The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra will usher in the Christmas season with an orchestral rendition of the classic Christmas album from the Carpenters, “Christmas Portrait,” this weekend.
The Carpenters, featuring siblings Karen and Richard Carpenter, were among the more successful musical acts of the 1970s, having sold over 100 million albums worldwide.
The album’s original 1978 release featured 17 tracks of classic Christmas songs. The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra’s rendition from last year featured 40 performances of “traditional carols, pop songs, sacred tunes, standards, even ‘Nutcracker’ selections,” according to a press release from the orchestra.
“I always thought this Christmas album would make a great live concert, but getting it from CD or vinyl to notes on a page, then finding someone, to not necessarily imitate Karen Carpenter, but to bring her vocal style to the mix was going to be a challenge,” said Music Director James Cassidy in the same release. “It all finally came together last year when KSO Arranger Terry LaBolt agreed to adapt the entire recording to live performance. Denise Parroco — with whom Terry had worked at Kings Productions in Mason and in Virginia, is returning this year with some additional tunes from Richard and Karen’s 1978 initial Christmas recording.”
Performances will occur this Friday and Saturday, Dec. 13 and 14, at 7:30 p.m. at Greaves Concert Hall on NKU’s campus in Highland Heights. Ticket prices range from $19 to $35.
Buy tickets and get more information at kso.org or by calling (859) 431-6216.
