Tuesday Arts Miscellany: December Happenings

Big Ears — Julian Lage

Squint, we are told, is Julian Lage‘s debut album for Blue Note Records, “…a striking new album that weds incisive, expressive songwriting with the profound interplay Lage has honed over the past few years…”

Presented by Big Ears in celebration of the album release, Lage will perform with bassist Jorge Roeder and drummer Dave King at St. John’s Cathedral in Knoxville on Friday, December 10, at 7:00 PM.

Tickets and Information

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Knoxville Symphony Orchestra

It goes without saying that December is a busy time for the musicians of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra. Following the “Classical Christmas” concert on November 28, the KSO has been keeping busy with Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker with Appalachian Ballet and regional Holiday runout concerts in East Tennessee.

Still left to do is their monthly Q-Series of lunchtime recitals featuring the Principal String Quartet and the Woodwind Quintet. That concert that includes lunch is Wednesday, December 8, NOON, at the Elks Lodge. Check here for location information, program, and tickets.

The orchestra will wrap up the Holidays with the 35th Annual Clayton Holiday Concert with four performances featuring a diverse mix of favorite songs and carols, topped off with a musical visit from a jolly guy in a red suit. At the Knoxville Civic Auditorium:
Friday, December 17, 7:30 PM
Saturday, December 18, 3:00 PM and 7:30 PM
Sunday, December 19, 3:00 PM

Tickets and Information

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On a related note, the KSO Board of Directors has announced that Aram Demirjian, now in his sixth season with the KSO, has received a contract extension as KSO music director for four more years through the 2025-26 season. 

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Flying Anvil Theatre – Scrooge in Rouge

As its Holiday offering, Flying Anvil Theatre is presenting Scrooge in Rouge, a farcical version of A Christmas Carol. FAT describes the show as abounding “in bad puns, bawdy malapropisms, naughty double-entendres, and witty songs.”

“Scrooge in Rouge introduces The Royal Music Hall Twenty-Member Variety Players, who are beset with a widespread case of food poisoning. This leaves only three surviving members to soldier on through a performance of A Christmas Carol. The undaunted trio gamely face missed cues, ill-fitting costumes, and solving the problem of having no one to play Tiny Tim. “

Recommended for ages 12 and up, Scrooge in Rouge opens with two Pay What You Can previews on Wednesday, Dec 8 and Thursday, December 9 at 7:30. The official opening is Friday, December 10 at 7:30. The show runs through December 31. Tickets  may be purchased on line at flyinganviltheatre.com.

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Knoxville Gay Men’s Chorus – “Slay, Belles!”