Brush Up Your Stokowski (and Bach)

Forget your BWV's and come to the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra's "We've Got Your Bach" at 7:30 p.m. July 10 in Devou Park Amphitheater in Covington.  The concert, which opens the KSO's 16th summer season at Devou, will be led by music director James R. Cassidy.

Leopold Stokowski

Hear Bach in the stirring orchestral arrangements by Leopold Stokowski, including his "Little Fugue" in G Major, Passacaglia and Fugue in C Minor and Chaconne from the Partita in D Minor for unaccompanied Violin.  Violinist Mauricio Aguiar and the KSO will "mix it up" in the latter, with Aguiar performing some of the variations unaccompanied, as Bach wrote it, the KSO performing others in the Stokowski transcription.  The KSO Brass will perform Bach's famous Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, arranged for brass by Ralph Sauer (of Summit Brass) and edited by Cincinnati trumpeter Brian Buerkle.

Mauricio Aguiar and Susan Magg

As for kosher Bach, Aguiar will perform Bach's Violin Concerto in A Minor, BWV 1041, and flutist Susan Magg with be soloist in Bach's Suite No. 2 for Orchestra in B Minor, BWV 1067.  (BWV refers to "Bach Werke Verzeichnis," the numbering system used for Bach's music.)

In recognition of Bach’s biological as well as musical productivity (he had 20 children by two wives), there will be prizes for the largest nuclear and extended family in attendance.

Admission and parking are free, though a $5 donation is suggested.  There will be free shuttle service from Covington Catholic High School on Dixie Highway in Park Hills from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and after the concert.

Other concerts in the series are August 7 and September 4, both beginning at 7:30 in Devou Park Amphitheater.

“Fun Fun Fun” August 7 will feature the KSO Boogie Band and eight vocalists in a nostalgic program from the days of rotary phones and ten-cent coffee.  Hear hits by The Beach Boys, Petula Clark, The Monkees, Supremes, Elvis and more.  Guests are invited to wear period clothing, dance and sing along.

For “Cirque Devou” September 4, the KSO will feature Circus Mojo.  There will be high-wire acts, acrobats, clowns and music  by Fucik, Johann Strauss, Khachaturian, Stravinsky and others.

P.S.:  Vote for the KSO on Facebook to be one of 200 winners of Chase Community Giving’s $5 million donation to local charities. You can vote once a day until voting ends.  Winners will be announced July 13.