Louisiana Philharmonic presents 'Music of the Mississippi' at Columbia Feb. 29
Contact: Tonya Lowentritt
2/22/08
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Photos: (1) Alfred Savia; (2) Ariana Kim; (3) mikko
HAMMOND – The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra will present “Music of the Mississippi” Friday, Feb. 29, at Southeastern Louisiana University’s Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts.
Under the baton of guest conductor Alfred Savia, the orchestra will perform at 7:30 p.m. at the university’s downtown Hammond theater.
“Music of the Mississippi” is collaboration of the LPO and the Historic New Orleans Collection and is part of a partnership inaugurated last February with the presentation of “A New Orleanian in Paris: Ernest Giuraud, Friends, and Students.” The performance was nominated for a 2007 Big Easy Award.
New Orleans actor, writer and historian mikko joins the LPO as “Mark Twain” to narrate the program. The artistic director of the Living History Project and host of the annual “Stella Yell Off” for the Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival, mikko is also known for portraying New Orleans historical characters such as Andrew Jackson, Napoleon Bonaparte, and Pierre Clement Laussat.
Celebrating his 19th season as music director of the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra, Savia is respected internationally as conductor, music director, orchestra builder and teacher. Under his artistic leadership, the EPO expanded its activities to include a comprehensive Youth Orchestra program and the incorporation of the Philharmonic Chorus, Children’s Choirs and a full-time string ensemble, the Eykamp Quartet.
A native of Livingston, N.J., Savia’s programming skills and ability to connect with audiences everywhere have been documented in profiles in “Musical America” and “Symphony Magazine.”
The concert program includes Jean-Philippe Rameau’s “Les Indes galantes,” Henri Vieuxtemps’ “Concerto No. 5 in A minor, Opus 37,” Niccolo Paganini’s “Caprice No. 13 in B flat major, from Opus 1,” Giacomo Meyerbeer’s “Robert le diable,” and Gaetano Donizetti’s “Lucia di Lammermoor.”
Rounding out the program are Ferde Grofe’s “Mississippi Suite” and Jerome Kern’s “Symphonic Selections from Show Boat” orchestrated by Robert Russell Bennett.
Joining the LPO as soloists are Ariana Kim, the orchestra’s violinist and concertmaster, and soprano Angela Mannino. Kim will be featured in “Concerto No. 5 in A minor, Opus 37” and “Caprice No. 13 in B flat major, from Opus 1.” Mannino will be the guest soprano for “Robert le diable.”
Tickets for the Feb. 29 concert are $32, Orchestra 1 and Loge; $28, Orchestra 2 and Balcony 1; and $20, Orchestra 3 and Balcony 2. Tickets are available online at columbiatheatre.org and at the box office, 220 E. Thomas St., 985-543-4371. Box office hours are noon-5 p.m. weekdays.
For additional information about the LPO “Music of the Mississippi” concert and other Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts events, contact the theatre at 985-543-4366 or visit columbiatheatre.org.
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