Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra

by Mary Downer

Classical music has a long history in New Orleans and dates back to the French colonial era. The upper class was often entertained by private classical music events in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The old, acoustically ideal theaters in New Orleans eventually paved the way for public performances by full orchestras.

The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra has had a difficult history. Formed from its predecessor, the New Orleans Symphony, the L.P.O. is a “Cinderella story” of sorts. When the New Orleans Symphony went bankrupt and folded in 1993, it’s musicians took the initiative to manage it themselves and resurrected it. They raised funds and hired their own conductors. The L.P.O. became the first completely musician-owned symphony orchestra in the U.S.

The musicians enjoyed a successful 2004-2005 season and then Hurricane Katrina hit. In addition to destroying many of the musician’s homes and lives, Katrina destroyed the Orpheum Theater. Amazingly, the L.P.O. survived the storm and came back even stronger than before.

In January of 2009 the newly restored Mahalia Jackson Theatre for the Performing Arts reopened in New Orleans with a gala concert featuring the L.P.O., New Orleans Opera, and dancers from the New York City and San Francisco Ballets. With their real home, the Orpheum Theater, still in ruins from the storm, the L.P.O. continue to perform in the Mahalia Jackson Theater, a variety of churches, university theaters and other venues around greater New Orleans.

In recent years, the L.P.O. has brought to the stage such renowned guest artists as violinists Pinchas Zukerman and Mark O’Connor, flutist James Galway and pianist/composer Marvin Hamlisch. Its seasons’ repertoires generally range from Broadway show tunes, pop standards and patriotic themes, to the works of classical composers including Mozart, Brahms, Beethoven, Mahler, Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky.

Of the city’s major performing arts groups the L.P.O. has the greatest mobility, being able to offer concerts in many locations,
including the outdoors. Bringing their talents to our community, the L.P.O. will be bring music to life at Houma’s Southdown Plantation under the Buquet Pavilion. This free concert is part of the L.P.O.’s effort to bring classical music to the forefront of music education in our state. To inspire a generation of future musicians, they’re offering a kids pre-concert educational program called “Behind the Sounds.”

Pack a picnic, bring the kids and come settle down on the lawn for a bit of classical entertainment.