The Yuletide Celebration returned to the Columbia Theatre on Friday, Dec. 2. The orchestra played Christmas tunes and was joined by the university Women’s Chorale who helped the audience in a sing-along.
Larshell Green/The Lion's Roar
Patrons gathered in the Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts to ring in the holiday season during an annual holiday celebration.
On Friday, Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m., the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra presented their annual Yuletide Celebration at the Columbia Theatre. The theme of the show was “Beethoven and Blue Jeans” because of the musicians’ attires during their performances of holiday songs.
The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra’s Director of Philanthropy Mimi Kruger wanted audience members to be transformed through music in preparation for the holiday season.
“We wanted to bring people together,” said Kruger. “We want them to feel good and we want them to be humming as they walk out the door.”
Kruger said that the partnership between LPO and the Columbia Theatre came about when LPO wanted to expand their “Beethoven and Blue Jeans” series.
“It’s a historic venue and a beautiful space for concerts,” said Kruger. “We wanted to have a presence here in Hammond. It’s a great partnership and we want to be able to be bringing music into the communities that we serve.”
The university’s Women’s Chorale helped to close the show by leading the audience in a sing-along of Christmas classics.
Freshman music major with a concentration in vocal performance Haylee Zeringue participated in the Yuletide Celebration for the first time. She thought that the performance served as a means for getting into the holiday spirit and was inspired by the unique selections included in the orchestra.
“The music really just gives you Christmas spirit,” said Zeringue. “Like I came into here, not having a bad day, I was just kind of tired and I wanted to take a nap, but it made me so happy and it went by really quickly. The music selection was amazing too, like how he brought music from different countries and put them all together, I really liked that a lot.”
LPO Cellist David Rosen, began in the New Orleans Symphony. He explained that when it unfolded for monetary reasons and came back as the LPO in 1992, he joined and has been a member ever since.
“It just brings out the holidays,” said Rosen. “It’s the end of the year. People are waiting for the new year to hear some good music. We enjoy it. It’s just ringing in the year basically and it’s time for a new beginning.”
A local patron Jim Batson admitted it was his first time seeing the Yuletide Celebration occur at the Columbia Theatre, although he and wife watched it previously in Baton Rouge. He was fonder of the first half of the concert.
“To me, the symphony or the orchestra is like eating a very favorable steak with your ears,” said Batson.
LPO will next perform at the Columbia Theatre on Friday, Mar. 3 2017 at 7:30 p.m. For more information, call them at 504-523-6530, or visit their website at lpomusic.com.