ChamberFest Cleveland Comes to an End, but Faculty Leaves Lasting Impression

Franklin Cohen, head of the clarinet faculty at CIM, played for a standing-room-only crowd in CIM’s Kulas Hall as part of ChamberFest Cleveland’s summer concert series. The concert was aptly named “FRANK!,” as it was a celebration of Cohen and his retirement from The Cleveland Orchestra, where he served as Principal Clarinet for nearly 40 years. The performance had almost as much splash as the title itself. As Cleveland Classical put it, “From start to finish Cohen proved that he is, without a doubt, one of the greatest musicians of our time.”

The reviewer for Cleveland Classical went on:

“Cohen played effortlessly and completely in sync with the tape…Performing on a darkened stage, with a combination of colorful dots and images of Manhattan darting across the walls, Cohen looked like a rock-star in front of the mosh pit.

The Quintet in B Minor for Clarinet and Strings by Brahms is a sublime work that makes it easy for listeners to become entranced by the composer’s lush melodic lines. However, this performance by violinists Yura Lee and Diana Cohen, violist Dimitri Murrath, cellist Peter Wiley, and Franklin Cohen was awe-inspiring. Every phrase was perfectly shaped and balanced.”

Cohen is the longest-service principal clarinet in The Orchestra’s history. His final concert with The Orchestra is July 26 at Blossom Music Center, with conductor Jahja Ling. He will continue his teaching CIM.

To read the full review in Cleveland Classical, click here.