The Official Student News Media of Southeastern Louisiana University

The Lion's Roar

The Official Student News Media of Southeastern Louisiana University

The Lion's Roar

The Official Student News Media of Southeastern Louisiana University

The Lion's Roar

    Orchestra welcomes spring with classical music

    The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra played at the Columbia Theatre, bringing with them the classical sounds of Beethoven and others.
    The orchestra, conducted by Carlos Miguel Prieto, performed the concert “Appalachian Spring” on Saturday, March 8.
    The “Appalachian Spring” concert, a part of their Beethoven and Blue Jeans series, held true to its given title, with the compositions all relating to the season of spring. The concert opened with a familiar piece: No. 1 “La Primavera” by Antonio Vivaldi. The following pieces included Suite No. 1 from “Peer Gynt: Morning Mood” by Edvard Grieg, “Voices of Spring” by Johann Strauss, Jr., “Overture to The Creatures of Prometheus” and ended with “Suite from Appalachian Spring” by Aaron Copland.
    “There was a point when it was called the New Orleans Symphony, and they went out of business a dozen or 15 years ago. It was reformulated as the Louisiana Philharmonic, so they are professional musicians from New Orleans,” said Roy Blackwood, director of the Columbia Theatre.  “Before Katrina, they had a home at the Orpheum Theater; they are actually redoing it right now. But, they like to play on the road, so they play Slidell, Covington, Hammond, sometimes towards Baton Rouge and sometimes towards Thibodeaux at the university down there. They like to play around; it helps build their audience.”
    The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra is a treat for Hammond, since it is of big-city caliber.
    “It’s a full symphonic orchestra, and people don’t have the opportunity to hear that here in Hammond often,” said Blackwood. “We have a wind symphony from Southeastern, and it is fabulous, but it’s not a full symphonic orchestra. To hear a full symphonic orchestra, you have to go to New Orleans or to New York, places like that. So, we’re really fortunate to have them at the Columbia.”
    The “Appalachian Spring” concert gave community members and students a chance to experience the classics in a professional environment.
    “I wanted the audience to have a really enjoyable evening, to remember what beautiful music this is or learn what beautiful music this is for the first time if they haven’t had the opportunity to hear it before,” said Blackwood. “There is a series of things we’re doing here: we’re entertaining people, but we are also trying to educate them and give them a first quality experience.”
    The orchestra is a traveling show, usually performing at the Columbia Theatre at least once a year since 2001 until a couple of years ago when they were unable to. Blackwood was the one who started negotiating with them last year to come and perform again.
    “They had many years that they spent doing three to four concerts a year here between 2001 and 2011. Then, there were a few years they couldn’t come, doing some reorganization. Last year, we started negotiating. They came last year for three shows and this year for three shows. Next year there will be three shows also.”
    The orchestra will be performing more concerts throughout this coming year. For more information on the future performance dates and locations of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, go to their website lpomusic.com.

    Leave a Comment
    Donate to The Lion's Roar
    $600
    $1000
    Contributed
    Our Goal

    Your donation will support The Lion's Roar student journalists at Southeastern Louisiana University.
    In addition, your contribution will allow us to cover our annual website hosting costs.
    No gift is too small.

    Donate to The Lion's Roar
    $600
    $1000
    Contributed
    Our Goal

    Comments (0)

    Comments and other submissions are encouraged but are subject to The Lion's Roar Comments and Moderation Policy. All views expressed are those of the author and should not be interpreted as the views of The Lion's Roar, the administration, faculty, staff, or students of Southeastern Louisiana University.
    All The Lion's Roar Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *