In conjunction with the March 17th concert featuring Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, the Paducah Symphony Orchestra is inaugurating a 5K run. At Maestro Ponti's baton downbeat, participants will start as the famous opening notes are played. The goal is to complete the course before the music ends, therefore "beating" Beethoven! Athletes of all ages and abilities are invited to walk or run to the joyous sounds of this musical masterpiece and then to hear the symphony performed live by the PSO that evening at the Carson Center.
Season Tickets are on sale now!
Meet Artistic Director & Conductor, Raffaele Ponti, (click here to see video), and help us celebrate his second season in Paducah with seven exhilarating performances exploring the connections between Art and Music!
Opening Night Gala
Raffaele Ponti,
Artistic Director & Conductor
Michael Ludwig, violin
John Stafford Smith | Star Spangled Banner
Henri Wieniawski | Violin Concerto, No.2, op22, D minor
Johannes Brahms | Academic Festival Overture, op 80
Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky | Symphony No.4, op 36, f minor
7:30 pm
September 10, 2011
The Carson Center - Paducah, Kentucky
Maestro Raffaele Ponti and YOUR Paducah Symphony Orchestra kick off an exciting new season entitled, "Unbridled Emotion." In
1879 Brahms was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Breslau in Poland and asked to write a doctoral symphony. He
presented an Academic Festival Overture, arguable the composer's most ebullient work. Wieniawski's Violin Concerto is a flash and
dazzle concerto that challenges violinists around the world. This virtuoso concerto engages the audience with its technical excellence
and beautiful melodies. Tchaikovsky's tumultuous Symphony No. 4 is a classic showing the emotion and color of his creative genius. This
orchestra showcase is sure to leave you on the edge of your seat!
To order your tickets, please call 270.444.0065
Music that is Out of this World
Raffaele Ponti,
Artistic Director & Conductor
Elena Urioste, violin
Osvaldo Golijov | Sidereus (2010) Henry Fogel Commissioning Consortium
Felix Mendelssohn | Violin Concerto, op.64, E minor
Johannes Brahms | Symphony No. 1, op.68, c minor
7:30 pm
October 1, 2011
The Carson Center - Paducah, Kentucky
Sidereus is music inspired by the Galileo book, Siereus Nuncius or "Siderreal (Starry) Messenger," written after Galileo observed the moon
through a telescope for the first time. Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E minor is a pillar of the violin repertoire. The unorthodox opening
measures are the concerto's most recognizable feature. Mendelssohn takes this passionate melody and creates a musical structure in
which soloist and orchestra are intertwined. Brahms was so intimidated by the music of Mozart that he once declared he would never
write a symphony! However, after working on it for 12 years, he produced this magnificent Symphony No. 1.
What Did Beethoven Hear?
Raffaele Ponti,
Artistic Director & Conductor
Actor as Franz Joseph Hayden (to be announced)
Franz Joseph Haydn | Symphony No. 104, D Major (London)
Ludwig van Beethoven | Symphony No. 8, op 93, F major
This dramatic piece of music with its high spirited allegro shows why Hayden was the Father of the Symphony and highly popular in his lifetime. We are
fortunate to have Franz himself join us on stage to explain his music, talk about his life, and give us insight into this amazing man and his melodies. Theater meets Symphony at the Luther F Carson Center.
Home For Christmas
Raffaele Ponti,
Artistic Director & Conductor
PSO Symphony Chorus, PSO Childrens Chorus, PSO Youth Chorus
Bradley Almquist, Director of Choruses & Amy Aucoin, Youth Chorus Director
Anderson: Bugler's Holiday
Herbert: Babes in Toyland; March of the Toys
Anderson: Typewriter
Anderson: Sleigh Ride
Celebrate the holidays with Your Paducah Symphony Orchestra and the wonderful voices of our PSO Choruses. Bring the whole family to this wonderful
evening filled with Christmas spirit, familiar tunes and festive fun. . . there might even be a visitor from the North Pole!
Growing Up with Wolfgang
Raffaele Ponti,
Artistic Director & Conductor
Actor as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (to be announced)
Wolfgang Mozart | Symphony No.1, K.16, E-flat major
Wolfgang Mozart | Symphony No.35, K.385, D major (Haffner)
Wolfgang Mozart | Symphony No.31, K.551, C major (Jupiter)
Who killed Mozart? Who was the black-clad stranger? If you've ever wanted to know the real life story of one of the greatest composers of all time,
come and meet Wolfgang himself as he joins the symphony on stage and lets us in on all the mysteries of his wonderful but short lived life. Theater meets
the Symphony at the Carson Center.
Struggle and Triumph
Raffaele Ponti,
Artistic Director & Conductor
PSO 2010 Young Artist Competition Winners | Instrumental and Piano Division Concertos
PSO Youth String Orchestra | String Students perform side-by-side with the PSO
Beethoven | Symphony No.5, op. 67, c minor
The PSO Youth String Orchestra joins us for this annual concert which showcases our bright musical future. These talented children will perform side-by-side with the Paducah Symphony Orchestra. The concert will also debut the two PSO Young Artist Competition winners for 2012. The program will conclude
with the one of Beethoven's most famous pieces, his Symphony No. 5.
A Night At The Opera
Raffaele Ponti,
Artistic Director & Conductor
PSO Symphony Chorus, PSO Children Chorus, PSO Youth Chorus
Bradley Almquist, Director of Choruses & Amy Aucoin, Youth Chorus Director
Enjoy an evening full of tragedy, love, joy, hatred, denial, fun and adventure. Travel the world and experience the greatest moments in opera with music of
Verdi, Puccini, Mascagni, Bizet, Leoncavallo, Rossini and Wagner. No passport needed and we promise not to lose your luggage. Enjoy your trip.
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