UK Symphony Orchestra to Join Soprano Karen Slack in Concert
Soprano Karen Slack sings "Who will be witness for my Lord."
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 27, 2016) — The critically acclaimed University of Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Maestro John Nardolillo, will continue its 98th season in concert with celebrated soprano, Karen Slack, who has appeared on stages around the world. The concert with Slack will begin 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28, at the Singletary Center for the Arts.
The upcoming UK Symphony Orchestra concert program is an evening of collaborations featuring Karen Slack accompanied by the orchestra on Richard Strauss’ "Vier letzte Lider" ("Four Last Songs"). The orchestra will also perform Richard Wagner’s "Tannhauser" overture, Prelude and "Liebestod" ("Love-death") from "Tristan und Isolde," as well as Strauss’ suite from "Der Rosenkavalier."
Critically hailed for possessing a voice of extraordinary beauty, seamless legato and great dramatic depth, American soprano Karen Slack was most recently heard in the title role of "Tosca" and as Leonora in "Il Trovatore" with Arizona Opera and as Aida with West Bay Opera, as well as a soloist for Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 2 with the Latvian National Symphony and Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 with Alabama Symphony. Other recent engagements include the role of Violetta in "La Traviata" with both Sacramento Opera and West Bay Opera, Serena in "Porgy and Bess" with both Washington National Opera and San Francisco Opera, Mimi from "La Bohème" with the UC Davis Symphony Orchestra, Cilla in Richard Danielpour’s "Margaret Garner" with Michigan Opera Theater, and a featured role in Tyler Perry’s movie and soundtrack “For Colored Girls” as the Opera Diva.
Slack made her Carnegie Hall debut as Agnes Sorel in Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s "Maid of Orleans," a role she also performed with the San Francisco Opera. She made her Metropolitan Opera and international radio broadcast debuts in the title role of Giuseppe Verdi’s "Luisa Miller." She sang Johann Sebastian Bach’s "St. Matthew’s Passion" and George Frideric Handel’s "Messiah" with the Messiah Festival of the Arts in Kansas and Vaughan Williams’ "Dona Nobis Pacem" with the Sacramento Choral Society. Additionally, Slack appeared as Sister Rose in "Dead Man Walking" with Madison Opera and Des Moines Metro Opera. The 2016-2017 season and beyond includes performances of Donna Anna in "Don Giovanni" with Nashville Opera, Serena in "Porgy and Bess" with the National Chorale and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Sister Rose in "Dead Man Walking" with both Lyric Opera of Kansas City and Vancouver Opera, and her debut with the Scottish Opera.
Founded in 1918 and made up of undergraduate and graduate musicians from across the United States, Asia, South America and Europe, the UK Symphony Orchestra has long served as one of the university’s most prominent musical ensembles. This year they continue that tradition with performances of some of the greatest works in the orchestral repertoire, alongside contemporary works which push the boundaries of orchestral music. Concerts will feature music by the likes of Beethoven, Tchaikovsky and George Gershwin, and by modern composers John Adams and current UK student Logan Blackman. The orchestra will also continue its partnership with UK Opera Theatre, performing next in the program's production of "The Barber of Seville."
John Nardolillo has appeared with more than 30 of the country’s leading orchestras, including the Boston Pops, the National Symphony and principal orchestras of Seattle, San Francisco, Detroit, Atlanta, Dallas, Milwaukee, Utah, Columbus, Indianapolis, Oregon, Fort Worth, Buffalo, Alabama, Louisville, Missouri, North Carolina, Toledo, Vermont, Columbus, Omaha and Hawaii. He also recently conducted concerts at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.; the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia; and Carnegie Hall in New York. Nardolillo made his professional conducting debut in 1994 at the Sully Festival in France, and has since made conducting appearances in the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and China. He has led major American orchestras in subscription series concerts, summer and pops concerts, education concerts and tours, and for television and radio broadcasts. In 2004, Nardolillo joined the faculty at the UK School of Music, where he is currently serving as the director of Orchestras.
Doors for the UK Symphony Orchestra concert with Karen Slack open 7 p.m. with music beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for general admission, $5 for students, and free for UK students with a valid ID if purchased before the day of the performance (at the Singletary Center ticket office). Tickets are available through the Singletary Center ticket office online at www.scfatickets.com, by phone 859-257-4929, or in person at the venue.
UK Symphony Orchestra is part of the UK School of Music at the UK College of Fine Arts. The school has garnered a national reputation for high-caliber education in opera, choral and instrumental music performance, as well as music education, composition, and theory and music history.
