Klauspeter Seibel returns to guest conduct the full U.S. premiere of Lera Auerbach's Chimera for LPO

October 27, 10:57 AMNew Orleans Performing Arts ExaminerMichelle Biggs

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The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra continues its Classics Series on Thursday, October 29, 7:30 pm at First Baptist in New Orleans with a special appearance by Principal Guest Conductor Klauspeter Seibel. Seibel previously served as Music Director for the LPO from 1995 to 2005 and continues to be a major figure on the musical stages of both Europe and the United States.?

The concert will feature Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 3 "Scottish" and a special presentation of the full U.S. premiere of Lera Auerbach’s Symphony No. 1 "Chimera."

?Felix Mendelssohn’s symphony, with its somber, melancholic opening, is suggestive of the brooding, misty Scottish land, and evokes a romantic spirit of the Highland country. Mendelssohn published the score of the symphony in 1842 in an arrangement for piano duet, and as a full orchestral score in 1843, making it his last major orchestral work.?

But the highlight of the evening will be the special presentation of Lera Auerbach's "Chimera". Auerbach is a young and hip Russian-American composer and pianist, and one of the most widely performed composers of the new generation. Just in her mid-30s, Auerbach was born in the Soviet Union, but defected to the U.S. and earned her Bachelor and Master’s degrees from The Juilliard School. Her compositions have been commissioned and performed by a wide array of artists, orchestras, ballet companies and festivals throughout the world.?

Auerbach’s acclaim is attributed not only to her musical activities but also to her writing. She was named Poet-of-the-Year by the International Pushkin Society. Her poetry is taught in schools and universities in Russia as part of the required reading for modern literature courses and she just completed her first stage play. Auerbach herself will be available for a pre-concert lecture beginning at 6:45 pm.

For more information: Call the box office at 504-523-6530 or visit lpomusic.com.