Posted on Facebook 12/29

NY Eve with the sparkling, spunky, sensational Sylvia McNair, Osmo Vänskä, and our MN Orchestra performing Gershwin (a particular favorite of Sylvia’s) – and partying with fellow music lovers – what could be finer? Pick the 7:00 performance and get home before midnight, or pick the 10:00 performance and enjoy food, beverages (including a midnight Champagne toast led by Osmo), dancing and celebrating in the Orchestra Hall lobbies.

Read Kristin Tillotson’s terrific Dec. 24 StarTribune article for more info about Sylvia McNair and this concert. Some tidbits: “No one could accuse McNair of being afraid to try new things. After performing operas [for 20 years] at the Met, recording with Neville Marriner and winning two Grammys, she reinvented herself in the late 1990s as a musical-theater, jazz and cabaret singer. She now teaches voice at Indiana University while continuing to perform with major orchestras across the country and in Europe. She has recorded more than 70 albums, most recently a Christmas CD and a Latin-American jazz collection. She has sung command performances for luminaries ranging from Pope John Paul to the U.S. Supreme Court.” Read Kristin’s full article here:  http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/music/286768771.html  Thanks, Kristin!

So if you’re still trying to decide how to celebrate New Year’s Eve (or if you are less than thrilled with the plans you’ve made), please consider joining us for one of these wonderful performances! Details and ticketing here:  http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buy/tickets/browse-calendar/eventdetail/353/-/new-year-s-eve-sparkling-gershwin-to-ring-in-the-new-year#.VKDKKV4AA

Posted on Facebook 12/18

Students! A HUGE deal for you on the 10 pm New Year’s Eve concert! $25 for tickets that are normally $45-$75.  

Osmo Vänskä, Sylvia McNair, the mighty Minnesota Orchestra playing Gershwin, complimentary food and drinks including champagne and butler-passed savories and sweets (artichoke tapenade, mini red velvet cupcakes garnished with chocolate musical notes, etc.). Music and dancing after the concert in the lobbies, and at midnight, Osmo will lead a champagne toast. More details here:  http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/about/learn-more/press-room/1091-new-years-eve-dec-31

Here’s how to get your tickets: 
1. Click on “BUY” for the 10:00 concert on this page:  http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buy/tickets/browse-calendar/eventdetail/353/-/new-year-s-eve-sparkling-gershwin-to-ring-in-the-new-year#.VJL0fSvF_l8
2. Then select the section in which you want to sit. 
3. Then where it says “ticket type” select “Student w/ID”
4. Select the seats you want and complete your order. Maximum two tickets per one valid student ID.
5. Your tickets will be held at the box office - you will need to show your student ID when you go to pick them up that night. 

Of course, tickets are available for non-students as well! If you haven’t made your New Year’s Eve plans yet, this is THE place to be!   http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buy/tickets/browse-calendar/eventdetail/353/-/new-year-s-eve-sparkling-gershwin-to-ring-in-the-new-year#.VJL34ivF_l8

Posted on Facebook 12/19

Country / folk / bluegrass / gospel fans - this one's for you! 

Double Grammy winner Kathy Mattea performs her "Songs and the Season" show at Orchestra Hall tomorrow (Saturday) at 8 pm. She is known for putting on engaging shows with a fabulous band of Nashville regulars, so treat yourself and a friend to Kathy's gentle and heart-felt take on the holiday season.

More info and tickets here:   http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buy/tickets/browse-calendar/eventdetail/412/-/kathy-mattea#.VJRBDl4AA

Posted on Facebook 12/16:

Scandihoovians! Grab your best sweater and head down to Orchestra Hall on Saturday afternoon or Sunday evening for a holiday show and activities specially designed to warm your little heart, don’t’cha know!

(OK, OK, non-Scandihoovians are welcome too!)

Sarah Hicks conducts the MN Orchestra, favorites Christina Baldwin and Rob Asklof (vocals), Patrick Harison (accordion), MN Boychoir, Twin Cities Girls Chorus and Ethnic Dance Theatre in a blockbuster show of classical, traditional, popular and sing-along music!  See all the details here:  http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/images/programnotes/1415/scandinavianchristmas.pdf

The words for the sing-along are in the program, so you’ll be able to give full voice to all of your favorites including:

Jeg er så glad hver Julekveld,
for da ble Jesus født,
da lyste stjernen som en sol,
og engler sang så søtt.

The festivities extend beyond the stage with holiday treats in the lobby and the candlelit Santa Lucia procession.  Don’t miss it!  Tickets are available here:   http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buy/tickets/browse-calendar/eventdetail/410/-/a-scandinavian-christmas#.VJBP5CvF_l9

Posted on Facebook 12/17

The amazing Doc Severinsen needs no introduction, of course, but we thought you’d enjoy some comments from a friend of SOSMN who, as a member of the MN Chorale, has performed with Doc in the past and has been rehearsing for this Friday night’s and Sunday afternoon’s concerts with Doc and the MN Orchestra.

Our friend writes “Doc is hilarious when we get in to rehearsals with him. We love his flashy outfits and he always interacts with the audience. He also spends a couple of hours before the orchestra rehearsals & concerts "warming up" on his trumpet. No wonder he sounds so good! Just so amazing for being 87 years old! Vanessa Thomas & Joseph Wolverton are returning as guest soloists. We've performed with them before - what talent!”

Just a few tickets remain, so grab yours right away!  http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buy/tickets/browse-calendar/eventdetail/408/-/jingle-bell-doc#.VJGX7SvF_l8

Posted on Facebook 12/15

Do you remember when you first EXPERIENCED the Canadian Brass? We say “experienced” rather than “heard” because, as well as being brilliant musicians who can play everything from traditional brass music to music you would never expect to be performed by a brass quintet, they are wonderful showmen, enduing all of their performances with quite a theatrical flair!

Do you know a young brass player (or an old one)? Wondering what to give them for Christmas? How about bringing them to Wednesday evening’s Canadian Brass show at Orchestra Hall? They will thank you all year! Just a few tickets remain – get them here:   http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buy/tickets/browse-calendar/eventdetail/407/-/canadian-brass#.VIyRryvF_l8

Here’s what Canadian Brass hornist Bernhard Scully said about playing with this ensemble in an interview in the October “Brass Herald” magazine: “[Canadian Brass] is completely about making incredible electrifying brass chamber music, playing with as much style as possible, being as much of a soloist as possible, and most importantly engaging and communicating with the audience at the highest level on stage! You are standing front and centre, all eyes on you, no holds barred, connecting intensely with each and every one of those audience members, playing your heart out in the middle of the most challenging music imaginable! It is beyond THRILLING to say the least!”

And here’s what Chuck Dallenbach, their tuba, player (and a founding member of the quintet 45 years ago) had to say about the group finding their way to Carnegie Hall by playing children’s concerts!  “When most musicians were trying to avoid playing many school and library concerts, in the early years we took advantage of them. These concerts became our laboratories and children our critics, while they also allowed us to work together as a brass quintet as we were developing our performance style. Often we would play to the same audience three or four times in the same season, pushing us to develop a wide range of repertoire - an influence that has never waned. We now have a catalogue of over 700 arrangements and over 100 original major compositions written for Canadian Brass. And find our way to the main stage at Carnegie we did - thanks kids!”

Get a glimpse of these guys’ style and range in these YouTube videos:
Bumblebee:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRVF0woQf4I
Bach:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuOqfbuc94E&index=4&list=UUNx7uTBeYbqFwVICAT7wNPQ

And learn more about them on their website:  http://canadianbrass.com/

Posted on Facebook 12/13

The Canadians are coming! (The Canadian Brass, that is.) Wednesday, 12/17 at 7:30 at Orchestra Hall.

We at SOSMN are so excited to welcome the quintet and especially Bernhard Scully, their French horn player, back to the ‘Cities (Bernhard was Principal Horn of The SPCO from 2007 to 2010)! And we’re also thrilled to share a personal note from Bernhard with all of you! Read his message below, and then grab your tickets here:  http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buy/tickets/browse-calendar/eventdetail/407/-/canadian-brass#.VIyRryvF_l8 

Bernhard writes:

The Canadian Brass is now entering its 45th year!  After upwards of 150 recordings, Grammy and Juno Awards, and thousands of concerts in all parts of the world, the renowned quintet's tradition of musical artistry and innovation continues in full force.  Although four of the current members are relatively new to the ensemble, Chuck Daellenbach, founder and legendary tubist in the group is still performing and shows no signs of slowing down!  

This past year has been extremely exciting for a number of reasons.  The group recently released a new album entitled The Great Wall, featuring music of China.  The release of the album coincided with our recent tour of Asia where we performed for three weeks in Hong Kong, Macau, and Japan.  

It was 37 years ago that the group was invited by the Canadian government to tour China as representatives of Canada when China initially opened its doors to the West.  This tour was to profoundly affect the history of music and the future of the newly formed Canadian brass ensemble, giving it an explosive thrust into the international music scene. We recently toured continental Europe as well and are planning on returning to both Asia and Europe next year. 

Our show in the Twin Cities will be filled with a variety of Holiday music. We will start with music from the Renaissance and move through history into the modern era.  A special highlight and probably my favorite music on the concert is our suite of Vince  Guaraldi's music from a "Charlie Brown Christmas".  There will of course be  traditional Holiday songs, and we will definitely be throwing in some some surprises throughout the concert.  It will be a fun-filled evening of Holiday cheer, perfect for all ages, so families with children are welcome! You don't want to miss this!

It is really exciting for me to be coming back to the Twin Cities, although I have definitely been back many times since moving to IL five years ago.  I have been fortunate to come back and play with my old orchestra, the SPCO, the Minnesota Orchestra, Minnesota Bach Society, and the Chamber Music Society of Minnesota over the past number of years.  This concert will be the first concert I have played in MN with the Canadian Brass since I performed with them in Orchestra Hall back in 2005-2007.  I am so thrilled to share our music making with my home town audience!!  My whole family and all my friends will be coming so it's going to be a bit of a reunion blowout.

I hope to see everybody at the concert and please, please come by to the lobby after the show to say hi.  We will be signing autographs and meeting everyone after the show so I would love nothing more than to reconnect with all my old friends and acquaintances from the Twin Cities.

Happy Holidays!!

Sincerely,

Bernhard

Posted on Facebook 12/13

The Rose Ensemble - hear them on their nine critically-acclaimed recordings. Even better, hear them live with the MN Orchestra on Sunday at 2:00!  

So writes SOSMN friend Sarah Schmalenberger in her guest post for Sunday’s concert.  Sarah says:  “You will delight in this Sunday's extraordinary collaboration between the Rose Ensemble and the Minnesota Orchestra.  Drawing upon centuries of vocal music from around the globe, the Rose Ensemble brings Christmas music of Cuba and Mexico to this program.  Northern Minnesota native Jordan Sramek founded the ensemble in 1996, with a vision to showcase beautiful and rarely heard repertoire in engaging performances with a particular sound that transports listeners to another time. The results of this vision can be heard in the Rose Ensemble's nine critically-acclaimed recordings.  Check out Tpt's broadcast "Harmonies Across Time" about the Rose Ensemble:   http://www.mnvideovault.org/index.php?id=19376&select_index=0&popup=yes#0  Even better is to hear them live, with the Orchestra.    More on the Rose Ensemble here:   http://www.roseensemble.org/mission-history  “

Tickets are available here:   http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buy/tickets/browse-calendar/eventdetail/352/-/navidad-en-cuba-christmas-in-havana-cathedral#.VICLXTHF_l8

Posted on Facebook 12/4

The Rose Ensemble with the MN Orchestra for the first time Sunday, Dec 14 at 2:00!

Founded in 1996 and known worldwide for their breathtaking performances, brilliant scholarship and unearthing of lost-for-centuries choral works, the Saint Paul based Rose Ensemble presents a concert of music from the Mexican Baroque and 18th-century Cuba.

WHAT? The Mexican Baroque? Who knew there was such a thing? Well, our friend Scott Chamberlain knows a lot about it and shared his knowledge in an inspiring and informative blog post earlier this week. Talking about his first exposure to this genre in 1990, Scott writes: “European counterpoint and polyphony collided with African rhythms and themes, and played over the sounds of Native American instruments. It was clearly baroque music, but unlike anything I had heard before. It was also Latin dance music, but far more sophisticated than any dance music I had ever experienced.” Read the rest of Scott's wonderful insights here:  http://maskoftheflowerprince.wordpress.com/2014/12/02/musical-marvels-from-the-new-world/

Whether you’re a fanatic Rose Ensemble fan or a first-timer, don’t miss this opportunity to experience spectacular music that you will not hear anywhere else! A few tickets remain, mostly in the balconies (but don’t worry, the sound is fine up there!). Here’s the link:   http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buy/tickets/browse-calendar/eventdetail/352/-/navidad-en-cuba-christmas-in-havana-cathedral#.VICLXTHF_l8

And if you’d like to know more about The Rose Ensemble, check out their website:  http://www.roseensemble.org/

Posted on Facebook 12/12

For Handel’s “Messiah” premiere in Dublin in 1742, gentlemen were asked to remove their swords and ladies were asked to wear dresses without hoops to enable more people to attend.

Of course, we always ask gentlemen to leave their swords at home, and since just a few seats remain for tonight’s (at Central Lutheran) and tomorrow night’s (at Orchestra Hall) “Messiah” performances with the MN Orchestra, MN Chorale and four soloists under the direction of Christopher Warren-Green. we’ll ask the ladies to avoid hoop skirts too!

Seriously, though, grab your tickets here if you haven’t done so already:   http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buy/tickets/browse-calendar/eventdetail/349/-/messiah-hallelujah#.VIrm9ivF_l8

Last-minute public rush tickets might also be available at the box office starting one hour prior to concerts for $35 for top-priced seating sections and $25 for all other locations. Call Ticket Services at 612.371.5656 on the concert date to inquire if rush tickets will be offered. (Limit 4.)

Posted on Facebook 12/9

This weekend, Handel’s “Messiah” with the celebrated conductor Christopher Warren-Green returning to the podium, four internationally acclaimed opera singers on the solos and the Minnesota Chorale on the choruses – it doesn’t get much better than this! 

Tickets for Friday night at Central Lutheran and Saturday night at Orchestra Hall are available here:    http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buy/tickets/browse-calendar/eventdetail/349/-/messiah-hallelujah#.VH92YjHF_l8

When Warren-Green last conducted “Messiah” here in 2008, the PioneerPress reported:  “…the '08 "Messiah" at Minneapolis' Basilica of St. Mary was an interpretation of great delicacy, one at its most compelling when letting the sadness emerge. Under the direction of English conductor Christopher Warren-Green, it was a performance as graceful and smooth as his confident conducting…[the] audience was well served by his emphasis upon precision from the strings, power from the choir and openhearted emotion from the vocal soloists.”

Anna Devin, soprano, Lawrence Zazzo, countertenor, Barry Banks, tenor and Derek Welton, bass-baritone are all making their debuts with the MN Orchestra, but they are certainly making names for themselves on opera stages around the world! Read about them in the program notes:  http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/images/programnotes/1415/messiah.pdf

And with the fabulous Minnesota Chorale under the direction of the incomparable Kathy Saltzman Romey, whose sensitive, insightful and deeply-felt interpretations of the choral sections are legendary – well, you just couldn’t ask for more.

If holiday preparations have you feeling just a little frazzled, take some time for a little soul-mending with this amazing masterpiece performed with precision, power and emotion. We hope to see you there!

Posted on Facebook 12/5

“Oh, Amahl!” If you can’t use your tickets to Saturday’s 2:00 SOLD OUT performance of “Amahl and the Night Visitors,” please turn them back to “bank” them or to receive a tax deduction. It’s very easy to do on the MOA’s webpage for exchanges:  https://boxoffice.minnesotaorchestra.org/cart/forms/change.aspx   You can also call the box office at 612.371.5656

This gorgeous and sonorous piece about a hungry, crippled, poor young boy’s encounter with The Three Kings always plucks the heartstrings and tickles the funny bones. In years past, James Sewell Ballet’s breathtaking performances with “canned” music have drawn big crowds. This year’s performance, with James Sewell Ballet accompanied by The MN Orchestra, The MN Chorale and a stellar lineup of soloists is sure to create an indelible memory for the whole family. We’ve heard great things from people who were lucky enough to attend one of this week’s Young People’s performances (the final two are today at 10:00 and 11:35) – tickets here:  http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buy/tickets/browse-calendar/eventdetail/299/-/young-people-s-amahl-and-the-night-visitors#.VIGzHzHF_l8 

If you want to attend Saturday’s Family Concert performance, your best bet is to call the box office at 612.371.5656 for any last minute turn-backs.  Or visit the website at:   http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buy/tickets/browse-calendar/eventdetail/425/-/amahl-and-thenight-visitors#.VIGvCzHF_l8 

Posted on Facebook 12/1

Jazz Tuesday night – and a double header to boot!

Only a handful of tickets remain for the Tuesday, 12/2, 7:30 pm concert by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis and special guest Cécile McLorin Salvant. Get yours here (or call 612.371.5656 to see if there are any turnbacks):  http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buy/tickets/browse-calendar/eventdetail/405/-/big-band-holidays-jazz-at-lincoln-center-orchestra#.VHx_sjHF_l8

Then, the new “Jazz in the Atrium” series launches Tuesday night at 9:30 pm with the Atrium Jazz Ensemble and some members of The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. This event will be about 70 minutes long. Seating is limited, so grab your tickets right away ($25-$50-$100)! Here’s the link: http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buy/tickets/browse-calendar/eventdetail/463/-/the-bootet-featuring-jazz-at-lincoln-center-members#.VHyAajHF_l8