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Photo of Eckart Preu courtesy of Long Beach Symphony.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n New Music Director Designate Eckart Preu of the Long Beach Symphony is taking part in conducting four free concerts for 12,000 elementary students this week, followed by a concert this Saturday at the Terrace Theater of the Long Beach Performing Arts Center, it was announced.<\/p>\n The Long Beach Symphony has also announced Preu\u2019s inaugural season repertoire of six concerts that begin in October 2017 and end in June 2018. Dance, performance, food, libations, and visuals have been designed into each concert.<\/p>\n Saturday\u2019s event showcases Camille Saint-Sean\u2019s Danse Macabra<\/em>, Paul Dukas\u2019 Sorcerer\u2019s Apprentice<\/em>, Claude Debussy\u2019s prelude to The Afternoon of a Faun<\/em>, dubbed by Peru<\/em> and Hector Berlioz\u2019s Symphonie fantastique<\/em>.<\/p>\n \u201cThe work is not only playing mind games on the \u2018artist\u2019 whose life it portrays,\u201d Preu said in a statement, referring to the Berlioz piece. \u201cIt may be playing mind games with us as well.\u201d<\/p>\n The Saturday concert begins at 8:00PM. Doors open at 6:30PM for those who wish to attend a discussion with Preu prior at 7:00PM. There will also be a toast held after the concert in his honor.<\/p>\n Fourth and fifth graders of Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) and Gulf Elementary fifth graders from Wilmington will be in attendance for the four free symphony concerts on February 1 and 2.<\/p>\n \u201cThese concerts may be the only opportunity many of these students have to hear a symphony orchestra play live and to learn from professional musicians,\u201d said Long Beach Symphony Executive Director Kelly Lucera, in a statement. \u201cWatching 12,000 kids file into the concert hall is a truly moving experience, and we are excited to have them be some of the first residents to meet Maestro Preu.\u201d<\/p>\n These concerts are based on the theme, \u201cSymphonic Superheroes.\u201d Students will have the opportunity to meet superhero characters upon arrival.<\/p>\n In addition, 100 LBUSD honors orchestra high school students will join the Long Beach Symphony musicians for these concerts. Dozens of middle school orchestra students are also attending rehearsals.<\/p>\n Preu, from Erfurt in East Germany, was announced music director in August after a two-year search<\/a>. He earned his masters in Hoschule fuer Musik in Weimer, and continued to study in Paris at the Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique.<\/p>\n RELATED<\/small> <\/p>\n
\n\n\u00a0<\/div>\nAfter Two Years the Search is Over, Long Beach Symphony Selects New Music Director<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n