The Knights: From Central Park to Ravinia

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The dynamic, New York-based orchestra The Knights - making high-profile appearances from Central Park to Chicago's Ravinia Festival this summer - keeps winning fans and friends, whether the group is performing Beethoven's "Pastoral" Symphony or Jimi Hendrix's "Machine Gun." Performance Today host Fred Child says in the WNET video Discover The Knights! that people often "have this stereotypical image of what it is to be a classical musician. The Knights are part of a generation that is totally changing that. In the words of Alex Ross, 'What we're witnessing with The Knights is the death of the death of classical music.'"

The Knights join Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble on June 7 for a cross-cultural concert in Central Park's SummerStage series. On June 20, the orchestra returns to Central Park for a concert that includes the world premiere of Lisa Bielawa's Tempelhof Etude at the Naumburg Bandshell. Back at the Bandshell on August 22 and at the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, IL, on August 24, The Knights turn to the music of Schubert and, with his bicentennial in mind, Liszt.

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