NEW ORLEANS – The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) has unveiled its 2026-2027 season, what they share is a meticulously curated journey through symphonic grandeur, modern premieres, and vibrant cultural celebrations. Led by the Adelaide Wisdom Benjamin Music Director Matthew Kraemer, the upcoming season is said to balance timeless masterpieces with bold new voices.
OPENING NIGHT AND A SEASON OF FAVORITES
The season begins on Sept. 17 with a program designed to showcase the full technical and emotional range of the LPO. Opening Night features the festive energy of Anna Clyne’s Masquerade, followed by the lush, sweeping romanticism of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2—performed by a medalist from the New Orleans International Piano Competition. The evening concludes with the monumental power of Brahms’s Symphony No. 4, signaling a season defined by profound depth.
In January, the orchestra scales the heights of human emotion with Mahler’s Symphony No. 5. This monumental journey travels from a somber funeral march to a jubilant, life-affirming finale, paired with the enchanting Norwegian folklore of Grieg’s Peer Gynt suite.
“This season is a vibrant tapestry that celebrates the enduring power of the symphonic tradition while boldly embracing the voices of today through monumental new commissions” said Music Director, Matthew Kraemer. “The spirit of this orchestra will shine through works from as early as the 1730’s through today.”
CELEBRATING HERITAGE AND VIRTUOSITY
The 2026-2027 schedule is deeply rooted in cultural storytelling. From the urban landscape of Buenos Aires to the rural landscapes of the American South, this season highlights the ” heartbeat” of the Americas.
Oct. 22 is marked by the highly anticipated return of Carlos Miguel Prieto, the LPO’s Music Director Laureate, to the Orpheum stage. Prieto, a beloved figure who led the orchestra for seventeen seasons, leans into a sharp-edged program of rhythmic brilliance and vitality. The evening is anchored by the compelling drama of Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5, a work famously written under immense political pressure and delivered with monumental emotional intensity. Joining Prieto is the acclaimed returning violinist Aubree Oliverson, who will perform Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2.
On Thursday Oct. 8, the LPO celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with Concierto en Tango. Cellist Roman Mekinulov joins the stage for Miguel del Aguila’s fiery work, complemented by the cinematic landscapes of Ginastera and the Spanish flair of Manuel de Falla. The exploration continues with Gabriela Lena Frank’s (of Jewish and Peruvian descent) folk-inspired Three Latin American Dances and Concertino Cusqueño, which utilizes kaleidoscopic textures inspired by Inca culture.
This Pan-American journey is continued by the open-hearted clarity of Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring. This is a quintessential work that captures the spirit of American hope and is paired with Astor Piazzolla’s Four Seasons in Buenos Aires.
The season also features the work of Multi-GRAMMY® and Latin GRAMMY® Award–winning composer Gabriela Ortiz, who has been hailed as one of Mexico’s foremost composers.
“Our 2026-2027 season reinforces the LPO’s commitment to innovation and diversity, featuring trailblazing conductors and soloists who represent the very best of the orchestral world,” said LPO Executive Director Anwar Nasir. “By pairing timeless works from the canon with the modern voices writing from our current times, we continue to serve as the cultural bearer of the over two hundred-old orchestral tradition in New Orleans and Louisiana while serving as a champion of today’s music.”
A NEW ERA OF INNOVATION: DEFINING THE MODERN CANON
The 2026-2027 season reinforces the LPO’s role as a vibrant leader for the future of symphonic music, featuring a curated selection of works that challenge and expand the orchestral tradition. This is anchored by a high-profile world premiere commission from James Lee III, a collaborative commission project promising fresh perspectives and contemporary brilliance. The orchestra’s innovative spirit is further highlighted by Kevin Puts’ Flute Concerto, a masterclass in breathtaking agility and ethereal beauty featuring LPO Principal Flute Ji-Weon Ryu. The season explores the intersection of old and new through Thomas Adès’s Three Studies from Couperin, which masterfully blends Baroque elegance with modern flair. These contemporary explorations are bookended by the season’s start and finish: Anna Clyne’s Masquerade opens the season while Carlos Simon’s Fate Now Conquers offers an electrifying modern tribute to the drive and destiny of Beethoven for the season finale.
THE CHAMBER ORCHESTRA AND NORTHSHORE SERIES
The LPO ventures in the Marigny and Northshore for its Chamber Orchestra series that offers audiences a more intimate look at the ensemble’s artistry at the New Marigny Theatre and Fuhrmann Auditorium. Highlights include a conductor less performance of Dvořák’s serenades, showcasing the raw chemistry and dialogue between the musicians, and a “City of Light” program featuring the festive grandeur of Mozart’s “Paris” Symphony. The series will also feature works by Bach, Haydn, Piston, Telemann, and Mihaud.
THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF WOMEN IN ORCHESTRAL MUSIC
All throughout the season, the LPO highlights their excellence on and off the podium. Multiple Grammy® winning conductor and trailblazer, JoAnn Falletta, returns to lead the orchestra through the opulent storytelling of Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade. The season also sees works by Clara Schumann, Gabriela Lena Frank, and Gabriela Ortiz. Making her LPO debut Melisse Brunet, Mussorgsky/Ravel’s Pictures at an Exhibition is anchored by two premieres. Daniela Candillari returns to lead a stirring program featuring works by Tchaikovsky, Saint-Saens, Khachaturian, and Prokofiev.
The Return of Tank and The Bangas: A Grammy Winning Homecoming
The LPO is thrilled to welcome back New Orleans’ own Tank and The Bangas for a new and highly anticipated third collaboration. Since their last powerhouse performances with the orchestra, the group has ascended to new heights. Returning to the Orpheum stage as Grammy Award winners for Best Spoken Word Poetry Album (The Heart, The Mind, The Soul), the orchestra and band will celebrate a homegrown success story on Friday, Oct. 2, 7:30 p.m. at the Orpheum Theater.
TICKETS
Subscription packages begin at $169 and are currently on sale. Single tickets go on sale in August 2026. For pricing and more information, visit www.lpomusic.com/subscribe or contact Patron Services by calling 504.523.6530. LPO Box Office hours are Monday through Friday from 1 – 4 p.m.
FULL CONCERT SERIES LISTING
Orpheum Theater
Sept 17: Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2
Oct 2: LPO with Tank & The Bangas
Oct 8: Concierto en Tango
Oct 22: Prieto Returns: Shostakovich No. 5
Nov 12: Mozart’s Jupiter & Petrushka
Dec 3: Classical Christmas: Messiah
Dec 17: Holiday Spectacular
Jan 14, 2027: Peer Gynt & Mahler No. 5
Feb 18, 2027: Tchaikovsky & Prokofiev’s Cinderella Suite
Mar 4, 2027: Schubert “The Great”
Mar 18, 2027: Pictures at an Exhibition
Apr 1, 2027: Scheherazade
Apr 15, 2027: Appalachian Spring & Four Seasons In Buenos Aires
May 6, 2027: Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis
May 15, 2027: Season Finale: Inspired Beethoven
Northshore: Fuhrmann Auditorium
Sept 24: Mozart Symphony No. 31 “Paris”
Nov 5: Birds, Bugs and Kites
Dec 2: Classical Christmas: Messiah
Jan 7, 2027: Essential Dvořák: The Serenades
Feb 25, 2027: Miracles with Haydn, Bach, and More
Apr 16, 2027: Appalachian Spring & Four Seasons In Buenos Aires
New Marigny Theater
Sept 23: Mozart Symphony No. 31 “Paris”
Nov 4: Birds, Bugs and Kites
Jan 6, 2027: Essential Dvořák: The Serenades
Feb 24, 2027: Miracles with Haydn, Bach, and More