Name: The LPO presents: Shakespeare & Shostakovich
Start: 2025-11-06T19:30:00-06:00
Location: Orpheum Theater New Orleans

The LPO presents: Shakespeare & Shostakovich

Join the 𝐋𝐨𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐎𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚 and conductor 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐰 𝐊𝐫𝐚𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐫 for an evening of music that moves from theatrical intensity to romantic passion and concludes with one of the most important symphonies of the 20th century.
The concert opens with selections from Shostakovich’s 𝐻𝑎𝑚𝑙𝑒𝑡 film suite, written in 1964 for Grigori Kozintsev’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s play. The music captures Hamlet’s world of moral conflict and intrigue with Shostakovich’s characteristic blend of irony and drama.
Tchaikovsky’s 𝑅𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑜 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐽𝑢𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑡 Overture follows. The piece distills Shakespeare’s tragedy into a sweeping musical narrative, with a lyrical love theme and turbulent clashes that convey the passion and fate of the young lovers while showcasing Tchaikovsky’s gift for vivid orchestral storytelling.
After intermission, the orchestra performs Shostakovich’s 𝑆𝑦𝑚𝑝ℎ𝑜𝑛𝑦 𝑁𝑜. 10 𝑖𝑛 𝐸 𝑀𝑖𝑛𝑜𝑟, 𝑂𝑝. 93, completed in 1953 shortly after the death of Joseph Stalin. The symphony marks a turning point in the composer’s career, representing his return to large-scale symphonic writing after years of political suppression. The music offers a deeply personal reflection on fear, resilience, and artistic identity.
The opening movement is expansive and somber, filled with tension that rises and falls in long, brooding waves. The second movement unleashes relentless rhythmic energy and sharp orchestral colors, often interpreted as a portrait of Stalin’s tyranny and is followed by a more introspective and reserved third movement. The finale, widely understood as a depiction of triumph over Stalin’s authoritarian rule, begins in darkness but gradually reaches clarity and strength. These works together trace a journey through conflict, emotion, and self-discovery, highlighting the enduring power of music to confront history and affirm the human spirit.
#LouisianaPhilharmonic #LPO #Shostakovich #Symphony10 #Tchaikovsky #Hamlet #ClassicalMusic #LiveOrchestra