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.

Today, see the Dalai Lama live streamed on O.C. Haley. Bayou Boogaloo kicks off a zero-trash bash, the LPO performs Mahler’s Symphony No. 3, and more. On May 17, 1954, Louisiana was forced by Brown v. Board to desegregate all of the schools. Now, more to do this Friday. 

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

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

To say the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra has had an outstanding last several years would an understatement. After Katrina dissolved its ranks and ravaged its former home at the Orpheum Theatre, the orchestra under the direction of Maestro Carlos Miguel Prieto has rallied itself to become another vital post-Flood success story. The LPO’s 2013-2014 season has a lot to live up to, and if its newly announced lineup is any indication, it should be another exciting year.

by Joe Shriner

Classical music lovers may want to put on their ushankas and wool coats this weekend as the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra will be whisking its audience to more wintry climes, presenting works by Russian and Scandinavian composers Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky, and Jean Sibelius.

For the last century, classical music has left the improv to jazz, and even standup comedy. The likes of James Levine would scarcely have improvised on a theme built by a classical composer, or, worse let the audience decide what to play. For pianist Gabriela Montero, however, letting the audience in is part of what gives her music life. The Venezuelan-American will be in New Orleans over the next three days, offering the Crescent City a window on her process, prodigious playing and a new work.

At a Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra concert, programs and pre-concert lectures are often peppered with biographical tidbits about composers. From a love triangle that inspired a piece to details about the geopolitical situation in the musical master's home country, it may seem to outsiders like these approaches have scaled the ultimate heights of geekdom in pursuit of their causes. But, this weekend the LPO will reach a new precipice with George Gershwin as they employ the wonders of multimedia to conjure an Experience. 

May 28, when London sees the first swimming pool (1742), when the U.S. stock market dropped $20.8 billion in one day (1962), when Walker Percy (1916), Gladys Knight (1944), Patch Adams (1945), and Kylie Minogue (1968) were born, and when Gary Coleman died (2010). Here’s to taking a dip:

Prior to close reading, placing George Frederich Handel's Messiah with Johann Sebastian Bach's Christmas Oratorio on one concert seems like about as close as baroque music gets to a slobberknocker.