An American in Paris with the LPO

Name: An American in Paris with the LPO
Start: 2025-10-22T19:30:00-05:00
Location: Orpheum Theater New Orleans

Schedule

Wed, 22 Oct, 2025 at 07:30 pm

UTC-05:00

Location

Orpheum Theater New Orleans | New Orleans, LA

Step into a world where jazz, rhythm, and orchestral color collide! The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra brings to life a dazzling program that pulses with American spirit and cross-cultural imagination.
From the gleaming brass of Bernstein’s 𝑇ℎ𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝐷𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝐸𝑝𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑑𝑒𝑠 to the sultry swing of Ellington’s 𝑁𝑒𝑤 𝑊𝑜𝑟𝑙𝑑 𝐴-𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑛’, this concert brims with vitality. At its heart lies the world premiere of James Lee III’s 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑜 𝑖𝑛 𝐴, a bold new work bursting with virtuosity, brought to life by acclaimed pianist Jeffrey Biegel.
The evening unfolds with Karena Ingram’s 𝑅𝐴𝐼𝑁𝑁 , a contemporary reflection shimmering with texture and resonance, before culminating in Gershwin’s iconic 𝐴𝑛 𝐴𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑖𝑛 𝑃𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑠—a symphonic postcard alive with taxi horns, blue notes, and the restless energy of a city in motion. This is America in music: bold, dynamic, unforgettable.
Experience the sweep of history and the spark of innovation in one unforgettable night.
📅 Date & Time
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Concert · 7:30 PM
📍 Location: Orpheum Theater, New Orleans
About the Composers
𝐉𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐞 𝐈𝐈𝐈 An American composer celebrated for his vivid orchestral palette, Lee draws on history, spirituality, and cultural memory to craft music of emotional power. His Concerto in A receives its world premiere in this performance, showcasing both his lyrical voice and his bold, rhythmic drive
𝐊𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐚 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦
A rising voice in contemporary composition, Ingram explores soundscapes of reflection and transformation. Her piece 𝑅𝐴𝐼𝑁𝑁 evokes cycles of renewal through layered textures, expanding the possibilities of today’s orchestral language while remaining deeply human at its core.
𝐆𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐆𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐰𝐢𝐧 (1898–1937)
A Brooklyn-born musical visionary, Gershwin blended the sophistication of classical form with the raw energy of jazz. Works like 𝑅ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑠𝑜𝑑𝑦 𝑖𝑛 𝐵𝑙𝑢𝑒 and 𝐴𝑛 𝐴𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑖𝑛 𝑃𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑠 capture the vibrancy of early 20th-century America, forever reshaping the concert hall with the sound of a modern nation.
𝐋𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐁𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐢𝐧 (1918–1990)
One of the towering figures of American music, Bernstein was equally at home on the Broadway stage and in the symphony hall. His score for 𝑂𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑇𝑜𝑤𝑛 brims with rhythmic drive and theatrical flair, reflecting his gift for merging popular and classical idioms into music that dances with life.
𝐃𝐮𝐤𝐞 𝐄𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐨𝐧 (1899–1974)
A true giant of jazz, Ellington’s artistry extended far beyond the bandstand. 𝑁𝑒𝑤 𝑊𝑜𝑟𝑙𝑑 𝐴-𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑛’, first performed in 1943, reveals his deep belief in music as a force for progress and cultural unity, weaving blues, swing, and symphonic textures into a vision of hope.
𝐉𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐞 𝐈𝐈𝐈 An American composer celebrated for his vivid orchestral palette, Lee draws on history, spirituality, and cultural memory to craft music of emotional power. His 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑜 𝑖𝑛 𝐴 receives its world premiere in this performance, showcasing his bold, rhythmic drive.