Baroque on the Bayou 2026
International Artists, Louisiana Roots
by Jude Theriot
Baroque on the Bayou returns May 22–24, 2026 for its second annual celebration of Baroque music in the heart of South Louisiana. Presented by the Atchafalaya Orchestra under the direction of Music & Artistic Director André Courville, the festival brings together world-class artists from France and Louisiana for three concerts in culturally significant venues across St. Martin Parish.
Launched in 2025, Baroque on the Bayou was created to make world-class music feel immediate and local—performed in intimate spaces and designed to welcome both first-time concertgoers and longtime classical audiences. The festival’s mission is to honor Baroque tradition while highlighting Louisiana’s cultural identity and artistry, bringing the music to communities in venues that resonate with regional heritage.
2026 Festival Schedule & Program Highlights
Festival Series
Featuring the Atchafalaya Orchestra conducted by André Courville
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Friday, May 22, 2026 — 7:00 PM
Venue: NUNU Arts & Culture Collective, Arnaudville
• Concerto for 2 Flutes in C major, RV 533—VIVALDI
• Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G major, BWV 1049—BACH
• Original French songs—THIBODEAUX—featuring Jourdan Thibodeaux, vocalist
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Saturday, May 23, 2026 — 7:00 PM
Venue: Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, Henderson
• Concerto Grosso in B-flat major, HWV 325—HANDEL
• Oboe Concerto in D minor, S.Z799—MARCELLO
• Sacred Italian & French songs—VARIOUS—featuring André Courville, bass-baritone
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Sunday, May 24, 2026 — 3:00 PM
Venue: Duchamp Opera House, St. Martinville
• Concert pour quatre parties de violes—CHARPENTIER
• Violin Concerto in G minor, BWV 1056R—BACH
• Italian opera arias/French songs—HANDEL/PIAF—featuring Claire de Monteil, soprano
Claire de Monteil is an internationally emerging soprano whose recent highlights include the title role of Cherubini’s Médée at the Mainfranken Theater in Würzburg, Germany and her 2024 Italian debut at the renowned Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Italy. Upcoming engagements include Senta in Der fliegende Holländer in Trieste, Italy and Inès in Il Trovatore at the Chorégies d’Orange in France. She has also appeared at the Opéra Bastille Amphitheater and Salle Gaveau in Paris. A Paris native trained in Geneva and at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, she is a prizewinner in multiple major competitions.
André Courville is an internationally acclaimed bass-baritone, conductor, and keyboard artist whose work spans opera, sacred music, and orchestral repertoire. Trained at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, he has appeared on major stages including Carnegie Hall and the Metropolitan Opera, and his voice has been praised by outlets including Opera News, The Washington Post, and The Philadelphia Inquirer. Equally at home at the keyboard, he began studying piano and organ at age eight and has performed widely as soloist and collaborative artist, including appearances as harpsichord soloist in all six Brandenburg Concerti with the Acadiana Symphony.
Jourdan Thibodeaux and his band Les Rôdailleurs are known for pairing ancient Cajun French traditions with high-voltage energy and original songwriting rooted in life in Cypress Island, Louisiana. Since breaking out in 2018, they have gained a reputation for preserving culture while pushing it forward, with appearances ranging from Festivals Acadiens et Créoles and Jazz Fest to SXSW and the Congrès Mondial in Canada.