Posted on Facebook 3/3o

Brahms, Beethoven, Penderecki – romantic, classic, modern – what a fascinating program on this weekend’s MN Orchestra concerts conducted by Osmo Vänskä.  This is powerful stuff, sure to delight and stimulate our senses and give all the musicians on stage challenging material to perform!

The dramatic, haunting, virtuosic Penderecki Cello Concerto No. 2 will be performed by Finnish cellist Arto Noras, who has a long association with Penderecki’s work.  The Berlin Philharmonic commissioned this concerto for Mstislav Rostropovich in 1982.  For a preview, click over to this Rostropovich recording on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApJU2QbbXpc  

And click here to read more about Mr. Noras:   http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/about/who-we-are/musicians-soloists-conductors/guest-artists-new/1346-arto-noras

Also on the program are Beethoven’s “Leonore” Overture No. 2 and Brahms’ breathtakingly beautiful Symphony No. 3.  

Learn more and grab your tickets for Thursday morning or Friday or Saturday evening here:   http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buy/tickets/browse-calendar/eventdetail/512/-/vaenskae-conducts-brahms-third#.VvviR-IrLIU

We hope to see you at Orchestra Hall this weekend!

Posted on Facebook 3/16

This weekend’s concerts are sure to be COLORFUL and tuneful!  

From Schumann’s rousing and dramatic “Manfred” Overture to the lush romantic melodies of his beloved Piano Concerto to the evocative and brilliant Spanish flair of Ravel’s “Rapsodie espagnole” to the infectious humor and dance rhythms of de Falla’s two Suites from “The Three-Cornered Hat,” you’re sure to leave humming a tune or two!

The highly-regarded and widely-recorded Spanish-born conductor Jesús López-Cobos makes his debut with our Orchestra. He is sure to bring unique Spanish insights to the Ravel and de Falla pieces!  Read his bio here:  http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/about/who-we-are/musicians-soloists-conductors/guest-artists-new/1344-jesus-lopez-cobos

The Schumann Concerto is performed by the insightful Swiss-born pianist Andreas Haefliger.  He has performed with all the great orchestras (as well as performing and recording extensively as a recitalist and chamber musician).  A September 2014 review of one of his recordings described him as “consummately lyrical...exhibitionism and pretence are antithetical to his musical personality…he has a vision of musical architecture second to none and a tender, profoundly cultivated sensibility, from which music flows unimpeded.” Read more about him here:  http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/about/who-we-are/musicians-soloists-conductors/guest-artists-new/1345-andreas-haefliger

If you don’t already have tickets for Friday or Saturday night, grab yours here:  http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buy/tickets/browse-calendar/eventdetail/523/-/schumann-ravel-and-de-falla#.VujHquIrLIV

We hope to see you at Orchestra Hall this weekend!

Posted on Facebook 3/11

Bach, Beethoven, & Beer! Tonight @ 8 @ Orch Hall – a few tickets are still available.

This “Inside the Classics” program starts with the ever-informative and ever-witty Sarah Hicks and Sam Bergman taking us into the mind and music of J.S. Bach and showing us how his inventiveness and brilliance influenced Beethoven and other composers over the last 250 years.  

Then, after intermission, the Orchestra will perform Bach’s Brandenburg #3 and Beethoven’s “Grosse Fuge.”

And in the lobby to celebrate Bach and Beethoven and their love of the brew – free beer samples from Boom Island Brewing!  

More info & tix ($29) here:   http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buy/tickets/browse-calendar/eventdetail/595/-/inside-the-classics-and-bach-begat#.VuLuPvkrLIU

Posted on Facebook 3/7

Just in case you didn’t see the reviews of the Carnegie Hall performance (it was a triumph!)….

NY Times:  “On Thursday, orchestra and maestro made it to Carnegie — just two and a half years late — with their beloved Sibelius. It was a symbolic victory, and also an artistic one: The concert was urgent, authoritative.”  “The ensemble played throughout in a white heat — with richness but without fat.”  “…for the sake of New York’s music lovers — and the sake of Sibelius — the hall should invite this orchestra back, and soon.”  Read the rest here:  http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/05/arts/music/review-the-minnesota-orchestras-white-light-and-white-heat.html?_r=0

From NY Classical Review:  “Osmo Vänskä and the Minnesota Orchestra are among the finest contemporary advocates for the Sibelius symphonies, and their Thursday night concert of the Finnish composer’s music was a superb experience, full of deep feeling and explosive energy. The concert built inexorably to a point of complete and profound fulfillment.”  Read the rest here:  http://newyorkclassicalreview.com/2016/03/vanska-minnesota-orchestra-serve-up-a-memorable-night-of-sibelius/#sthash.tKfcc0EV.dpuf

Posted on Facebook 3/3

Tonight's concert at Carnegie is "Critic's Choice" on New York Classical Review!  http://newyorkclassicalreview.com/2016/03/critics-choice-27/

George Crella says, "This week, New Yorkers can thankfully now hear this orchestra and their particular, inspiring energy under Vänskä, with music they have made a specialty: Sibelius."

If you can't be there in person, you can hear this concert live (7 pm Central, 8 pm Eastern) via live streaming thanks to New York Public Radio station WQXR!  Here's the link:  http://www.wqxr.org/#!/story/hilary-hahn-and-minnesota-play-sibelius/

(Thanks for the tip, Scott Chamberlain!)

Posted on Facebook 3/2

"Minnesotans flocking to New York for Minnesota Orchestra at Carnegie Hall" - read Pamela Espeland's terrific column on MinnPost:   https://www.minnpost.com/artscape/2016/03/minnesotans-flocking-new-york-minnesota-orchestra-carnegie-hall

And remember that you can hear this concert live (7 pm Central, 8 pm Eastern) via live streaming thanks to New York Public Radio station WQXR!  Here's the link:  http://www.wqxr.org/#!/story/hilary-hahn-and-minnesota-play-sibelius/   They even ask us to share our thoughts during the broadcast using hashtag ‪#‎CHLive‬ and tell them where we're listening from - this is another great way to show your support for our mighty MN Orchestra and to thank WQXR for their broadcast.

If you can't be in NYC this week, please join many of us in the virtual audience on Thursday night!
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Posted on Facebook 3/1

It's a party! This Thursday, 7pm.

We know that many MN Orchestra fans are traveling to NYC for the concert at Carnegie Hall, but if you can't be there in person you can still join the virtual party online!

Hooray, MN Orchestra! Hooray, WQXR! Hooray, technology!  https://www.facebook.com/events/1539760259657599/