The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra continues its 24th season with a program dubbed “Stairway to Heaven” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at FLorence Baptist Church at Mt. Zion.
The orchestra annual showcases its talented musicians by performing substantial works from the symphonic repertoire — and this is the first time that Anton Bruckner’s music has been performed.
Included in the program is an excerpt “Good Friday Spell” from Richard Wager’s epic operate Parsifal, based on King Authur’s 12th-century quest for the Holy Grail. It will be conducted by KSO associate conductor Thomas Consolo.
Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 7 in E Major is a significant work that enjoys a great history of performances and recordings by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and several of its music directors over the past 50 years. The Bruckner Society of America recently featured the 1966 recording of the CSO with Max Rudolf. The Society commented:
“Max Rudolf (1902-1995) was an early champion of Anton Bruckner’s music and his Decca recording was one of the first stereo Bruckner LPs released in the United States. He was an early recipient of the Bruckner Society’s Medal of Honor. Many Bruckner scholars consider this recording to be one of the finest ever made.”
KSO Music Director James Cassidy selected the work for the current season, as Bruckner had been neglected by the KSO, due in part to having the musicians to play the piece well, and inserting it into a thematic context in which all KSO programs are presented.
“Bruckner was a very pious Catholic who felt that he composed music via the inspiration of God. He was also a fan of Wagner’s music. The two men met at the premiere of Parsifal, just weeks prior to Wagner’s death. Bruckner was working on his Seventh Symphony at that time. So, given the ties to Christ’s chalice, a devout Catholic composer and a lengthy Symphony (65’), tying the program’s marketing to Led Zeppelin’s lengthy (8’) rock song — “Stairway to Heaven” — offered somewhat of a different and fun spin,” rationalized KSO Music Director and founder, James Cassidy.
The Bruckner symphony incorporates four rarely heard tenor (or “Wagner”) tubas, which will be both seen and heard at this performance via the three projection screens above the stage, allowing the audience to get an up-close and personal look at the musicians during the concert.
Join the 80 members of the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of James Cassidy and Thomas Consolo, for an unusual symphonic outing with the KSO — 7:30 p.m., Saturday, November 21 at Florence Baptist Church at Mt. Zion. Reserved seating tickets are $19, $27, $35 (children ages 6-18 are 50% off) and are available online, by phone — (859) 431-6216. — or at the door.