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BPO salutes veterans at Historic North Park Theatre

by jmaloni

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Fri, Oct 17th 2014 07:00 am

Two of Buffalo's cultural icons are joining forces to celebrate those who have served this country.

On Veterans Day, Tuesday, Nov. 11, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra will perform at the newly restored North Park Theatre at 1428 Hertel Ave., Buffalo, in celebration of veterans' contributions to American life. BPO Associate Conductor Stefan Sanders will lead the orchestra in a program of stirring music from the classical and popular traditions, exploring the themes of liberty and heroism.

"This Buffalo gem is so much more than a movie theater. It has outstanding acoustics and a stage that's perfect for a moderately sized orchestra. Through our performance at this North Buffalo icon, we hope to reach out to new audiences while honoring our veterans," said BPO Executive Director Daniel Hart.

The North Park Theatre and the Buffalo Philharmonic are seeking photographs from the public for a montage honoring veterans to air on the theater's screen before the concert and during intermission. Digital photographs of veterans from any era can be emailed to [email protected] or [email protected] by Nov. 1.

Patriotic classics such as John Phillip Sousa's "Semper Fidelis" and "Stars and Stripes Forever" will be on the concert program, along with Morton Gould's "American Salute" and John Williams' "Liberty Fanfare." Beethoven's "Leonore Overture" from "Fidelio" explores the themes of freedom. Music familiar from movies, such as Samuel Barber's "Adagio for Strings" and John Williams' "The Patriot," will round out the program.

"Since 1920, the North Park has been a fixture in the lives of Western New Yorkers," said Ray Barker, program director at the North Park Theatre. "Over the past eight months, we've worked hard to restore the theater to its original beauty, with the idea that it would not only be a place for excellent films, but a place for top-quality performances. We're proud to join the BPO in saluting our veterans, and look forward to welcoming the Western New York community."

Mike LoCurto of the Buffalo Common Council provides support for the concert.

"Western New Yorkers have a long history of answering the call whenever the nation needs them, from World War I to the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan," LoCurto said. "I'm proud to support the efforts of the North Park Theatre and the Buffalo Philharmonic to honor their sacrifices."

Tickets to the concert are priced at $25, with VIP seating available for $50. To purchase tickets, call 716-885-5000, visit bpo.org, or stop by the Kleinhans Box Office at 3 Symphony Circle. Tickets are also available at the North Park Theatre, 1428 Hertel Ave., or northparktheatre.org.

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