Magic in the air: Louisiana holiday musical performances

As cities around the Louisiana don their festive finery for the December holiday season, many also stage beautiful performances of symphonic music and classical dance.

A pops concert by the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra, for instance, is one of many highlights in north Louisiana. On Dec. 18, the Holiday Pops Children's Chorus joins the orchestra in a performance that also features soprano Gale Odom and alto Seva May. See Holiday Pops for details.

Elsewhere around the state, enjoy performances of the classic "Nutcracker" by ballet companies from Alexandria to Covington, Destrehan, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Leesville, New Orleans, Shreveport and Slidell. In Baton Rouge you can enjoy a special holiday classic – "The Nutcracker, a Tale from the Bayou," a lavish performance that incorporates local landmarks and is accompanied by the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra. See Nutcracker performances for dates and details of all performances.)

The Baton Rouge Symphony offers holiday chamber music as well as "Home for the Holidays" concerts on various dates in December. And the orchestra will perform a special concert on Dec. 12 under the magnificent oak trees at Houmas House Plantation and Gardens in Darrow.

The New Orleans-based Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra has several yuletide concerts scheduled in New Orleans and Covington during December. 

In Lake Charles, adults and kids will love "Twas the Night Before Christmas" presentation by the Lake Charles Civic Ballet.

And for an "only in Louisiana" experience, don't miss the special "Cajun music meets the symphony" holiday performance of the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra in Lafayette, with guest artist Michael Doucet of the well-known Cajun band BeauSoleil.