LPO Launches New Season, “Heroes”
The award-winning Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra will soon begin its 29th season, the 2008/2009 concert series “Heroes.”
This season’s orchestra will perform music from many of the most popular orchestral works of all time, showcasing unique solo works, while incorporating dance elements within the performances. This season follows the exceedingly successful 2007/2008 “Myth & Legends” series.
Season passes are $100 for adults and $85 for seniors (62+). Individual concert tickets are $25 for adults and $17 for seniors (62+) and students with school ID get in free.
This year’s program consists of five subscription concerts and two special event concerts. “Each program has a different concentration for its theme,” said Brendan Townsend, music director for the LPO, “As a whole, the five themes all work to honor some form of Hero.”
The season’s debut will take place Sunday, Sept. 28 with “Ordinary Heroes Who Answered the Call” at the Texas A&M International University Center for the Fine and Performing Arts’ Recital Hall at 3 p.m.
Highlights include Overture “Flying Dutchman” by Richard Wagner, “Lux Perpetua” by Samuel Adler, “Reading the Naes” by Jessica Locke and Variations on an Original Theme (Enigma Variations) by Sir Edward Elgar. Featured soloist Dr. David Eaton will perform on the Sharkey Corrigan Organ.
The LPO season will continue Sunday, Oct. 26 with “Heroes of Stage and Screen” at Laredo Community College’s Martinez Fine Arts Center at 3 p.m.
Highlights include Overture “Die Zauberflöte” by Wolfgang A. Mozart, Paddywak-concerto for Tap Dance by Robert Kapilow and Peter Grimes-Four Sea Interludes by Benjamin Britten, Celeste Aida and Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves—Nabucco by Guiseppe Verdi and Finale Act 1 La Boheme, Un Bel Di—Madame Butterfly, Nessun Dorma—Turandot by Giacomo Puccini. Featured soloists are Ayodele Casal performing a tap dance, Soprano Adrienne Danrich and Tenor Martin Canavati.
Following is “Heroes Who Changed Music Forever” on Sunday, Jan. 25 at the TAMIU Recital Hall at 3 p.m. This concert will feature renowned pianist Ilya Itin, the winner of the Leeds International Piano Competition and the Cleveland International Piano Competition.
Highlights will include Heroic Overture by Heather Schmidt, Piano Concert no. 2 in c minor by Sergei Rachmaninov and Symphony No. 3 Eroica by Ludwig van Beethoven.
“American Musical Heroes” will be presented Sunday, March 1 at 3 p.m. at the TAMIU CFPA Recital Hall. The program includes “West Side Story Suite” by Leonard Bernstein, “Schindler’s List” selection by John Williams, Prelude and Allegro for Organ and Strings by Walter Piston and “Appalachian Spring” by Aaron Copland.
Concluding the 2008/2009 LPO “Heroes” series is “Maestro’s Heroes” at LCC’s Martinez Fine Arts Center on Sunday, May 3 at 3 p.m.
The program will include the performance of “Aisling” by Declan Townsend, Concerto for Violin and Piano by Felix Mendelssohn, and “The Rite of Spring” by Igor Stravinsky. Featured soloists include Steven McMillan on the violin and Meryl Ettelson on piano. The program will also feature a dance performance choreographed by Courtney Mulcahy, visiting assistant professor for the TAMIU College of Arts and Sciences’ department of the Fine and Performing Arts and David Arevelo.
Both the LPO and Townsend have been praised by the League of American Orchestras for their great efforts to bring a rich mixture of popular orchestral works and for its new pieces by living composers to the stage in innovating and interesting ways.
For season ticket information, please contact Townsend at 326.3039 or e-mail btownsend@tamiu.edu.
Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu