A concert, lecture, and musical highlight Fanfare’s opening week

A symphony concert, lecture, and musical theater performance are just some of the events scheduled during the opening week of the 40th season of Fanfare, Southeastern Louisiana University’s annual fall festival of the arts, humanities and social sciences.

A Then and Now Fanfare lecture from the History and Political Science Department is scheduled Sept. 23, at 12:30 p.m. in the Student Union Theatre. Historian of science, technology, art and philosophy Lily Filson will present “Animating the Divine: Water, Magic, and Knowledge in the Automata of Villa Pratolino.”

Filson steps into the world of Renaissance wonder to explain that hidden water-powered machines at a Medici villa were not just dazzling entertainment but were designed to channel celestial forces. Water served as both a magical and scientific medium, animating lifelike statues and symbolizing divine knowledge in a place where art, technology, and spirituality converged. The lecture will trace how thinkers used water to bring statues to life and ideas to light.

On Sept.25, the Southeastern Wind Symphony will present “Inspirations.” Scheduled at 7:30 p.m. in Pottle Auditorium, the free concert will feature music inspired by composers, dances, and history.

The concert will include such standard works as William Schuman’s New England Triptych, which is based on the patriotic anthems by William Billings. Grainger’s Molly on the Shore is based on Irish Dance music, while Joel Puckett’s work “Prelude and Fugato from Mama Dee’s Songbook” is a tribute to his grandmother, who, despite numerous hardships through the Great Depression, was the first in his family to earn a music degree. The world premiere of a wind version of Quinn Mason’s orchestral work, “Inspiration! Festive Overture,” focuses on the power of inspiration.

The Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts in downtown Hammond will present the Jefferson Performing Arts Society in “Waitress” on Sept. 25, at 7:30 p.m. A hit Broadway musical, Waitress features an original score with music and lyrics by Grammy Award-winner Sara Bareilles. The touring production features a live orchestra conducted by Maestro Dennis Assaf and is co-produced by Southeastern’s Development Foundation and Tangi Tourism.

Tickets are $45 for adults and $25 for students. Advance tickets are available online at columbiatheatre.org, at the Columbia Theatre box office at 985-549-2787, Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and one hour prior to each performance. 

Fanfare events are free, unless otherwise noted. For more information, contact the Columbia/Fanfare office at 985-549-2999.