On May 22, 1796, while George Washington was still president, the first opera performance in America was staged here in New Orleans. These days most of us think of New Orleans music as small bands playing jazz and funk, but orchestral music has been played here continuously from that night in 1796.
Today, Carlos Miguel Prieto leads a classical music orchestra, the Louisiana Philharmonic. Guitarist, composer and co-founder of The New Orleans Klezmer All Stars, Jonathan Freilich is the founder and leader of The Naked Orchestra.
On this edition of Out to Lunch, Carlos Miguel Prieto and Jonathan Freilich talk with Peter Ricchiuti about a different side of the New Orleans music business.
