Concert Spirituel: Saint-Domingue and New Orleans Showcases Forgotten Music from the Caribbean
The Historic New Orleans Collection and the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra will be copresenting the 15th edition of Musical Louisiana: America's Cultural Heritage titled Concert Spirituel: Saint-Domingue and New Orleans on Wednesday Oct. 19 at 7:30 p.m at St. Louis Cathedral in the French Quarter. This musical event is free to the public and will feature guest conductor Pedro Memelsdorff, who has spent over a decade researching the concert's historically forgotten music. This show aims to shed light on the forgotten 18th century Caribbean music from Minette Ferrand, the first title-role soloist of color in the history of French opera through a carefully curated selection of arias that will be performed by the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. In addition, the concert will include a moving 1763 Mass setting which was originally made by and for enslaved people.
The concert is sponsored by the Edgar "Dooky" Jr. and Leah Chase Foundation, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, and the New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund, and is partially supported by a grant received from stage agency Acción Cultural Española (AC/E).
A Musical and Educational Event
Musical Louisiana: America's Cultural Heritage will also host a free preconcert lecture with Pedro Memelsdorff and Haiti scholar Laurent Dubois, who currently serves as director of the Center for French and Francophone Studies at Duke University. The lecture will be held at the Williams Research Center on 410 Chartres Street at 5:45 p.m.
Live streaming of the event will be facilitated by WLAE, and audiences can tune in on WWNO 89.9 FM, Classical 104.9 FM, or KTLN 90.5 in the Houma-Thibodaux area.
Visit here for more information about the concert, or this website to learn more about the event's livestream options.
