Louisville Orchestra 2023-24 season includes lots of surprises. Here's the full lineup

Kirby Adams, Louisville Courier Journal

Updated April 17, 2023 at 10:20 AM·7 min read

Louisville Orchestra Teddy Abrams conducts the LO on Saturday, March 11, 2023. Abrams and the orchestra were performing an original piece by composer Joel Thompson, "To Awaken The Sleeper" a piece that combines the Louisville Orchestra with the spoken words of James Baldwin delivered by Metro Councilman Jecorey Arthur.

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The Louisville Orchestra has announced its 2023-24 season and it's filled with surprises — including a superstar guest conductor, the return of a popular film series, a performance with iconic Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, the anniversary of Teddy Abrams' 10th season as Music Director of the Orchestra and more.

“It is so hard to believe that this is my 10th season," said Teddy Abrams, the youngest music director of a major American orchestra. "It invites reflection and consideration for the history and the story we’ve been trying to tell for all of you these last 10 years. We’ve been asking, 'What does it mean to be a public service — to serve you all and take the power of our music and the talents of our musicians to make life better for all of us here in Louisville?'"

The Louisville Orchestra 2023-24 season begins Sept. 16 at Iroquois Park Amphitheater and concludes on May 11, 2024, at Whitney Hall in the Kentucky Performing Arts Center. Subscription packages for the season go on sale April 19.

Here's what is included:

What to know about the Louisville Orchestra's 2023-24 season:

The Louisville Orchestra performs Tyler Taylor's "Revisions", a world premiere, at the Kentucky Center on Saturday, March 11, 2023

In true Louisville Orchestra style, this season Abrams, who is the Musical America 2022 Conductor of the Year, will feature programming encompassing favorites of the orchestral repertoire and innovative new works, including a festival of original compositions by the 2023-24 members of the Creators Corps, the orchestra's residency program.

Something new this season, the orchestra is offering a Film Series subscription package. Consistently a hit with audiences, the package will contain familiar "Star Wars" and "Harry Potter" selections and Tim Burton's "The Nightmare Before Christmas."

The 2023-24 Classic Series is packed with classical music favorites including Mahler's monumental "Symphony No. 6," nicknamed "Tragic." The annual collaboration with the Louisville Chamber Choir will include J.S. Bach's setting of the "Canticle of Mary, the Magnificat." Also on the program are contemporary works by Caroline Shaw, Gabriel Kahane, and John Adams.

In addition, this coming season welcomes Grammy Award-winning conductor JoAnn Falletta. As Music Director of the Buffalo Philharmonic, Falletta became the first woman to lead a major American ensemble and has been credited with bringing the Philharmonic to an unprecedented level of national and international prominence. Falletta will lead the orchestra in an exciting program concluding with Ravel’s "Bolero."

Principal Pops conductor of the Louisville Orchestra, Bob Bernhardt, returns with a seasonal tradition, "Holiday Pops," and a variety of audience-pleasing concerts ranging from Halloween fare to sports-themed musical favorites, plus an evening of hits by the Queens of Soul and a season finale of the thrilling sounds of Mexican Mariachi.

The orchestra's family programming, which will again be held at Old Forester’s Paristown Hall, includes experiences that explore composition, storytelling through music, the structure of the orchestra, and more.

In December, the orchestra will share the stage with iconic Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli. Bocelli will be touring the United States in November and December and will perform at the KFC Yum Arena on Dec. 2. The program will feature performances from Bocelli’s extensive repertoire, including music in honor of the holiday season, with selections from his recent No. 1 album "A Family Christmas," his uplifting solo album "Believe" and a selection of arias, crossover hits, and love songs.

Dec 8, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, United States; Andrea Bocelli, a Grammy and Emmy nominated Italian tenor, performs in concert at Nationwide Arena on Thursday night alongside the Columbus Symphony. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Scheller-The Columbus Dispatch

This season runs concurrently with the groundbreaking "In Harmony: the Commonwealth Tour of the Louisville Orchestra." The two-year musical journey beginning in May will bring orchestra musicians to dozens of communities across Kentucky and includes native Kentucky composers and performers in new and traditional works. Most notably, the opening concert in September at the Iroquois Park Amphitheater will feature Murray, Kentucky native and mandolinist extraordinaire, Chris Thile.

Louisville Orchestra 2023-24 season lineup

For information on the Coffee Series, Nightlites at the Ogle, or the Family Series, visit louisvilleorchestra.org.

Louisville Orchestra Classic Series

All venues, dates, artists, and programs are subject to change. All performances are at 7:30 p.m. and take place at Whitney Hall, Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts, 501 W. Main St. unless otherwise noted.

'Our Kentucky Home'

WHAT: The musical heritage of the great Kentucky Commonwealth takes center stage at Iroquois Park in our first concert of the season, including the Kentucky Debut of s piece for singing mandolinist and orchestra by Murray, KY’s own Chris Thile.

CREDITS: Teddy Abrams, conductor, Chris Thile, mandolin

WHEN: Sept. 16

WHERE: Iroquois Park Amphitheater, 1080 Amphitheater Road

'Lasting Legacies'

WHAT: One might call this concert a "family affair," with works by our family of new Creators Corps members and musical pieces inspired by family ties, including a piece written by Gabriel Kahane for his father, guest soloist and pianist Jeffrey Kahane.

CREDITS: Teddy Abrams, conductor, Jefferey Kahane, piano

WHEN: Oct. 14

'(Un)Silent Film: Nosferatu & Symphony of Horror

WHAT: Halloween Horror, courtesy of classic film and ballet, takes the stage at the Whitney for one haunting evening of music.

CREDITS: Teddy Abrams, conductor

WHEN: Oct. 28

'Bolero & Friends'

WHAT: World-renowned conductor JoAnn Falletta leads the LO in a concert of spectacular turn-of-the-century favorites from Ravel, R. Strauss, and Debussy. Our own principal clarinetist, Andrea Levine performs the clarinet concerto of John Corigliano, acclaimed composer of the score to the film, The Red Violin.

CREDITS: JoAnn Falletta, conductor, Andrea Levine, clarinet

WHEN: Nov. 18

'Together in Song'

WHAT: Explore the music of praise and faith with a selection of works by Jewish composers and gospel arrangements performed by the St. Stephen Temple Choir

CREDITS: Teddy Abrams, conductor, St. Stephen Temple Choir

WHEN: Jan. 13, 2024

'Magnificent Voices'

The Louisville Orchestra, under the direction of Teddy Abrams, performs Joel Thompson's "To Awaken The Sleeper" a piece that combines the Louisville Orchestra with the spoken words of James Baldwin delivered by Metro Councilman Jecorey Arthur. The Kentucky Center, Saturday, March 11, 2023

WHAT: Choral music, both old and new, will transport you as the Louisville Chamber Choir joins the Louisville Orchestra in J.S. Bach’s divine setting of the 'Magnificat' and a beautifully evocative work by Caroline Shaw.

CREDITS: Teddy Abrams, conductor, Louisville Chamber Choir

WHEN: March 23, 2024

'Mahler 6'

WHAT: Teddy Abrams leads the Louisville Orchestra in a performance of Mahler's Symphony No. 6, nicknamed the "Tragic."

CREDITS: Teddy Abrams, conductor

WHEN: April 27, 2024

'Creators Fest'

WHAT: The Creators Corps program will present a festival concert weekend of new works written for and inspired by the City of Louisville and the Louisville Orchestra.

CREDITS: Teddy Abrams, conductor

WHEN: May 11, 2024

Louisville Orchestra Pops Series

'Fright Night'

WHAT: Get in a Halloween kind of mood with Bob Bernhardt and the Louisville Orchestra performing a frightful night of Halloween hits.