Sobre Pan-American Life

NEW ORLEANS, LA – February 18, 2010 – (Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra).  Known for his dazzling and energetic musical style, the internationally renowned Cuban-born clarinetist Paquito D’Rivera returns to New Orleans for a family-friendly concert for all ages. The nine-time Grammy Award winner will join the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra for Pan-American Life’s Fiesta Sinfónica concert at 8 p.m. on Saturday, March 6, at the Mahalia Jackson Theater. LPO Music Director Carlos Miguel Prieto will conduct this performance, the third of five annual Fiesta Sinfónica concerts underwritten by a generous five year grant from New Orleans-based Pan-American Life Insurance Group.

“Pan-American Life’s relationship with the LPO underlines our commitment to the city of New Orleans and our continuous support to the integration of the city’s Hispanic communities,” said José S. Suquet, Chairman of the Board, President and CEO. “We are honored to have the opportunity to bring Paquito D’Rivera to this year’s Fiesta Sinfónica.”

Paquito D’Rivera is celebrated both for his artistry in Latin jazz and his achievements as a classical composer. Born in Havana, Cuba, he performed at age 10 with the National Theater Orchestra, studied at the Havana Conservatory of Music and, at 17, became a featured soloist with the Cuban National Symphony. As a founding member of the Orquesta Cubana de Musica Moderna, he directed that group for two years, while playing both the clarinet and saxophone with the Cuban National Symphony Orchestra. In 1988, he was a founding member of the United Nation Orchestra, a 15-piece ensemble to showcase the fusion of Latin and Caribbean influences with jazz. In 1991, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Carnegie Hall for his contributions to Latin music.

While D’Rivera’s discography of more than 30 solo albums reflects an enthusiasm for Jazz, Bebop and Latin music, his contributions to classical music are impressive. They include solo performances with the London Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra, the Baltimore Symphony, the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Brooklyn Philharmonic.
 

Tickets for this concert begin at just $15 and are available online at LPOmusic.com or by calling LPO’s box office at 504-523-6530.