The Cleveland Orchestra’Äôs annual holiday concerts take place at Severance Hall from December 10-21

Mercedes-Benz of Bedford is new Holiday Festival sponsor
Cleveland Orchestra Store offers unique gift ideas

CLEVELAND, October 8, 2009 ’Äì The Cleveland Orchestra’Äôs 2009 Holiday Festival sponsored by Mercedes-Benz of Bedford takes place from December 11-21. The 10-day festival consists of eight Christmas Concerts with The Cleveland Orchestra and Choruses; two performances of Eileen Ivers ’Äì An Irish Christmas (a concert by Eileen Ivers & Immigrant Soul with The Cleveland Orchestra, telling the story of a real Irish Christmas through music and dance); and two performances of Burning River Brass, featuring the 12-member Burning River Brass ensemble and organist Todd Wilson.

Additional holiday concerts are two performances of Handel’Äôs Messiah, on Thursday, December 10, and Saturday, December 12; and three different PNC Holiday Musical Rainbow programs for children up to age 10 ’Äì ’ÄúMusic of Chanukah,’Äù ’ÄúAll About Kwanzaa,’Äù and ’ÄúChristmas Brass Quintet,’Äù featuring members of the Orchestra and guests.

Families can arrive early for the 3:00 p.m. Christmas Concerts on December 12, 13, 19, and 20 and enjoy Lunch with Santa in Severance Restaurant from 12:00 p.m. until 3 p.m. Call (216) 231-7373 or email reservations@clevelandorchestra.com for reservations.

The Cleveland Orchestra’Äôs holiday concerts season gets underway with the placement of a lighted wreath on the front of Severance Hall on Monday, November 30, at 11:00 a.m.

An updated calendar for all holiday concerts at Severance Hall follows. Single tickets for all holiday concerts are now on sale. Tickets for groups of 10 or more are also available. Information on purchasing tickets is provided below.

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HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS

The Cleveland Orchestra Store offers many unique gift items for the holidays, including the latest Cleveland Orchestra CD and DVD recordings along with an extensive discography from years past, music boxes and decorative glass from Italy and Israel, music-themed holiday ornaments, stationery, books, stuffed toys and musical gifts for children of all ages, fashion scarves, jewelry, and Cleveland Orchestra logo apparel. The Store is open Tuesday through Friday during regular Store hours from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and before, during, and after concerts. The Store phone number is (216) 231-7478 and may be visited online at clevelandorchestra.com.

In addition, Cleveland Orchestra gift certificates and Blossom Lawn Ticket Books for The Cleveland Orchestra’Äôs 2010 Summer Season at Blossom Music Center are available at the Severance Hall Ticket Office by calling (216) 231-1111 or (800) 686-1141, or at clevelandorchestra.com.

For 42 years, the Schreibman family of Pepper Pike has sold engraved Silver Bells to benefit The Cleveland Orchestra’Äôs education programs. The Silver Bells, engraved with ’ÄúChristmas 2009’Äù and priced at $20 each, have become a favorite holiday tradition and are available for purchase at the Cleveland Orchestra Store and several gift shops in greater Cleveland. Contact the Store at (216) 231-7478 for details or shop online at clevelandorchestra.com.

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TICKET SERVICES:

The Severance Hall Ticket Office is located in the Smith Lobby. The entrance and 15-minute Ticket Service parking are along East Boulevard. Single tickets for all concerts in the 2009-10 season are now on sale.

Severance Hall Ticket Office Hours:
M-F 9-6
Sat. 10-6
Closed Sundays and major holidays, except for those days with performances, when the Ticket Office opens three hours prior to the performance start time.

To charge tickets by telephone on American Express, Discover Card, MasterCard, and Visa, call Cleveland Orchestra Ticket Services at (216) 231-1111 (Cleveland) or 800-686-1141 during the regular ticket office hours listed above. Subscriptions and single tickets are also available through The Cleveland Orchestra’Äôs website at clevelandorchestra.com. The website offers secure ticket transactions with any major credit card and provides complete concert listings.
Tickets for groups of 10 or more are also available for The Cleveland Orchestra’Äôs holiday concerts. To order group tickets, visit clevelandorchestra.com; call (216) 231-7463; or email groupsales@clevelandorchestra.com.
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CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA CHRISTMAS CONCERTS

Traditional holiday programs of seasonal music, sing-along selections, and Christmas classics
with choruses and The Cleveland Orchestra.

Friday, December 11, 2009 at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 12, 2009 at 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 13, 2009 at 3:00 p.m.
Friday, December 18, 2009 at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 19, 2009 at 3:00 & 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 3:00 & 7:00 p.m.

Severance Hall

THE CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA
ROBERT PORCO, conductor
CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA CHORUS (all concerts)
Robert Porco, director
CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA CHILDREN’ÄôS CHORUS (Dec. 13, 19, and 20 at 3:00 p.m.)
Ann Usher, director
MEMBERS OF THE CLEVELAND STATE UNIVERSITY CHORALE (Dec. 11 and 12)
Brian Bailey, director

The program will include favorites such as O Come, All Ye Faithful, the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’Äôs Messiah, Joy to the World, Sleigh Bells, and White Christmas, among many others.

TICKETS: $33-$63; Box seats $80
Call (216) 231-1111 or 800-686-1141, or order online at clevelandorchestra.com
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EILEEN IVERS ’Äì AN IRISH CHRISTMAS

Wednesday, December 16, 2009 at 8:00 p.m.
Thursday, December 17, 2009 at 8:00 p.m.

Severance Hall

Eileen Ivers & Immigrant Soul
The Cleveland Orchestra
James Feddeck, conductor

The program features Irish fiddle player Eileen Ivers & Immigrant Soul along with local Irish dancers performing with The Cleveland Orchestra in traditional Irish songs and airs from the 12th century to the present, telling the story of a real Irish Christmas through music and dance.

TICKETS: $33-$63; Box seats $80
Call (216) 231-1111 or 800-686-1141, or order online at clevelandorchestra.com
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BURNING RIVER BRASS

Monday, December 21, 2009 at 8:00 p.m.

Severance Hall

Burning River Brass
Todd Wilson, organ

A holiday favorite, the twelve-piece Burning River Brass ensemble entertains
with its signature style.

TICKETS: $26-$48; Box seats $60
Call (216) 231-1111 or 800-686-1141, or order online at clevelandorchestra.com


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ADDITIONAL CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA HOLIDAY CONCERTS:

HANDEL’ÄôS ’ÄúMESSIAH’Äù

Thursday, December 10, 2009 at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 12, 2009 at 8:00 p.m.

Severance Hall

THE CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA
ROBERT PORCO, conductor
MARY WILSON, soprano
ANTHONY ROTH COSTANZO, countertenor
ALEK SCHRADER, tenor
JOHN RELYEA, bass-baritone
CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA CHAMBER CHORUS
Robert Porco, director

HANDEL Messiah

Concert Sponsor: National City, Now a part of PNC

TICKETS: $31-$92; Box seats $117
Call (216) 231-1111 or 800-686-1141, or order online at clevelandorchestra.com
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PNC HOLIDAY MUSICAL RAINBOWS
(for children up to age 9)
Friday, December 11, 2009 at 10:00 a.m.
Sunday, December 13, 2009 at 12:30 p.m.
Reinberger Chamber Hall at Severance Hall

Music of Chanukah
Carolyn Warner, violin and piano
Stephen Warner, violin
Kathryn Wolfe Sebo, cantor
Maryann Nagel, host
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Thursday, December 17, 2009 at 10:00 a.m.
Reinberger Chamber Hall at Severance Hall
Saturday, December 19, 2009 at 11:00 a.m.
Main Concert Hall at Severance Hall

Christmas Brass Quintet
Jack Sutte, trumpet
Michael Miller, trumpet
Hans Clebsch, horn
Edward Zadrozny, trombone
Ronald Bishop, tuba
Maryann Nagel, host
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Friday, December 18, 2009 at 10:00 a.m.
Reinberger Chamber Hall at Severance Hall

All About Kwanzaa
Barbara Eady, storyteller, from the Cleveland Association of Black Storytellers
William Clarence Marshall III, bass
Mell Csicsila, percussion
Andrew Pongracz, percussion
Maryann Nagel, host

TICKETS: $7 General Admission
Call (216) 231-1111 or 800-686-1141, or order online at clevelandorchestra.com

The PNC Musical Rainbow Series is endowed by the Pysht Fund.
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All artists and programs are subject to change.