Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra Launches New ‘Joyous’ Season
Written by Post Public Information Representative, Sep 24, 2016, Comments Off
Courtesy Steve Harmon,
(Laredo, Texas)-The Laredo Philharmonic launched the 2016/17 concert season with an announcement of the repertoire to be performed at each concert through its website recently.
The theme for the selections of music performed throughout the season is “Music of Peace, Joy & Love.”
“An orchestra in any community needs to be a force for social good, bringing the elements of Peace, Joy and Love through music,” LPO maestro and director Brendan Townsend said to the Laredo Phil Board of Directors in proposing the concert season.
Maestro Townsend, who is beginning his 14th season as Laredo Phil music director, discussed with community members the idea that in the current climate of unrest, highlighted by many recent violent events, music can be a unifying and soothing element.
“Music is more than just a universal language,” he said, “through music we can provide a place where people can come and forget about all that worries them.”
The Laredo Phil will present a series of four orchestral concerts beginning on Sunday, October 16 at the TAMIU Center for the Fine & Performing Arts.
Each concert has a different emphasis and individual theme. October’s concert is titled “Heavenly Peace” and opens with the otherworldly “Musica Celestis” by American composer Aaron Jay Kernis. This sets the mood for the transcendent Piano Concerto No. 3 of Ludwig van Beethoven. The concert finishes with Mozart’s final Symphony No. 41, which many musicologists have written about as having spiritual references.
In December, the Orchestra will present Winter-themed opening selections followed by more traditional seasonal selections. The choirs from United High School will join with the Orchestra in leading the audience in song with such famous carols as “Away in a Manger.”
In March, the Orchestra will be joined by saxophonist Gary Louie for the Concertino by Ibert, and soprano Adrienne Danrich in a selection of works by the German romantic poet Rueckert as set to music by Gustav Mahler, as well as a tone poem based on the story of Hamlet & Ophelia.
The final concert of the season will open with a joyous celebration of nature in Lee Actor’s Redwood Fanfare. The lush, and jubilant 2nd Symphony by Johannes Brahms will set the tone for a celebratory performance by the winner of the Laredo Concerto Competition.
For further information on each concert or to purchase tickets, visit the Orchestra’s website at www.laredophil.com or call 956.326.3042.
