Here we go, back in studio, everybody.
Great to have you here today.
So a little bit later this week,
you're going to have the chance
to enjoy the latest concert by
the Louisville Civic Orchestra,
born in the USA,
the city's oldest continually
continuously performing orchest.
Who's going to perform our
country's most beloved classics?
Joining me now with a little bit
more on everything that you can
expect is conductor and artistic
director Gabriel Lefkowicz.
Right, Gabriel, good to see you.
Hey, Happy Monday. After Derby.
Happy Monday. We're all here.
And this is something that I fel
like we're all recovering from Derby.
This is something that you need to put
on your calendar because it's wonderful.
I mean, it's amazing for me
to always sit back and go.
You know, these are all volunte.
This is crazy.
And another wonderful
performance you've put together.
Absolutely.
We are a very happy group and wt
we love most is bringing our lof
orchestral music to audiences for free.
So these upcoming concerts
are absolutely free.
Bring the whole family.
It's an Allamerican program we'e
calling Born in the US A5 pieces by 5 of
America's greatest American composers,
including the likes of Leonard Bernstein.
George Gershwin, John Williams d
a composer named Florence Price,
a female composer of color
who is getting her due,
finally in the world of classicl
and orchestral music. So
what inspired this show right n?
Well, it is Memorial Day.
I was going to say right around the corner.
You're getting me in the mood already
for Memorial Day and taking off. Yeah.
Well, I mean, it's,
it's quite a big thing,
you know, We do. Four concerts,
4 different programs throughout
the year and with the wealth of,
we're talking about 300 years
of music to choose from,
we have to cover a lot of bases.
So we we figured it would be
an appropriate time of year
to get dedicate a concert
to all American composers.
Also some music in there from
some famous movies as well.
Yes. So we're doing the John Williams
Saving Private Ryan piece him te
fall in that beautiful music whh
overlays that scene at Arlington
Cemetery at the end of the movi.
And we figured that would coince
really nicely with Memorial Day.
And you mentioned just how many songs
to choose from and how many composers.
How do you narrow it down into e
how long are the performances roughly
the the, the profits. About 990 minutes,
maybe a little bit more with intermission.
It's a lot to choose from and a
lot to narrow down to. To choose
from. Yeah. And it's a lot.
You know that this music is very difficult.
We meet once a week again,
we're we're all volunteers.
We are engineers, doctors,
We have physical therapists.
We have real estate agents.
We have people in all walks of.
Life coming together for their love of music.
And I kind of it's important
to me to survey the musicians
and see what they want to play.
So it's partially focused on th.
It's partially focused on what audiences
might be interested in hearing.
The two things often coincide and yeah,
that's how we came up
with this great program.
So the George Gershwin piece
is an American in Paris,
which of course has a movie connection
as well that that piece that he wrote.
In the early 20th century was
used very heavily in that great
musical and American in Paris.
So this show is full of music
that audiences will recognize.
It's just because we have 5 different pieces,
none of them are particularly l.
The longest is, you know,
just over 20 minutes.
So it's a really family friendly
show as well.
And we try to create a fun atmosphere too.
We're not like a stuffy.
Concert hall,
where you have to sit there and don't
Don't you dare clap between movement.
No, we're not like that.
We want people to come.
If you if you feel so inclined o
cheer in the middle of a piece,
you're welcome to do that.
Yeah,
Rich.
Rich is totally
familyfriendly. We love that.
And there is two chances to
catch this coming up, right?
Yes, we have. Wednesday evening,
7:00 o'clock at Bellaman Univer.
That's Krall Theater at the Wyat
Center for the Performing Arts.
And then Saturday at
Springdale Presbyterian Church.
That's a matinee.
3:00 PM, both free.
No registration or reservation required.
Come enjoy some music
and a wonderful opportunity I
think to get out and like you s,
all volunteer taking time
once a week to get together,
you know and in between our busy lives
and schedules I think for peoplo
show up and show their support of what
you all do because I don't think it's.
It's truly amazing.
So beyond that, you guys are gog
to take a break for the summer.
You guys get your summer vacati.
Yeah, I think what
we'll do is we'll we'll probably meet
informally a few times during te
summer and test out some reperte
for next season And and alreadye
ideas are working because you kw
we we have to plan a lot of thee
things well in advance and and t
the sheet music we have plenty
of rental. So where are we
going to do the performance,
all that kind of thing.
Once again, everything free Wednesday
and Saturday 1st at Bellerman
and the Saturday performances at
Springdale Presbyterian. All ri,
all you have to do is go onlinet
louisvillecivicorchestra.org For more
information and always good to see you.
Thank you for coming on so much.