Cleveland Orchestra Launches New Podcast

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Orchestra is launching a new, weekly podcast series called "On a Personal Note." Each episode will offer unique perspectives on classical music and will give listeners a behind the scenes look at the orchestra's members. The first episode of the podcast is available now.

“Every story has a soundtrack, and every soundtrack has a story,” says André Gremillet, Cleveland Orchestra president and CEO. “In this new series, Cleveland Orchestra Music Director Franz Welser-Möst and individual musicians in the Orchestra share personally meaningful stories about moments when music has shaped their lives — providing listeners with behind-the-scenes insight and a chance to turn their focus away from daily challenges."

The first season of "On a Personal Note" will feature 10 episodes. The premiere is called "The Sound of Crisis" and focuses on the orchestra's final performance before the new coronavirus pandemic shut down much of he world.

The Cleveland Orchestra gathered on stage on March 13 to play Schubert's "Great" Symphony in C major. The concert hall was nearly empty. It was the orchestra's final performance before Severance Hall was closed to the public.

During the podcast, Welser-Möst describes his conflicting emotions leading the orchestra in such unusual circumstances. The performance took place under Gov. Mike DeWine's first phase of restrictions, which limited gatherings to no more than 100 people. Eventually, a stay-at-home order was issued and non-essential businesses and functions were halted. March 13 was the last time the Cleveland Orchestra played together.

“That Friday morning was a very surreal experience for us — for the musicians of the Cleveland Orchestra and me — to work together, knowing it was a farewell of sorts. We played in that moment, very aware of the music’s meaning and with the beginning of our understanding about what was happening around us,” said Welser-Möst.

The podcast, "On a Personal Note," was in development prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, but arrives at a needed time. Many Americans are looking for ways to engage with their favorite artists and for distractions from their daily life.

“This new series is just one of several new initiatives we’ve introduced to connect our audiences and musicians during the coronavirus COVID-19 crisis. These initiatives consist, among others, of expanded radio broadcasts in partnership with ideastream WCLV as well as free content on our social media channels including daily Mindful Music Moments with excerpts of Cleveland Orchestra recordings, and videos from Cleveland Orchestra musicians providing education resources and performances from their homes," Gremillet said.

"On a Personal Note" can be heard on Apple and Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher and is coming soon to Radio.com, Breaker, Deezer, iHeartRadio, Overcast, Pandora, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, TuneIn, etc.

For a direct link to the premiere episode, visit https://onapersonalnote.simplecast.com/episodes/s1-b1-the-sound-of-crisis.