During the 2013 FANFARE season, the Louisiana Philharmonic (left) came
to perform their “Beethoven and Blue Jeans” concert with
a special guest flutist at the Columbia Theatre.  
 

Patrons from the Northshore area filled seats at the Columbia Theatre to watch the renowned Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra perform.

Roy Blackwood, co-founder of FANFARE and interim director of the Columbia Theatre, discussed the professional relationship that has blossomed between the LPO and the Columbia over the years.
“Typically the [LPO] Christmas show is the one that’s the most popular. The community likes to come together, and sometimes they do a sing along and there’s a certain segment of the community that enjoys that a lot,” said Blackwood.

When faced with the statistics of lower attendance of classical performances nationwide, Blackwood explained how the LPO has been adapting to the current cultural shift by putting a different spin on classical music with one of their shows.

“Many of the musical organizations like the LPO are trying to put a more youthful product on the stage. We’ve been doing this ‘Beethoven and Blue Jeans’ series which was the September show we did,” said Blackwood. “And in doing so, it’s a lighter classical fare; it’s not Wagner, it’s Beethoven. A lot of people know Beethoven, even younger people, and a lot of them like at least a few of Beethoven’s pieces.”

The cultural shift is due to younger audiences not being attracted to formality as much, but the LPO is handling the changes in cultural attitudes with grace.
Blackwood emphasized the importance of people attending shows at the Columbia and how it affects the City of Hammond in a positive manner.

“Columbia is part of an economic engine for this community. When corporations are looking to relocate, they want to know, ‘What are the schools like? Is there an educational institution? What are the cultural opportunities for me and my family?’ For every dollar spent at an institution like Columbia, it rolls over nine times in the community. The restaurants, the motels, the shopping malls, the shops downtown in Hammond…It’s a benefit when people come and buy tickets at a place like the Columbia.”

Blackwood expressed his satisfaction in the LPO’s business partnership with the Columbia and hopes to maintain the relationship they currently hold, as rental client. Being a rental client means they rent the theater space whenever they plan to perform and take in whatever profits are made from that night, while the Columbia makes enough money to run the show with the rental money. Since the LPO is a rental client, they do not show up in the Columbia’s brochure.

“I’ve enjoyed their professionalism, and I appreciate the quality of the programming they bring. They’re good people to deal with.” said Blackwood
The LPO presents their music at the Columbia three times a year. One of their anticipated events is the ‘Yuletide Celebration: Beethoven and Blue Jeans’ featuring Christmas hits such as, “Sleigh Ride” by Leroy Anderson.

The Yuletide Celebration is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m.