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.)
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!
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 12/3
Which experience of Handel’s “Messiah” sticks in your memory? Your first? Your umpteenth? Your most recent? Read SOSMN Leadership Team member Julie Stewart’s recollection of her childhood experience with the piece, then buy tickets to maybe create a magical memory for yourself or someone you love. Friday, 12/12 at Central Lutheran and Saturday, 12/13 at Orchestra Hall. http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buy/tickets/browse-calendar/eventdetail/349/-/messiah-hallelujah#.VH92YjHF_l8
Julie writes:
Have you ever been to a live performance of Handel’s “Messiah”? I remember my first one – I was in fifth grade, feeling very grown up, determined to keep still in my seat and not fidget. My mother was singing on stage, a soprano in the chorus, and I’d been listening to her practice her part for weeks. But I was hardly prepared for the rush of live sound as the orchestra began its introduction, first stately, then lively, with a somberness and even sadness that let me know this would be a serious piece. Soon enough the orchestra finished, and the tenor stood up. He was singing in English, and I had the words to his song in my program. His diction sounded strange at times, and frequently he would hold a syllable while his voice would run up or down the scale like going up or down stairs. Then he sat down, and the chorus stood up with a soft whoosh. Wow. They and the orchestra created a huge well of sound, singing “And the glory of the Lord,” the sopranos, altos, tenors and basses each singing lines that seemed to chase and repeat each other. It was thrilling.
And so the afternoon progressed, alternating soloists, orchestral pieces, and big choral numbers. I heard music that was simple, complex, sad, happy. There was always something new to look forward to, as I followed along in my program. Then, near the end, we got to the Hallelujah chorus. My mother had told me the audience would stand for that, and sure enough, we did. We were supposed to sing, we even had the music printed in our programs, but I was content to read along and listen to the hallelujahs resounding throughout the hall. From there, the music seemed to rush headlong towards the conclusion, the mighty “Amen” chorus, and a program that began in somberness ended in joy and exaltation. We – the chorus, the orchestra, the soloists, the audience – had all been through it together. Though I wasn’t raised a believer, it was hard not to feel the message of the music.
That afternoon became the first in a long family tradition to attend Messiah each December, and although my love and appreciation of the music deepened with time, the thrill of that first performance was never lost. Why not start your own family tradition? Even if you’ve never been to Messiah before, you’ll probably find much of the music familiar, it’s so deeply embedded in our culture. It’s not too late to get tickets, click here.http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buy/tickets/browse-calendar/eventdetail/349/-/messiah-hallelujah#.VH92YjHF_l8
Which experience of Handel’s “Messiah” sticks in your memory? Your first? Your umpteenth? Your most recent? Read SOSMN Leadership Team member Julie Stewart’s recollection of her childhood experience with the piece, then buy tickets to maybe create a magical memory for yourself or someone you love. Friday, 12/12 at Central Lutheran and Saturday, 12/13 at Orchestra Hall. http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buy/tickets/browse-calendar/eventdetail/349/-/messiah-hallelujah#.VH92YjHF_l8
Julie writes:
Have you ever been to a live performance of Handel’s “Messiah”? I remember my first one – I was in fifth grade, feeling very grown up, determined to keep still in my seat and not fidget. My mother was singing on stage, a soprano in the chorus, and I’d been listening to her practice her part for weeks. But I was hardly prepared for the rush of live sound as the orchestra began its introduction, first stately, then lively, with a somberness and even sadness that let me know this would be a serious piece. Soon enough the orchestra finished, and the tenor stood up. He was singing in English, and I had the words to his song in my program. His diction sounded strange at times, and frequently he would hold a syllable while his voice would run up or down the scale like going up or down stairs. Then he sat down, and the chorus stood up with a soft whoosh. Wow. They and the orchestra created a huge well of sound, singing “And the glory of the Lord,” the sopranos, altos, tenors and basses each singing lines that seemed to chase and repeat each other. It was thrilling.
And so the afternoon progressed, alternating soloists, orchestral pieces, and big choral numbers. I heard music that was simple, complex, sad, happy. There was always something new to look forward to, as I followed along in my program. Then, near the end, we got to the Hallelujah chorus. My mother had told me the audience would stand for that, and sure enough, we did. We were supposed to sing, we even had the music printed in our programs, but I was content to read along and listen to the hallelujahs resounding throughout the hall. From there, the music seemed to rush headlong towards the conclusion, the mighty “Amen” chorus, and a program that began in somberness ended in joy and exaltation. We – the chorus, the orchestra, the soloists, the audience – had all been through it together. Though I wasn’t raised a believer, it was hard not to feel the message of the music.
That afternoon became the first in a long family tradition to attend Messiah each December, and although my love and appreciation of the music deepened with time, the thrill of that first performance was never lost. Why not start your own family tradition? Even if you’ve never been to Messiah before, you’ll probably find much of the music familiar, it’s so deeply embedded in our culture. It’s not too late to get tickets, click here.http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buy/tickets/browse-calendar/eventdetail/349/-/messiah-hallelujah#.VH92YjHF_l8