"It's always a joy to work with the Cleveland Orchestra ..."

Nic cherishes every opportunity to touch down in Cleveland and conduct its world-famous orchestra — and the feeling is mutual.

Ahead of a Mozart-themed program with the Cleveland Orchestra at Blossom Music Center — the ensemble's stunning summer home — local outlets including Cleveland Scene and WCLV Radio trumpeted Nic's eagerly anticipated return to town. Cleveland Classical also sat down with Nic to discuss the upcoming performance, discussing everything from collaborating with TCO's principal clarinet Afendi Yusuf on Mozart's delightful Clarinet Concerto to Mendelssohn's talents as both a conductor and watercolorist and Nic's love for historical crime fiction.

After the performance, Cleveland.com published a rave review, praising the evening's "playful twist" on an all-Mozart program while marveling at the ways Nic "kept a masterfully light touch throughout, letting both the repertoire and the players shine for themselves."

Now available: Cantata Collective's new album of Bach cantatas

Hot on the heels of their critically acclaimed recording of Bach's St. John Passion — which BBC Radio 3's Record Review called "an immediate hit" — Nic and Cantata Collective have just released a second volume of the composer's cantatas on Centaur Records. 

Featuring countertenor Reginald Mobley alongside Nic and Cantata Collective's superior chamber choir and orchestra, this album is the latest example of Cantata Collective's mission to marry musical performances of the highest caliber with hi-def audio that provides an immersive listening experience.

The album is now available for purchase as a physical CD — or listen wherever you stream or download music.

Up next: "Mozart Under the Stars" at the Hollywood Bowl

Nic's busy summer comes to a close in high style leading the LA Phil at the Hollywood Bowl on September 5. In the latest installment in the Philharmonic's perenially popular Mozart Under the Stars series, Nic leads the orchestra in the composer's spine-tingling overture to Don Giovanni, the "Turkish" Concerto with violinist Bomsori Kim, and the charming "Prague" Symphony.

What makes Mozart such an ideal composer for an al fresco evening under the stars? Revisit Nic's 2022 interview with Classical Post, where he discusses why Mozart suits the Hollywood Bowl perfectly and how today's listeners can find magic and meaning in the Viennese wunderkind's music.

Roving & Recipes

Curated by Nic

The Fruits of Summer: Part Two

Nearly a year ago, I posted a piece about summer fruits which was optimistically listed as "Part One." Here finally is the second part, which will be about apricots, white peaches, raspberries, and strawberries, all of which have been at their succulent best in the last month or so. 

While most of the USA has been baking in excessive heat or having unbreathable air from wildfires, here in Northern California we have had weeks of perfect summer days, "Goldilocks" weather you might say; not too hot nor too cold, but just right. Not only have we enjoyed eating lots of glorious fruit, but we can do it sitting at a table in our garden surrounded by fragrant rose bushes. In other words, something close to paradise on earth.

Coming up this fall …

• Cantata Collective (September 9)

• Chamber Music Society of St. Louis (September 18)

• Rhode Island Philharmonic (October 13 & 14)

• Sarasota Orchestra (October 21)

• Curtis Opera Theatre (November 10 & 12)

• Grand Rapids Symphony (November 17 & 18)