Posted on Facebook 11/25

“Home Alone.” You know you want to see it again! And how about with a live orchestra and boys’ choir this time? You can, this Saturday night and Sunday afternoon!

The Minnesota Boychoir joins our Minnesota Orchestra under the direction of Sarah Hicks this weekend, performing John Williams’ memorable score while the movie plays on the big screen. A few tickets remain for each performance. Get yours here:   http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buy/tickets/browse-calendar/eventdetail/543/-/home-alone-in-concert-with-the-minnesota-orchestra#.VlXBD3arTIX

(Photo © 1990 Twentieth Century Fox)

Posted on Facebook 11/19

“Thursday morning’s performance [of Peter Lieberson’s ‘Neruda Songs’] was one of almost startling illumination and poignancy. [Mezzo Kelley] O’Connor seemed to have thought through every nuance and shade of meaning in these evocative texts and the settings that Lieberson created for them, and yet the performance sustained a feeling of spontaneity and an intimacy not easily achieved in this hall. (Wisely, translations of the poems appeared as surtitles above the stage as the performance progressed.)” So writes Michael Anthony in his review for the StarTribune this afternoon.

And “Spano’s reading [of Tchaikovsky’s ‘Pathétique’ Symphony No. 6] was amply emotional without turning sentimental, and he drew a fine performance from the orchestra.”  Read Mr. Anthony’s full review here:  http://www.startribune.com/review-minnesota-orchestra-presents-the-impassioned-neruda-songs/351919921/

Then grab your tickets for Friday night if you don’t already have them!  http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buy/tickets/browse-calendar/eventdetail/488/-/tchaikovsky-s-pathetique#.VkyIpnarTIU

(Painting by Richard Thorn)

Posted on Facebook 11/18

Do you love lyrical writing for the mezzo voice? Do you love someone? Did you love Kelley O’Connor’s performance in “Madame Butterfly” at Sommerfest?  If any of those are true, don’t miss Ms. O’Connor’s performance of Peter Lieberson’s “Neruda Songs” at Thursday morning’s or Friday evening’s MN Orchestra concert, led by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s music director Robert Spano.

Alex Ross of the “New Yorker” described Lieberson’s breathtaking setting of five love sonnets by Chilean poet Pablo Neruda as having “the feeling of one of those golden summer afternoons when the world seems to reach a point of magical equilibrium, and we want to slow down time so that it does not end so quickly.” The first lines of the songs are:
I. If your eyes were not the color of the moon
II. Love, love, the clouds went up the tower of the sky
III. Don’t go far off, not even for a day
IV. And now you’re mine. Rest with your dream in my dream
V. My love, if I die and you don’t

You can find the full texts here:   http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/images/programnotes/1516/neruda_translation.pdf

And you can listen to the last movement, sung with heart-breaking beauty by Lorraine Hunt Lieberman, for whom it was written, here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikvWSU9kutM&feature=youtu.be

Mezzo Kelley O’Connor has special insight to these songs and the composer, and a long-time musical partnership with this weekend’s conductor Robert Spano.  Read all about it in this fascinating interview with her:  http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/showcase/72-meet-a-guest-artist-mezzo-kelley-o-connor?utm_source=Concert+Reminders&utm_campaign=8f2bd3828b-CR_Tchaikovsky_Path%C3%A9tique_FRI_11_17&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_2ec0858eaa-8f2bd3828b-86867401

Tchaikovsky's gorgeous “Pathétique” Symphony No. 6 completes this weekend’s program. Don’t miss it!

Tickets and more info here:  http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buy/tickets/browse-calendar/eventdetail/488/-/tchaikovsky-s-pathetique#.VkyIpnarTIU

(Painting by Richard Thorn)

Posted on Facebook 11/11

Edward Elgar said that his Piano Quintet “runs gigantically and in a large mood.” Hear what he meant this Saturday at 10:30 pm when four MN Orchestra virtuosi perform it with Andrew Litton in a “NightCaps” performance in the Atrium.

He composed it in 1918-1919 at Brinkwells, the country cottage the Elgars had rented in Sussex, and his wife Alice suggested that the atmospheric quality of the music was a reflection of the beautiful, natural setting.  Others have heard in it a melancholy and an expression of the tragedy of World War I.  Some hear a depiction of a grove of gnarled trees that was visible from Elgar’s studio.  And George Bernard Shaw was particularly struck by the beauty of the writing for the piano. In any case, it’s a great work, too seldom heard.

If you’d like a sneak preview, check out this YouTube recording, complete with the score so you can follow along!   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOpiAxga3Ts

Then don’t miss the chance to hear it performed live on Saturday night by Rui Du, violin, Rebecca Corruccini, violin, Megan Tam, viola, Eugena Chang, cello, and Andrew Litton, piano. Tickets are just $10 for those attending the 8:00 Orchestra concert, and $25 for others, and your ticket includes a free beverage!  http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buy/tickets/browse-calendar/eventdetail/669/-/nightcap-elgar-s-piano-quintet#.VkCn7rerTIU 

We hope to see you there!

Posted on Facebook 11/10

“[Vaughan Williams’ 4th Symphony] is a masterpiece of the highest order—a work that shows Vaughan Williams’ versatility as a composer, as well as his ability to create drama and musical tension” writes our friend Scott Chamberlain. 

He continues, “Sir William Walton remarked that it was ‘the greatest symphony since Beethoven’.  While [his] previous works were beguiling, the Fourth is aggressive.  Earlier works were often painted in pastels, but the Fourth is a work of primary colors.  It is craggy with dissonance and sharp angles.  And for those who love Vaughan Williams’s romanticism, this powerful work comes as a bit of a shock.”

Read the rest of Scott’s essay here:  https://maskoftheflowerprince.wordpress.com/2015/11/09/vaughan-williamss-fourth-symphony-a-craggy-masterpiece/

Then hear what he is talking about this Friday and Saturday night when our MN Orchestra plays this masterpiece under the direction of Andrew Litton!  Tickets (VERY few remain) here:   http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buy/tickets/browse-calendar/eventdetail/486/-/tchaikovsky-s-first-piano-concerto#.Vj9-lrerTIU

This weekend’s program also includes the phenomenal Natasha Paremski performing Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 and Rimsky-Korsakov’s Suite from “The Snow Maiden.”

If you can’t get to Orchestra Hall this weekend, be sure to listen in Friday night at 8:00 on MN Public Radio (and streaming via American Public Media).  Details here:   http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/about/learn-more/broadcasts

Posted on Facebook 11/9

If you’re hoping to hear Natasha Paremski perform Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 this weekend, move fast! Tickets for both Friday and Saturday nights are almost sold out.  This fabulous program also features Rimsky-Korsakov’s Suite from “The Snow Maiden” and Vaughan Williams’ Symphony No. 4, all under the direction of Andrew Litton.

Just in her mid-twenties, Paremski has won major prizes and has performed in numerous recitals, with our MN Orchestra in the 2014 Sommerfest, and with 22 other major orchestras.  Read more about her here:   http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/about/who-we-are/artists-and-performers/guest-artists-new/1272-natasha-paremski

Then grab your tickets online or by calling the box office at 612.371.5656.  Here’s the link:   http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buy/tickets/browse-calendar/eventdetail/486/-/tchaikovsky-s-first-piano-concerto#.Vj9-lrerTIU

If you have tickets you can't use, please exchange, bank or turn them back so that others can buy them! It's easy to do here:   https://boxoffice.minnesotaorchestra.org/cart/forms/change.aspx

Posted on Facebook 11/2

Have Nov. 13 tickets you can’t use? EXCHANGE/TURNBACK!

It’s “UST at the Symphony Night,” and tickets are going fast, and we want to make even more tickets available to St. Thomas students!

Just click here to exchange or turnback any tickets you can’t use:   https://boxoffice.minnesotaorchestra.org/cart/forms/change.aspx   Or call the box office at 612.371.5656

For more info about the Orchestra’s new Student Ambassador Program, click here:   https://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/about/learn-more/press-room/1286-student-ambassadors

The students thank you! We thank you!

Posted on Facebook 11/7

Food – music – fun!

Butcher and the Boar – Patisserie 46 – Travail – Vincent!

Mussorgsky – Gershwin – Verdi – Bates – Prima – H. Brubeck – Vaughan Williams – Elfman!

Sarah Hicks – our MN Orchestra!

If you’re “into” the local resto scene and/or classical & movie music, what more do you need to know?  Oh, yes, that you can enjoy complimentary samples of delicious cuisine by the Art Institutes International Minnesota in the lobby before tonight’s 8:00 concert.  And that a few tickets are still available!  http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buy/tickets/browse-calendar/eventdetail/578/-/a-musical-feast-with-sarah-hicks-and-the-minnesota-orchestra#.Vj4q-berTIU

Posted on Facebook 11/6

“…it was as if we could actually see the beautiful maiden, Pohjola’s daughter, sitting on a rainbow, spinning gold, her laughter described in descending passages of chuckling woodwinds” writes Michael Anthony in his review of yesterday’s performance by the MN Orchestra under Osmo Vänska.  And re. the Sibelius’ “Six Humoresques” he writes “It’s odd that they aren’t in every top violinist’s repertoire. Kraggerud, whose technique is effortless, easily captured the music’s spry wit.” 

Rob Hubbard writes “The textures [Sibelius] brings to his writing for strings, the creative combinations of woodwinds, the sonorous solos, the aural Arctic landscapes ... All could be found over the course of this program. Throw on some fantastic fiddling by Norwegian violinist Henning Kraggerud on the composer's set of Six Humoresques, and this proved a fine forum for what's so wonderful about Sibelius.”

Read Michael Anthony’s full review for the StarTribune here:   http://www.startribune.com/minnesota-orchestra-performs-beautifully-in-a-series-of-sibelius-smaller-works-in-minneapolis/341302191/

And read Rob Hubbard’s full review for the Pioneer Press here:  http://www.twincities.com/music/ci_29078234/review-minnesota-orchestra-satisfies-sibelius-program

Some tickets remain for the final performance of this program tonight – get yours here:  http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buy/tickets/browse-calendar/eventdetail/484/-/vaenskae-conducts-sibelius#.VjIMIberTIU

Posted on Facebook 10/29

It’s the Sibelius sesquicentennial! And who better to lead the celebration than our fabulous MN Orchestra under the direction of our own Osmo Vänskä? Nobody better!
 
“Sibelius’ ‘Six Humoresques for Violin and Orchestra’ are quite likely the most magical work you’ve never heard,” writes our friend Scott Chamberlain in the wonderful introduction he posted yesterday.  Scott continues, “Nearly everyone who has ever heard them falls completely under their spell; alas, these miniature masterpieces have been unjustly neglected in both the concert hall and the recording studio.  This is unfortunate, as they are not just fantastic in and of themselves, but they reveal an entirely different side of Sibelius’s genius.” Click here to read more of Scott’s insights about Sibelius’ love for the violin and about these pieces:  https://maskoftheflowerprince.wordpress.com/2015/10/28/150-sibelius-jubilee-the-six-humoresques/
 
Then head down to Orchestra Hall next Thursday morning or Friday night, Nov. 5&6, when violinist Henning Kraggerud and the Orchestra perform the “Six Humoresques.” Also on the program are Suite from “Karelia,” “Pohjola's Daughter,” “The Oceanides” and “Tapiola.”  More info and tickets here:  http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buy/tickets/browse-calendar/eventdetail/484/-/vaenskae-conducts-sibelius#.VjIMIberTIU
 
Don’t let these Humoresques be the most magical work you’ve NEVER heard!  We hope to see you at Orchestra Hall next weekend.  (And thanks, Scott!)