Retro Series

Piano Men
Starring Billy Duvall, Jr., Jon Crosby, and Beverly Lovelace

Friday & Saturday, August 12 + 13, 2011
8:00 p.m.

Van Meter Hall

Co-sponsored by Jim Johnson Nissan-Hyundai, Jim & Darlene Johnson and Terry & Kathy Scariot

Orchestra Kentucky presents a new show devoted to the music of piano greats. Featuring the music of Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Billy Joel, and Carole King.

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VIP Series

On the Town

Monday, September 12, 2011
7:30 p.m.

Van Meter Hall

Sponsored by Col. Robert & Cora Jane Spiller and Dr. & Mrs. David Livingston

Orchestra Kentucky begins its season-long world tour right here in America. The concert opens with Bernstein’s Three Dance Episodes from the musical On the Town. The tour continues with the world-premiere of Charles W. Smith’s The Morningstar Photos, a series of musical vignettes written to accompany Kentuckian Robert Evans Morningstar’s photos of great Americans, like Enrico Caruso, Babe Ruth, and William Howard Taft. The first half concludes with the Kentucky premiere of Neil Sedaka’s Manhattan Intermezzo, performed by pianist, Jeffrey Biegel. (Note: Neil and Leba Sedaka are scheduled to attend this premiere.) On the second half, Frank Sinatra comes to life on stage with all the hits, including The Lady is a Tramp, I’ve Got You Under My Skin, and New York, New York, courtesy of crooner Steve Lippia.

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VIP Series

Carmen

Monday, October 17, 2011
7:30 p.m.

Van Meter Hall

Sponsored by Baker Arboretum and Dr. Patricia Mercer

Co-sponsored by English, Lucas, Priest & Owsley, LLP

Orchestra Kentucky and Kentucky Opera join forces in a concert version of French composer Georges Bizet’s immortal classic, Carmen. Set in Seville, Spain, Carmen, a beautiful gypsy with a fiery temper, woos Corporal Don José, an inexperienced soldier. Carmen rejects Don José, who mutinies and joins a gang of smugglers. When Carmen turns her love to the bullfighter Escamillo, Don José kills her in a jealous rage.

Retro Series

The Ultimate ABBA Concert
Starring Abbacadabra

Friday & Saturday, November 4 + 5, 2011
8:00 p.m.

Van Meter Hall

Sponsored by Houchens Industries

Co-sponsored by First Choice Home Medical

Dancing Queen, Take a Chance on Me, Fernando, Knowing Me, Knowing You, Mama Mia, The Winner Takes it All, S.O.S., The Name of the Game, Waterloo—these are just some of the hits of the '70s Swedish mega-group ABBA. Abbacadabra performs the group’s greatest hits in full ABBA fashion and flair, backed by Orchestra Kentucky.

VIP Series

Messiah Meets Mancini

Monday, November 28, 2011
7:30 p.m.

Van Meter Hall

Sponsored by J C Kirby & Son Funeral Chapels & Crematory

Co-sponsored by Anne Murray, Drs. Charles W. & Janet Bass Smith

In a tribute to Germany and Italy’s contribution to the season, The University of Louisville Collegiate Chorale and guest soloists join Orchestra Kentucky for a performance of the nativity portion of German composer George Frideric Handel’s masterpiece, Messiah. The evening concludes with Italian-American Henry Mancini’s settings of favorite Christmas music, including The Christmas Song, Frosty the Snowman, The Little Drummer Boy, White Christmas and traditional Christmas hymns.

Special Event Series

A Rockin’ Christmas

Saturday, December 17, 2011
8:00 p.m.

Van Meter Hall

Sponsored by Vickie & Dan Renshaw and Alice & Alvin Ford

Co-sponsored by Graves-Gilbert Clinic

Orchestra Kentucky presents the best of Christmas Madness and yuletide classics from Mannheim Steamroller.

Special Event Series

Big Band Blast

Saturday, January 21, 2012
7:30 p.m.

Capitol Arts Center

Sponsored by JB Distributors, Inc & Anonymous

The Orchestra Kentucky Big Band and the Dorsey Sisters present the greatest hits of the Big Band Era. From Glenn Miller's In the Mood, to Artie Shaw's Begin the Beguine, to Benny Goodman's Sing, Sing, Sing, this concert features the signature hits of the 1940’s biggest names.

Retro Series

Motownmadness

Friday & Saturday, February 3 + 4, 2012
8:00 p.m.

Van Meter Hall

Sponsored by Franklin Bank & Trust

Co-sponsored by First Choice Home Medical

The Rewinders, Retro Singers, and Orchestra Kentucky pay tribute to the music of Motor City. Featuring songs from The Temptations, Diana Ross and the Supremes, The Jackson 5, and many more!

VIP Series

The Sounds of Music

Monday, February 13, 2012
7:30 p.m.

Van Meter Hall

Co-sponsored by First Choice Home Medical, Mary & Norris Thomas and Sandy & Dan Riley

Cowbells, the Alps, lederhosen….Austria comes to life through Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 in D major (The Titan). After intermission, the orchestra performs Johann Strauss senior’s Radetzky March and Johann Strauss junior’s Vienna Blood Waltz. Soprano Jennifer Brennan-Hondorp sings hits from Rodgers and Hammerstein's classic musical, The Sound of Music.

Retro Series

The British Invasion

Friday & Saturday, March 2 + 3, 2012
8:00 p.m.

Van Meter Hall

Sponsored by Steve & Claudia Downey

Co-sponsored by Don & Linda Vitale and Cathy & Mac Reynolds

The British are coming! Well, they came, anyway. The 1960s saw an influx of English pop and rock legends. Orchestra Kentucky salutes the “British Invasion” with songs from Dusty Springfield, Lulu, Tom Jones, The Hollies, Petula Clark, The Who, The Animals, and more!

VIP Series

From Russia With Love
featuring Cirque de la Symphonie

Monday, March 12, 2012
7:30 p.m.

SKyPAC

Sponsored by Dr. Robert & Pat Goodwin

Co-sponsored by U.S. Bank

Orchestra Kentucky celebrates the land of the Tsars with a Russian Circus! Cirque de la Symphonie, a company of acrobats, jugglers, dancers, and contortionists, perform suspended over the stage, while the orchestra plays classics like the finale to Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5, Khachaturian’s Sabre Dance from Gayne, and selections from Rimsky-Korsakov’s Capriccio Espagnol. Orchestra Kentucky’s musical acrobat, co-concertmaster J. Patrick Rafferty, performs the first movement of Tchaikovsky’s violin concerto.

Special Event Series

Rated K for Kids

Saturday, March 17, 2012
6:00 p.m.

SKyPAC

Sponsored by Heart Strings | Chatters

Vocalists join Orchestra Kentucky for a family-friendly tribute to the music of great children’s films. Featured will be music from new classics, like Harry Potter and Toy Story, to timeless film classics like Willy Wonka, The Wizard of Oz and Mary Poppins.

VIP Series

Camelot

Monday, April 16, 2012
7:30 p.m.

SKyPAC

Sponsored by Ervin G. Houchens Foundation

Co-sponsored by Geoff & Kathy Palmer

Orchestra Kentucky ends its whirlwind world tour with a concert version of Lerner & Loewe’s classic, Camelot. The Orchestra Kentucky Chorale and a cast of vocalists sing Camelot, The Simple Joys of Maidenhood, Then You May Take Me to The Fair, Follow Me, C’est Moi, If Ever I Would Leave You, What Do Simple Folks Do?, Guenevere, Lusty Month of May, How to Handle a Woman, I Wonder What the King is Doing Tonight, and I Loved You Once in Silence.

Special Event Series

One of These Nights: A Tribute to The Eagles

Friday, June 22, 2012
7:30 p.m.

BG Stadium

Sponsored by Graves Gilbert Clinic

One night only!

The Rewinders and Retro Singers present the greatest hits of The Eagles in a special concert to benefit Orchestra Kentucky. Featured will be classic songs like, Take it Easy, Witchy Woman, Desperado, Tequila Sunrise, The Best of My Love, and Hotel California.
NOTE: THE ORCHESTRA WILL NOT PERFORM AT THIS CONCERT.