Philippe Entremont Joins Loyola Orchestra, 12/7

Philippe Entremont, H'83, internationally renowned pianist and conductor, is well-known throughout New Orleans and the Gulf Coast region for his exceptional career and his time spent as music director of the New Orleans Philharmonic Orchestra from 1980 to 1986. On Friday, Dec. 7, the maestro returns to New Orleans to perform the "Triple Concerto," one of Beethoven's most celebrated compositions, at Loyola University New Orleans.

The performance, part of the ongoing centennial celebration at Loyola, begins at 7:30 p.m. in Louis J. Roussel Performance Hall, located in the Communications/Music Complex on the corner of St. Charles Avenue and Calhoun Street.

With Entremont at the piano, the performance will also feature the Loyola Symphony Orchestra, with Loyola faculty members Amy Thiaville on violin and Allen Nisbet on cello. Both Nisbet and Thiaville played under Entremont's direction while members of the New Orleans Philharmonic Orchestra.

Tickets are $40 for preferred seating, $25 for reserved seating, and $15 for Loyola students, faculty and staff. For tickets and information, visit montage.loyno.edu or call 504-865-2074. Free parking is available in the West Road Garage, accessible from St. Charles Avenue.

Entremont's career began with a number of notable successes, including winning the Queen Elisabeth Music Competition in Brussels at the age of 17. A year later, he gained international attention with his success at New York's Carnegie Hall, playing Jolivet's piano concerto and Liszt's "Piano Concerto No. 1." Since then, he has pursued a top international career as a pianist, and for the last 30 years, on the podium as well.

His Columbia recordings with Eugene Ormandy and Leonard Bernstein were particularly popular, and he began conducting from the keyboard himself in 1968. His talents as a conductor and dedication to developing orchestras' artistic potential have led to numerous international tours with some of the world's most elite orchestras. Entremont was also among the 10 world-class pianists chosen to perform in the "Piano Extravaganza of the Century" at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Donald R. Boomgaarden, Ph.D., dean of Loyola's College of Music and Fine Arts, describes the event as "a wonderful opportunity for the New Orleans audience to connect again with a great figure and for our students to make music with one of the most remarkable artists of our time."

This performance is supported in part by the JW Marriott Hotel New Orleans.