Organ to thunder in majestic finale
April 10, 2017
As pointed out – correctly – by many, the Koger Center for the Arts does not have an organ. But it will Saturday, April 22, 2017 for Certified Organic, the South Carolina Philharmonic’s majestic,7:30 p.m. season finale.
To accommodate the thundering Saint-Saëns Organ Symphony, centerpiece of Certified Organic, the S.C. Phil is renting a 32-foot, three-manual electric organ from Fox Music House in North Charleston. The organ has the necessary power to fill the hall with sound during the unique, soaring symphony.
In addition to the Saint-Saëns, Music Director Morihiko Nakahara programmed two other works befitting a season finale. Respighi’s enchanting Fountains of Rome begins the evening with a tour of the historic city’s iconic water features via his colorful music. Andy Akiho (right), a Columbia native, returns after his S.C. Phil debut last year to perform as guest soloist on steel pan in Beneath Lighted Coffers, a piece he composed for the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C.
Certified Organic is sponsored in part by Dr. Gail M. Morrison and Doni & David Jordan.
Nakahara presents the popular pre-concert lecture series Classical Conversations at 6:30 p.m. in the Koger Center auditorium, offering unique insight into the evening’s program free to all ticket-holders.
Concert tickets start at $17. They are available online 24-hours a day at KogerCenterForTheArts.com, or from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.Monday through Friday by phone at 803.251.2222 or at the Koger Center Box Office at Park and Greene streets. Student and military discounts are available. Self-parking is $10 and Southern Valet provides valet parking for $10.
Every season, since 2011, the S.C. Phil selects a group of charity partners from the Midlands to help raise awareness for their causes. Each charity is featured at one Masterworks concert during the season. The partner for this concert is Historic Columbia.
ABOUT HISTORIC COLUMBIA
Historic Columbia is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving Columbia and Richland County’s historic and cultural heritage. Through historic preservation advocacy, innovative educational programs and strategic partnerships Historic Columbia ensures that local history and heritage tourism are key elements in the quality of life in Columbia and Richland County. Visit HistoricColumbia.org to learn more.
