Puerto Rican Orchestra performs at Springfield Symphony Hall

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - A nearly full house, thousands of music lovers came to see history, and hear the Puerto Rican Philharmonic Orchestra , at Springfield's Symphony Hall.

It's a cultural exchange, and the 70-piece orchestra played Springfield Friday night for an exclusive performance.

There's apparently a hunger for this kind of entertainment in western Massachusetts.

Betty Webb of Springfield told 22News, "I'm just excited. I’m super psyched to see and hear Latin Classical Music."

According to Tony Pacheco of Springfield, "It's nice to have something like this going on in Springfield. I'm always going out of town to do something like this. It's nice to be able to stay in town and do something like this."

The Springfield Symphony Hall date was the first stop on a tour for the Puerto Rican Philharmonic Orchestra.