Get Ready for the New Season with Your Paducah Symphony Orchestra

By Cassie Johnson

The past couple of years have been a scheduling nightmare for the Paducah Symphony Orchestra. The pandemic closed concert venues and made it hard for musicians to travel. Thankfully, that’s all largely behind us and symphony lovers are excited about the upcoming 2022/23 Season. There are seven concerts at the Carson Center beginning in September and three encore choral series performances to look forward to.

Sheherazade

Opening night is on September 17 and will feature nationallyacclaimed cellist Julian Schwarz. He’ll be joining the orchestra for Elgar’s iconic Cello Concerto. The highlight of the evening will be Sheherazade – a Rimsky-Korsakov audience favorite. This will be a fantastic evening and the perfect way to start the season.

Beethoven & Tchaikovsky

The October 15 concert will showcase two classical composers. Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony opens a diverse program from old to new. Living composer Jennifer Higdon’s To The Point begins the second half, with Tchaikovsky’s lesser-played Second Symphony serving as a dramatic finale.

Songs of a Wayfarer

Paducah native and Tilghman graduate Blake Denson will join the orchestra on November 12 for Mahler’s Songs of a Wayfarer, which shares recognizable themes with his famous Symphony No. 1. Denson has a magnificent baritone voice. This is not to be missed!

A Christmas Celebration

Get ready for the best Christmas party in town! This Purchase Area holiday tradition will take place on December 10 and feature baritone Corey Crider, the Paducah Symphony Orchestra and Choruses, the Paducah Singers, and guest choirs. Reserve your tickets ASAP, because it sells out every year!

John Williams: From Stage to Screen

A fantastic way to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your sweetheart will be the February 11 concert. Matt Hightower joins the orchestra for Williams’ popular tuba concerto. This is an all John Williams program with both classical works and some of the composer’s most famous film scores.

Appalachian Spring

Spring will definitely be in the air on March 11 when the PSO presents Copland’s perennial favorite orchestral suite. Sirena Huang joins the orchestra for Dvořák’s violin masterpiece.

Beethoven’s Ninth

On April 15, experience the euphoric Beethoven 9. Easily one of the most powerful and influential pieces of classical music, the

ninth symphony was composed by a completely deaf, frustrated, and depressed Beethoven. Despite this, the famous Ode to Joy in his final symphony is understood as a call for hope, peace, and goodwill across cultures everywhere. This concert features guest soloists Maribeth Crawford, Kate Tombaugh, Gregory Turay, and David Dillard, as well as the PSO Chorus, Paducah Singers, and guest choirs.

Longtime PSO Conductor Raffaele Ponti will lead each performance with his trademark passion and creativity. Ponti has been with the orchestra since 2010.

Get Your Season Tickets Today!

Attending the symphony is easy and affordable. New subscribers receive a 50% discount and can purchase season tickets for as little as $85. Students through grade 12 are eligible for free tickets (subject to availability) to each concert except for A Christmas Celebration. College students receive a $10 flat-rate ticket but must present their student ID.

This phenomenal lineup of performances is just a call or click away. Subscribe today at paducahsymphony.org or call 270.444.0065. Single tickets for fall concerts go on sale on August 1. Tickets can also be purchased at the box office on the day of the show. 