LU Philharmonic to celebrate Lehigh's 150th with 'New Frontiers'

Lehigh’s year-long sesquicentennial celebration continues this weekend, with two special performances from the Lehigh University Philharmonic Orchestra.

Under the direction of conductor Eugene Albulescu, the LU Philharmonic will on Friday and Saturday evening present New Frontiers—a special concert featuring two works celebrating Lehigh’s founding year of 1865, Aaron Copland’s A Lincoln Portrait and a new work, An Asa Fantasy.

A Lincoln Portrait will feature narration by James Peterson, associate professor of English and director of Africana Studies at Lehigh, while An Asa Fantasy, which includes contributions from Lehigh assistant professor of theatre Darius Omar Williams, will be narrated by President John Simon. The concert will conclude with a performance of Beethoven’s classic Symphony No. 5.

"As Lehigh University began its 150 year history, America had just lost its 16th president,” said Albulescu, who also serves as associate professor of music at Lehigh. “We are opening our program with the words of Abraham Lincoln in the epic work A Lincoln Portrait by Aaron Copland. We also will premiere a new work about Asa Packer which I wrote. It portrays the spirit of Lehigh, with many participating in composing and producing the work. The work showcases a new poem by Darius Omar Williams, recited as part of the composition by Lehigh’s newly installed president John Simon. And finally, we chose Beethoven’s fifth symphony to close the concert not only because it was very popular in the US in the 1860s, but also because of its powerful symbol of destiny and fate, of struggle leading to triumph.”

The concerts are scheduled for Friday and Saturday night, with both starting at 8 p.m. at Baker Hall. Tickets are still available and can be purchased via the Zoellner Arts Center website.

Tickets are free for Lehigh students with a valid ID.

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