A chamber music festival has begun in New Orleans, but you should probably leave your tuxedos and evening gowns at home.

by Joe Shriner

On Thursday evening, as the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra thundered into the final ominous seconds of the third movement of Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 3, the lights at First Baptist Church, New Orleans began to fade. One by one, the lights then died. By the time the New Orleans Children's Chorus had gathered themselves onto the stage to participate in the second half, there was a complete blackout in the Lakeview church.

by Joe Shriner

For the Maestro, New Orleans' fat lady won’t be singing for at least another five years. On Thursday, the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra officially announced that music director Carlos Miguel Prieto has signed a new contract extending his tenure through the 2018-2019 season. The LPO’s current season, which concludes this week, is Prieto’s seventh year with the orchestra.

by Joe Shriner

Drawing its ambitious 2012-13 season to a close this week, the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and its steadfast supporters have one last opportunity to get together and say farewell until next fall. Everyone better get comfortable though, because this is going to be one long, emotional goodbye.

by Joe Shriner

The concert may have been at First Baptist Church, but this stuff isn’t performed on just any given Sunday. On Thursday evening, before a packed house, the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra presented “French Masters,” the penultimate program of this season’s Classic series. Highlighting works by composers Ravel, Saint-Saëns, and Fauré, the LPO offered up lively woodwinds and strings, roaring cellos, and a work so transcendent, the choir sounded like it came from another plane of existence.

by Joe Shriner

War, death, and defeat were familiar themes in France at the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries. In a spirit that New Orleans can surely appreciate, the composers Ravel, Saint-Saëns, and Fauré were more interested in celebrating life than dwelling on death. Creating stirring works that lift the spirit and engulf the senses with melodic virtuosity, one could say they knew how to put the “fun” in funeral.

Storms mean the swing will have to wait until tomorrow in New Orleans, but the funk is still on. The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra plans to postpone Wednesday evening's Swing in the Oaks outdoor concert at City Park until Thursday night, but the weekly Wednesday at the Square concert series will go on as planned, according to organizers.

by Joe Shriner

Soon Spanish moss won’t be the only thing swinging down by the bayou. On Wednesday, April 24, the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra will kick off its annual outdoor Swing in the Oaks concert at 6:30 pm at the Goldring-Woldenberg Great Lawn in City Park.

by Joe Shriner

Though there are various Earth Day events and festivals happening throughout New Orleans on Sunday, Mother Earth gets her formal hug on the holiday itself, which is Monday, April 22. At 7 p.m. at the Community Unitarian Church in Lakeview, Musaica Chamber Ensemble will be honoring the 43rd annual Earth Day by “Going Green”—featuring various performances of music with pastoral imagery, works by Giuseppe Verdi (whose name translates to “green” in Italian), and the world premiere of “The Air Was Green” by composer Mollie O’Meara.

On Friday, the New Orleans Opera Association kicked off its two-day run of Madame Butterfly, which will conclude the company’s impressive season.