Opening Night: Overture to NOI+F with John Morris Russell | NOI Philharmonic

French for “opening,” the overture is an essential form within the orchestral repertoire originally intended to begin a ballet, opera or oratorio. Today, it is common to hear an overture at the beginning of an orchestra concert–but in 2026, NOI+F is kicking off the festival with a unique concert exclusively highlighting this instrumental prelude! Conductor of the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra and long-time friend of NOI+F, John Morris Russell returns to lead a riveting program that combines perennial overtures with those more rarely performed. Composers include Beethoven, Brahms, Coleridge-Taylor, Arturo Márquez and more.