LOUISIANA
PHILHARMONIC TO
PERFORM IN CARNEGIE
HALL IN FEBRUARY
Breakthru Staff
The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra
is about to embark on what is shaping up
to be the crowning achievement of its 26-
year existence: an invitation to perform at
New York’s fabled Carnegie Hall!
The LPO will be performing two works
by Philip Glass in honor of the composer’s
80th birthday, plus a lively musical piece
by Mexican composer Silvestre Revueltas.
LPO music director Carlos Miguel Prieto
will conduct the performance, scheduled
for February 27, 2018.
As one of only two orchestras from around the U.S. selected
to participate in the Carnegie Hall tribute to Glass, LPO
officials are hailing it as “a remarkable achievement.”
The orchestra is attempting to raise $300,000 to send 80
musicians, plus the conductor and two soloists, to New York for
the landmark concert. To date, they have raised about $200,000
and are seeking the remaining amount through donations on
four levels, based on the amount donated. The categories are:
Carnegie Fellows: $10,000
Conductor/Soloist Sponsors: $5,000
LPO Musician Sponsors: $1,000
Patrons: Any amount
Eighty musicians are scheduled to make the trip and the
LPO’s fundraising arm is trying to raise at least $1,000 per
musician, for a total of $80,000 on that level. About half of the
musicians have been sponsored so far.
The pieces to be performed are Revueltas’ La Noche de Los
Mayas (The Night of the Mayas), inspired by Mayan culture
and which culminates in a blaze of pulsing rhythms and wild
percussion.
Glass’ works to be performed include Days and Nights in
Rocinha, an evocative tribute to the barrio culture of Brazil. Then
there are more fireworks as the concert
concludes with Glass’ “Concerto Fantasy
for Two Timpanists and Orchestra,” a
thrilling showcase of percussive virtuosity
from the two soloists who play nine kettle
drums between them.
LPO president and principal timpanist,
Jim Atwood, is one of the featured soloists.
He will be joined at the front of the stage
by Paul Yancich, principal timpanist of the
Cleveland Orchestra.
Prior to the Carnegie Hall performance,
New Orleanians will have an opportunity to hear all three pieces
locally at the Orpheum Theater in downtown New Orleans.
Maestro Prieto will conduct the orchestra for two programs
scheduled on February 22 and 24. Both concerts start at 7:30
p.m.
Philip Glass, universally renowned as one of the foremost
composers of the late 20th century, is the holder of the 2017-
2018 Richard and Barbara Debs Composer’s Chair at Carnegie
Hall. One of the pioneers of the “minimalist” style, he has
written 16 operas and musical theatre works, 11 symphonies,
11 concertos, seven string quartets and various other chamber
music and film scores. Three of his film scores have been
nominated for Academy Awards. Maestro Prieto has worked
with him on previous occasions.
For more information on donating and/or purchasing tickets
to the Carnegie Hall concert, go to https://www.lpomusic.com/
online/article/carnegie-hall and click on the red box that says
“DONATE TODAY.” For information about the LPO and its
performances call (504) 523-6530 or email them at tickets@
lpomusic.com.
CARNEGIE HALL PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF GOLDBERG
Carlos Miguel Prieto
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BENJAMIN EALOVEGA
N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 7 breakthrumediamagazine.com | BREAKTHRU MEDIA | 11