News release Public Information Office   SLU 10880   Hammond, LA 70402   phone: 985-549-2341   fax: 985-549-2061 publicinfo@selu.edu Spring 2004 news releases Public Information home News archive Contact: Christina Chapple Date: 2/18/04   Click on image for publication quality photo Left, the LPO on the Columbia Theatre stage; right, Music Director Klauspeter Seibel COLUMBIA 2004 OFFERS MAGICAL MOMENTS OF MOZART WITH THE LPO       HAMMOND -- The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra will celebrate the musical genius of Mozart with the first of three 2004 concerts at Southeastern Louisiana University’s Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts Friday, Feb. 27.       “Mainly Mozart,” conducted by music director Klauspeter Seibel, begins at 7 p.m. at the downtown Hammond theater. The symphony will perform the overture to the opera, “The Magic Flute;” Divertimento No. 1, and Symphony No. 41, Mozart's final symphony, known as "Jupiter.” As lagniappe, the musicians will also perform Canzonas for Brass by 16th century composer Giovanni Gabrieli.        “Mozart is everyone’s favorite,” said Dennis O’Hara, LPO director of marketing and public relations. “People who have been coming to our concerts for years as well as newcomers respond well when we perform Mozart. We’re looking forward to happy audiences relaxing to wonderful music after the craziness of Mardi Gras.”       Tickets for “Mainly Mozart” are $30, Orchestra 1 and Loge; $25, Orchestra 2 and Balcony 1; and $20, Balcony 2. The Columbia is offering a season ticket package for all three LPO concerts, including the upcoming “Beethoven & Blue Jeans” on May 7 and the always popular holiday concert on Dec. 3. The ticket package prices are $75, Orchestra 1 and Loge; $65, Orchestra 2 and Balcony 1; and $55, Balcony 2.        “Mainly Mozart” begins with the Overture to “The Magic Flute,” Mozart’s most successful work.  Audiences are instantly charmed by music that effortlessly transports them into the opera’s world of joy, reverence, and belief in the goodness of humanity.         The program continues with “Divertimento No. 1,” a simple, charming composition from the teenage Mozart. An energetic start is followed by a softer section which flows into a small but vigorous movement that introduces a trio and concludes with a lively finale.       Next, the orchestra takes a break from Mozart to play Gabrieli’s “Canzonas for Brass.” The work marks the first time in the history of instrumental music that a composer made a deliberate effort to impress the listener and overwhelm him with power and splendor.       The night comes to a close with Mozart’s “Symphony No. 41,” a piece that evokes images of Olympian grandeur and, for this reason, was later nicknamed “Jupiter.”  The mood of the opening movement is proud and extroverted, yet in the second movement Mozart shifts to an atmosphere of restrained elegance. The third movement combines numerous contrasts creating music that is exquisitely balanced in form. The final movement joins new themes with ideas from the previous sections to construct a true masterpiece.      Tickets are available at the Columbia box office, 985-543-4371, located in the theater’s lobby, 220 E. Thomas Street, and online through TicketWeb, www.ticketweb.com. Box office hours are noon to five p.m.. Feb. 9, 16, 19, 20 and 25-27.       The discount ticket package, which will not be available after the Feb. 27 performance, is only available at the box office.      For additional information on Columbia 2004 events, call 985-543-4366 or visit www.selu.edu/columbia..