(PR) The world renowned classic rock band Kansas will perform one very special concert with the Greater Trenton Symphony Orchestra at Trenton's Patriot's Theater at the War Memorial on Saturday, October 17.After 35 years, Kansas still rules the classic rock radio airwaves and continues to put on simply spellbinding shows of the highest caliber.
To celebrate the 35th anniversary of the release of Kansas' self-titled 1974 debut, a live DVD, "There's Know Place Like Home," will be released on October 13. A hi-def for Blu-ray release (mixed in 5.1 surround sound), the show was filmed on February 7 of this year in their home state (at Washburn University's White Concert Hall). For this show, the group - which includes singer/keyboardist Steve Walsh, guitarist Rich Williams, violinist David Ragsdale, bassist Billy Greer, and drummer Phil Ehart - was united with former members Kerry Livgren (guitar/keyboards) and Steve Morse (guitar), as well as the 50-piece Washburn University Orchestra.
A video trailer for the forthcoming DVD release can be viewed here http://kansasband.com/kansasdvd/.
Kansas' current tour includes just two performances with an orchestra - including the Trenton appearance - that will re-create the classic rock-meets-classical music that was so brilliantly captured on "There's Know Place Like Home." The Greater Trenton Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1921, was the ideal choice to assist the group.
"The symphony in Trenton has a musical history that spans 80 years," said Kansas drummer Phil Ehart. "We are proud to be playing with them. It will be great!"
In the past eight decades, the Trenton Symphony Orchestra has introduced the experience of live orchestral music to generations of New Jersey audiences numbering in the hundreds of thousands. Over the years, the GTSO performed with some of the twentieth century's greatest artists, including opera singers Kirsten Flagstad, Lauritz Melchior, Eleanor Steber, and Placido Domingo, pianists Gary Graffman and Ruth Laredo, and composer/conductor Maurice Durufle', among many others. In recent years, the orchestra has performed with or presented concerts by pop and jazz artists Sarah Brightman, Barbara Cook, Smokey Robinson, Al Jarreau, Melissa Manchester, and Ben E. King, trumpeter Doc Severinsen, and actor John Lithgow.
This will be the GTSO's first performance with a rock band. "The orchestra musicians are very excited about playing this concert," said the orchestra's conductor, John Peter Holly. "We're always interested in new musical experiences and this concert will definitely be a new experience for most of our musicians."
Kansas' popularity continues to flourish, as their classic ballad "Dust in the Wind" recently obtained gold status as a digital download, while their classic rocker "Carry On Wayward Son," is featured on the games 'Guitar Hero II' and 'Rock Band II.'
