New Orleans hosts historic citywide artist residency for Lera Auerbach

The city of New Orleans will unite in a way it has never seen before as five New Orleans art organizations collaborate on a citywide residency.  The residency will highlight a selection of work by Lera Auerbach, famed composer, pianist, conductor, poet and visual artist.

New Orleans has never had a project of this size attempted across the whole city with a single artist being highlighted in many different forms. The event will take place from February 5 to April 11.

This historic collaboration will include the New Orleans Opera, New Orleans Friends of Music, the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Department of Fine and Performing Arts at Loyola University, with more funding support from the Musical Arts Society of New Orleans.

Auerbach is one of the most exciting and creative voices in the art world of this time. In the last few years, her music has gained attention from a worldwide audience and expanded her composing experience. Auerbach’s ability to express her art visually, in words, and in music makes her the perfect candidate for this kind of artist residency. 

“Lera is one of the world’s most celebrated and compelling creative artists and has had a connection to New Orleans ever since her first visit here in 2009 when the LPO gave the North American premiere of her Symphony No. 1,” says Dr. Ranney Mize, President of the Board of Trustees of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, immediate past President of the New Orleans Opera, past President of the Board of the New Orleans Friends of Music, and a former officer of the Arts Council of New Orleans.

The residency will begin on February 5 at New Orleans Friends of Music where Lera Auerbach will perform a solo piano recital of her new work. The event will take place in Dixon Hall at Tulane University. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. and tickets can be bought here.

From April 4-7 the New Orleans Opera will premiere Lera Auerbach’s acapella opera at the Marigny Opera House. Tickets can be found here.

The United States premiere of Auerbach’s “The Infant Minstrel and His Peculiar Menagerie” will be held at the Orpheum Theatre on March 15 at 7:30 p.m. There will be a pre-concert talk at 6:30 p.m.

Auerbach will host a number of events and workshops at Loyola University New Orleans from April 8 through April 11.

For more information, click here.