performed the movements of Mars and Jupiter in high school. As a percussionist, Mars, especially, has always been a favorite. “Our beers have been inspired by a number of literary and artistic pieces. It was only a matter of time until classical music got its turn. It is a tremendous honor to be able to share these beers with the music that inspired me,” said Larry Bell.

Bell’s Brewery is the Concert Enhancement Sponsor for the CSO’s concerts on February 19, 21-22.

The concession stands at Music Hall will have a limited quantity of Mercury, Venus and Jupiter beers available for purchase by concertgoers on Thursday, February 19, 2015 starting at 6:15pm.

On Saturday, February 21, 2015 the Music Hall concession stands will offer concertgoers a beer flight trio of Mercury, Venus and Jupiter in addition to bottles of the three beers, while supplies last. Tickets for the beer flight trio are available for purchase for $8 per person in advance through the CSO box office at 513.381.3300. Participants must be age 21 and up and have valid ID.

The concession stands at Music Hall may have a limited quantity of Mercury, Venus and Jupiter beers available for purchase by concertgoers on Sunday, February 22 starting at 12:30pm if supply remains. These beers are from a limited edition series and may sell out on Saturday.

Cincinnati Observatory

Cincinnati Observatory will be present at the CSO performances on February 19, 21-22, 2015 at Music Hall and will be offering telescope demonstrations on the plaza in front of Music, weather permitting. Jupiter will be the major planet for viewing in the skies in the evening. For the Sunday matinee on February 22, 2015 a safe solar viewing experience will be offered, again weather permitting.