Pink Martini

Featuring lead singer China Forbes and a dozen musicians, Pink Martini brings its multilingual repertoire — which includes songs in 25 languages — to the LOH stage in celebration of our 100^th anniversary and the ensemble’s 30^th anniversary.

The band was formed in 1994 by Thomas Lauderdale in his hometown of Portland, Oregon, where he was working in politics with the intention of eventually running for office. Like other eager politicians-in-training, he attended every political fundraiser under the sun…but was dismayed to find the music at these events was underwhelming.

Lauderdale drew inspiration from music across the globe — crossing genres of classical, jazz, and pop — and hoped to appeal to conservatives and liberals alike. He founded this “little orchestra” to provide more beautiful and inclusive musical soundtracks for political fundraisers supporting causes such as civil rights, affordable housing, public broadcasting, and education.

One year later, Lauderdale called China Forbes, a Harvard classmate who was living in New York City, and asked her to join the band. They began to write songs together and their first, Sympathique (Je ne veus pas travailler), became an overnight sensation in France, was nominated for “Song of the Year” at France’s Victoires de la Musique Awards, and to this day remains a mantra (“Je ne veux pas travailler” or “I don’t want to work”) for striking French workers.

Says Lauderdale, “We’re very much an American band but we spend a lot of time abroad and, therefore, have the incredible diplomatic opportunity to represent a broader, more inclusive America.”