The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra continues to move forward with its 31st season, providing Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati with a unique brand of culture and entertainment.
The orchestra is conducted by James R. Cassidy.
For 2022-23, the KSO returns to Greaves Concert Hall on the NKU campus for 4 of its 5 shows and a return to reserved seating/tiered pricing.
The season opens on Saturday, October 22.
Like last season, the concerts will be offered in person and via live streaming for $35 for a single ticket or $150 for all five concerts for the best seats in the house.
Mark your calendars now for a season full of spectacular entertainment:
Brahmsicans vs Wagnercrats
7:30 p.m. Saturday, October 22
Greaves Concert Hall, NKU
The 19th century The debate between the traditionally conservative symphonic and chamber music schools, championed by Johannes Brahms, and the heavily orchestrated, harmonically complex, progressive epic forms favored by Richard Wagner, led composers, musicians, critics, and the public to align with one or another musical. camps
The KSO thought it would be fun to stage a debate between the two musical parts, with each composer offering opening symphonic comments (Rienzi Overture, Symphony No. 3) and reversing the order of their responses (Five Hungarian Dances, “Prelude and Liebestod”). before each makes brief closing statements (“Ride of the Valkyries,” Hungarian Dance, No. 5).
The public will brandish buttons in support of their composer candidate. Online polls will determine the winner.
An orchestral puzzle
7:30 a.m. Saturday, November 12, 2022
Greaves Concert Hall, NKU
When pop music crosses into the symphonic realm, it is often the iconoclast who makes the foray. Frank Zappa certainly went his own way with his style of rock music, and made his final impression in 1992 with a collection of short symphonic works under the banner The Yellow Shark.
1970s-’80s glam rocker/songwriter David Bowie and musician/producer Brian Eno wrote songs for Bowie’s Low and Heroes albums, later teaming up with minimalist songwriter Philip Glass, who took their songs “Subterraneans” and ” Abdulmajid” and incorporated them into Glass. ‘ “Baja” Symphony and “Héroes” Symphonic Ballet.
Experiencing live performances of any of these works is a rare event anywhere on the planet.
Don’t miss them in Northern Kentucky.
Happy Feet
7:30 a.m. Saturday, January 21, 2023
Greaves Concert Hall, (NKU)
Some of the world’s most beloved symphonic music is found in dance and ballet scores. The KSO, in its quest to discover unique and engaging music, found three inspiring and diverse 20th-century ballet scores by Aaron Copland (Billy The Kid Suite), William Grant Still (Sahdji) and Manuel de Falla (The Three-Cornered Hat ), which tell the stories of a Wild West outlaw, an African hunting festival, and Spanish seduction.
The music and stories are colorful and employ cowboy melodies, drums and ceremonial chants, and a flamenco flair and sizzle. The Young Professional Choral Collective and mezzo soprano Quinn Ankrum will make their KSO debut.
“They are great!”
7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 25, 2023
Greaves Concert Hall, (NKU)
The KSO’s penchant for thematic programming often does not allow it to present classic works without a story or concept associated with them.
KSO musicians have requested Franz Schubert’s 9th Symphony (“The Great” C Major) for decades, so we turned to an old cereal ad campaign to link selections from Rossini (Tancredi Overture), Mozart and Schubert with: “They’re great!”
Michael Chertock, the KSO’s first guest artist in 1992, performs Mozart’s effervescent Piano Concerto No. 23.
Swing revival meets electro swing
7:30 a.m. Saturday, May 13, 2023
The Newport Auto Barn (Newport)
KSO’s “Devou-Doo Daddies,” who specialize in the swing revival movement of the early to mid-1990s (Royal Crown Revue, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Squirrel Nut Zippers, etc.) will make their debut at the subscription series, adding a 2020s swing component to their high-energy swing dance music.
Today’s global Electro Swing (Parov Stelar, Caro Emerald, Swingrowers, etc.) infuses elements of Hip-Hop within their swing sound, making it fair game for the incorporation and evolution of KSO. The KSO invites patrons to grab a dance partner and get ready for an old and new way of dancing at the Newport Car Barn.
The KSO closes its 31st campaign with Millennial vs Gen Z Swing.
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For 30 seasons, the KSO has set itself apart from more traditional orchestral offerings through its uniquely themed performances and its mission to make the symphonic music and concert experience engaging, accessible and affordable.
Tickets to each show this year remain where they have been for several years at $35 to enjoy great musicians, guest artists and innovative programming unique to our region.
For those who need to stay home, the KSO continues to broadcast every concert live (with multiple cameras) for your ‘access from home’ for the price of a single ticket.
Subscribers to all five shows get preferred in-person seating, flexible usage, and access to live broadcasts at a $25 savings.
Tickets are available online at kyso.org or by phone at (859) 431-6216.
Art/Photos provided by KSO