A turning point for music in Acadiana. Celebrate the season with us at this Christmas-themed concert, and one of Acadiana’s most beloved holiday traditions. Each year, the Symphony performs a cheerful and familiar repertoire of popular Christmas songs, alongside a revered local guest artist who has contributed to local music culture.

WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THIS CONCERT

  • THE TURNING POINT: during the 38-year history of ASO, starting in 2005, the Christmas concerts came to be known as one-of-a-kind musical presentations, where the classical symphony orchestra joins forces with local pop artists that represent other musical styles like Cajun, Zydeco, jazz and other popular genres. Dozens of new arrangements have been especially created for these performances, offering a new and innovative chapter in the repertoire of orchestral music.
  • The Christmas concert is the largest ASO concert of the season, bringing together almost 200 instrumentalists and singers on stage.
  • Piotr Tchaikovsky composed his third ballet, The Nutcracker in 1892. The premiere was not a success, however the orchestral suite composed from the main tunes from the ballet was an immediate hit. The full performances of the ballet became popular several decades later, starting in 1960s.
  • The largest-ever performance presented by ASO, took place in March 2014. Gustav Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony joined the orchestras of ASO and Baton Rouge Symphony, Choral Acadienne and BRSO Chorus together on one stage – totaling almost 300 performers.
  • The featured guest artist is a "local boy”, who has regularly attended ASO's concerts with his parents, since he was a young child.