A star spangled debut
NM Philharmonic to kick off Rio Rancho’s new performance space with July 4th concert
The New Mexico Philharmonic will return to the stage at the newly-opened Rio Rancho Sky Room on July 4. The concert will mark the orchestra’s first live performance in 16 months. The show doubles as the first event at the Campus Park venue.
“They’re excited and we’re very honored to be a part of the first concert at this venue,” executive director Marian Tanau said.
The pandemic forced the orchestra to cancel its 2020 season.
Grammy Award-winning conductor Roberto Minczuk will lead the musicians through a program that includes portions of Beethoven’s Fifth and Mozart’s 40th symphonies, Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, the “Stars and Stripes Forever,” Edward Elgar’s “Pomp and Circumstance.” The musicians also will play “Hoe-Down” from Aaron Copland’s “Rodeo,” Strauss’ “On the Beautiful Blue Danube” and John Williams’ “Main Title” from “Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope.”
The Philharmonic survived the pandemic-driven financial crisis through donations and federal Paycheck Protection Program loans, Tanau said. The musicians received $270,000 in PPP funds. Donors gave more than 70% of what was received in past seasons. While the orchestra gained just half its usual subscribers, one-third of these donated their tickets to the musicians.
The Sky Room is a multipurpose outdoor gathering space built as an activity hub and gathering space for special events, concerts and more.
The 44th Army Band will perform on the auxiliary stage at 6 p.m.