Cincinnati Song Initiative Announces New Podcast
CINCINNATI, OH – Cincinnati Song Initiative (CSI) announces a brand new podcast, So Lit Song Lit, co-hosted by vocal coach Ellen Rissinger and soprano Toni Marie Palmertree. The series reimagines the repertoire by introducing less familiar art songs through sound clips and lively discussion. Together, they explore songs by lesser known composers, and compare their music to standard works in an effort to expand the song canon.
“We’re hoping with So Lit Song Lit to reimagine the repertoire and to encourage singers and voice teachers to expand the canon by showing them some of the pieces we’ve found in our research, some by lesser-known composers and some lesser-known works by famous composers, as well as giving them a taste of what these pieces sound like,” said co-host Ellen Rissinger. “CSI is the perfect organization to partner with for So Lit Song Lit, because they are dedicated to the art song repertoire and have done so much to bring attention to this very personal form of music-making!”
“CSI is bringing art song to a broader audience through a variety of modern resources. We are excited to be a resource serving musicians who are just starting their education all the way to seasoned performers,” said Toni Marie Palmertree.
“The repertoire uncovered through So Lit Song Lit deserves its place among the standard canon, both for its inherent quality and to provide a fresh alternative to many of the over-programmed songs we hear in concert halls and schools throughout the country,” said CSI Founding Artistic Director Sam Martin. “The research and recording that Ellen and Toni Marie have done to bring this first season to life is nothing short of astounding, and Cincinnati Song Initiative couldn’t be prouder to provide a wide platform for sharing these underrepresented gems.”
So Lit Song Lit will be available to stream for free on Apple, Google, and Spotify beginning August 18. New episodes drop bi-weekly. Learn more at www.cincinnatisonginitiative.org.
About Ellen Rissinger
Vocal coach and diction expert Ellen Rissinger spent much of her career working in German opera houses, where, along with her operatic duties, she was also able to explore her love of art song by performing recitals with the singers at the Semperoper in Dresden and the Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Düsseldorf. She is currently Special Faculty-Opera Coach at Carnegie Mellon University, Founder/Editor of The Diction Police and is co-author of the interactive digital diction books Chantez ! and Sing mal!
About Toni Marie Palmertree
Toni Marie Palmertree is an American soprano praised for her “tender, expressive voice” (San Francisco Examiner). Her most recent appearance was in the title role of Luisa Miller, Ms. Palmertree’s house and role debut at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. The Chicago Herald wrote, “Palmertree’s artistic approach to this challenging role, thoughtful and professional presentation of her vocal part, and the natural beauty of her voice touched everyone’s heart.”
At the San Francisco Opera, Ms. Palmertree has made numerous leading role debuts, including Nedda (I Pagliacci), Liù (Turandot), and Cio Cio San (Madama Butterfly). This season Ms. Palmertree is excited to make her Metropolitan Opera debut singing The Voice of Heaven in Don Carlo in addition to covering the role of Elisabetta and the title role in Medea.
Next season she makes her Palm Beach Opera debut singing the title role in Madama Butterfly. She also looks forward to another house debut with Hawaii Opera Theater singing Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi.
About Cincinnati Song Initiative
Since its founding in 2016, Cincinnati Song Initiative has connected thousands of people through the unique and intimate power of classical song, and is a recipient of Ovation TV’s Stand for the Arts award based on how well an organization empowers the community, builds strategic partnerships, drives engagement through volunteerism, and delivers creative programming.
Smaller in scale than opera, choral music, or other theatrical genres, the performance of song most commonly features one singer and one pianist in a visceral musical experience. Cincinnati Song Initiative creates these experiences with a pioneering spirit to engage communities in thoughtful and innovative ways. Deriving its texts from a variety of sources such as poetry, prose, speeches, or plays, song portrays the immediate and deep personal experiences we encounter throughout everyday life.
Each concert features singers and pianists of national renown, providing an unparalleled level of artistry within an intimate and accessible atmosphere. Audiences enjoy close interaction with the artists, hearing them discuss the relevance of the music in relation to today’s cultural and societal context, and enjoy engaging with them - and each other - during post-performance receptions. Concerts take place at different venues throughout the Queen City in order to connect with its many vibrant communities and explore all it has to offer.
Cincinnati Song Initiative remains devoted to the innovation of twenty-first century song by commissioning and premiering new works. CSI aims to connect with today's audiences and lead the way in original digital content among arts organizations, continually adding to its rich suite of resources with educational webinars, live interviews with artists and composers, and innovative performance projects imagined for the virtual realm.
For more information regarding upcoming concerts, artists, and CSI’s thematic projects, please visit www.cincinnatisonginitiative.org.
