You’re Invited!
Minnesota Orchestra family concerts offer a perfect opportunity to get your family together for a special outing. Enjoy cherished holiday music, go on a musical adventure or learn about music in a fun way.
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About This Concert
Hilarious and heartwarming, Home for the Holidays returns with a few new surprises, combining music performed by the Minnesota Orchestra and storytelling with a Minnesotan slant on Christmas and family traditions.
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Artists
- Minnesota Orchestra
- Sarah Hicks, conductor
- Conceived and directed by Peter Rothstein
- Written and narrated by Kevin Kling
- Original music by Robert Elhai and Peter Ostroushko
- ComMUSICation youth choir, Ryan LaBoy, director
Fun Facts
- In 1993, Kling won the prestigious Whiting Award for drama. He’s appeared regularly on NPR’s All Things Considered and won the 2012 National Storytelling Network's Circle of Excellence Award.
- Our multitalented conductor Sarah Hicks helped create this uniquely Minnesotan holiday show in collaboration with Kevin Kling and director/co-writer Peter Rothstein.
- Director Peter Rothstein is no stranger to the Twin Cities arts scene. The 2015 Star Tribune “Artist of the Year” is also Founding Artistic Director of Theater Latté Da.
Accessibility at Orchestra Hall
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About This Concert
Be our guest as the Minnesota Orchestra performs the score of Disney's animated classic, Beauty and the Beast, live in concert! Experience this full-length film, overflowing with unforgettable characters and Academy Award®-winning music (Best Original Song, Best Original Score, 1991)!
Please note: This concert will be performed at the Minneapolis Convention Center Auditorium.
Artists
- Minnesota Orchestra
- Sarah Hicks, conductor
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Accessibility
Please note: to enhance the clarity of spoken dialogue during this film screening and live musical performance, English subtitles will appear at the bottom of the screen.
Presentation made under license from Buena Vista Concerts, a division of ABC Inc. © 2015 Disney. All rights reserved.
About This Concert
Journey to a galaxy far, far away to relive the excitement of the original Star Wars movie as the Minnesota Orchestra performs an exhilarating live accompaniment of the Oscar®-winning score.
This program is part of Minnesota Orchestra's American Expressions, celebrating and exploring this country’s bold, imaginative and diverse classical music tradition.
Artists
- Minnesota Orchestra
- Sarah Hicks, conductor
Accessibility at Orchestra Hall
Please note: to enhance the clarity of spoken dialogue during this film screening and live musical performance, English subtitles will appear at the bottom of the screen.
© 2018 & TM LUCASFILM LTD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © DISNEY.
Presentation licensed by Disney Concerts in association with 20th Century Fox, Lucasfilm Ltd. and Warner/Chappell Music.
About This Concert
In this concert wholly devoted to deserving young artists, we introduce composers on a blazing path to create the next generation’s orchestral masterpieces.
This program is part of Minnesota Orchestra's American Expressions festival, celebrating and exploring this country’s bold, imaginative and diverse classical music tradition.
Program
TJ COLE
Nightscape / 5 min
VIET CUONG
Moxie / 8 min
JONATHAN CZINER
Resonant Bells / 12 min
WILL HEALY
Kolmanskop / 10 min
MATTHEW RICKETTS
Melodia, for Piano and Orchestra / 16 min
CONNOR ELIAS WAY
Over Collapsing Cities of Steel / 10 min
ALYSSA WEINBERG
in somnis / 7 min
Artists
- Minnesota Orchestra
- Osmo Vänskä, conductor
- Kevin Puts, Composer Institute director
- Rui Du, violin
- Tengku Irfan, piano
Fun Facts
- This concert is the final event of 16th Minnesota Orchestra Composer Institute, co-presented with the American Composers Forum, a nationally recognized program to support young composers.
- This program’s works cover a range of musical styles; many will receive their first performance by a major American orchestra during the Future Classics concert.
Accessibility at Orchestra Hall
About This Concert
In this concert wholly devoted to deserving young artists, we introduce composers on a blazing path to create the next generation’s orchestral masterpieces.
This concert, selected by our Student Ambassadors, features $12 student tickets and free extras in the Student Zone. Activities start an hour and a half before the concert. More information coming soon!
Program
TJ COLE
Nightscape / 5 min
VIET CUONG
Moxie / 8 min
JONATHAN CZINER
Resonant Bells / 12 min
WILL HEALY
Kolmanskop / 10 min
MATTHEW RICKETTS
Melodia, for Piano and Orchestra / 16 min
CONNOR ELIAS WAY
Over Collapsing Cities of Steel / 10 min
ALYSSA WEINBERG
in somnis / 7 min
Artists
- Minnesota Orchestra
- Osmo Vänskä, conductor
- Kevin Puts, Composer Institute director
- Rui Du, violin
- Tengku Irfan, piano
Fun Facts
- This concert is the final event of 16th Minnesota Orchestra Composer Institute, co-presented with the American Composers Forum, a nationally recognized program to support young composers.
- This program’s works cover a range of musical styles; many will receive their first performance by a major American orchestra during the Future Classics concert.
Accessibility at Orchestra Hall
About This Concert:
Join us in the Target Atrium for an engaging and interactive concert featuring Minnesota Orchestra Concertmaster Erin Keefe, first violinist Sarah Grimes, Principal Viola Rebecca Albers, Associate Principal Cello Silver Ainomäe and Acting Associate Principal Bass Kathryn Nettleman. Also on the program—talented guest musicians from the audience!
- Erin Keefe, violin
- Sarah Grimes, violin
- Rebecca Albers, viola
- Silver Ainomäe, cello
- Kathryn Nettleman, bass
Fun Facts:
- The Minnesota Orchestra's sensory-friendly small ensemble concerts are inclusive experiences for patrons of all ages and abilities, including individuals on the autism spectrum and those with sensory sensitivities.
- Concerts take place in a relaxed environment where audience members are welcome to be who they are and enjoy music with family and friends.
- Lyndie Walker, MT-BC, of Toneworks Music Therapy Services hosts these concerts.
- Fidgets, noise-canceling headphones, and quiet spaces are available at all Sensory-Friendly Concerts, and attendees can also access online preparatory materials (available four weeks before the concert). Stand-alone chairs provide for flexible seating and open space is available for those who wish to sit on the floor or move around the room.
Accessibility at Orchestra Hall
Other access services are available upon request.
About This Concert
Intimate, elegant and luminous, this one-hour concert is an invitation to mingle, and rejuvenate with music in gorgeous works by Ravel, Bizet and Vivaldi.
Program
RAVEL
Le Tombeau de Couperin / 16 min
VIVALDI
Piccolo Concerto in C major / 12 min
BIZET
Symphony No. 1 / 28 min
Artists
- Minnesota Orchestra
- Jane Glover, conductor
- Roma Duncan, piccolo
Fun Facts
- Symphony in 60 concerts include a pre-show happy hour, local craft beer, and a chance to mingle with musicians post-performance (9:15pm).
- Outspoken, opinionated and intelligent, Ravel was a brilliant critic and writer as well as a composer, and was a member of the artistic salon group known as “Les Apaches” (the Ruffians), which included the Spanish composer Manuel de Falla and poet Tristan Klingsor.
Accessibility at Orchestra Hall
About This Concert
Intimate, elegant and luminous, this one-hour concert is an invitation to mingle, and rejuvenate with music in gorgeous works by Ravel, Bizet and Vivaldi.
This concert, selected by our Student Ambassadors, features $12 student tickets and free extras in the Student Zone. Activities start an hour and a half before the concert. More information coming soon!
Program
RAVEL
Le Tombeau de Couperin / 16 min
VIVALDI
Piccolo Concerto in C major / 12 min
BIZET
Symphony No. 1 / 28 min
Artists
- Minnesota Orchestra
- Jane Glover, conductor
- Roma Duncan, piccolo
Fun Facts
- Symphony in 60 concerts include a pre-show happy hour, local craft beer, and a chance to mingle with musicians post-performance (9:15pm).
- Outspoken, opinionated and intelligent, Ravel was a brilliant critic and writer as well as a composer, and was a member of the artistic salon group known as “Les Apaches” (the Ruffians), which included the Spanish composer Manuel de Falla and poet Tristan Klingsor.
Accessibility at Orchestra Hall
About This Concert
Intimate, elegant and luminous, this one-hour concert is an invitation to mingle, and rejuvenate with music in gorgeous works by Ravel, Bizet and Vivaldi.
Program
RAVEL
Le Tombeau de Couperin / 16 min
VIVALDI
Piccolo Concerto in C major / 12 min
BIZET
Symphony No. 1 / 28 min
Artists
- Minnesota Orchestra
- Jane Glover, conductor
- Roma Duncan, piccolo
Fun Facts
- Symphony in 60 concerts include a pre-show happy hour, local craft beer, and a chance to mingle with musicians post-performance (9:15pm).
- Outspoken, opinionated and intelligent, Ravel was a brilliant critic and writer as well as a composer, and was a member of the artistic salon group known as “Les Apaches” (the Ruffians), which included the Spanish composer Manuel de Falla and poet Tristan Klingsor.
Accessibility at Orchestra Hall
About This Concert:
Saint-Saëns' masterpiece for two pianos and orchestra will feature YPSCA School Music Auditions winner Emma Taggart joined by her brother Jacob Taggart as soloists on the magical Carnival of Animals.
- Minnesota Orchestra
- Akiko Fujimoto, conductor
Fun Facts:
- Join us for a concert sure to delight audiences of all ages! All seats $12. One-hour concert. No intermission.
- Audiences will hear all of their favorite animals, including the Swan, the Elephant, Kangaroos, Lions, Birds and Fish.
- Rounding out the program will be the exciting Overture to William Tell and three additional pieces inspired by animals.
- Participate in lobby activities (11:45am-12:45pm and 1:45pm-2:45pm), including opportunities to try orchestral instruments, engage in creative movement, participate in collaborative art-making, learn more about the program and meet Minnesota Orchestra musicians.
Sensory-Friendly Family Concerts:
- The Minnesota Orchestra’s Sensory-Friendly Concerts are inclusive experiences for patrons of all ages and abilities, including individuals on the autism spectrum and those with sensory sensitivities.
- All families are welcome! We invite you to Orchestra Hall—a supporting and relaxed environment.
- Concerts take place in an environment where audience members are welcome to be who they are and enjoy music with family and friends.
- Learn more about the concert experience with our tip sheet and other preparatory materials!
Accessibility
About This Concert
Called “a sweet stream of melodies” when it premiered, Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony sparkles alongside Libby Larsen and Johann Strauss’ aquatically-themed selections in this cheerfully springy 60 minute musical interlude.
Program
*LARSEN
Symphony: Water Music / 17 min
SCHUBERT
Symphony in B minor, Unfinished / 22 min
J. STRAUSS, Jr.
On the Beautiful Blue Danube / 10 min
Artists
- Minnesota Orchestra
- David Danzmayr, conductor
Fun Facts
- Symphony in 60 concerts include a pre-show happy hour, local craft beer, and a chance to mingle with musicians post-performance (9:15pm).
- Scholars are still mystified as to why Schubert didn’t finish Symphony No. 8; some speculate that it was due to the onset of syphilis that would eventually kill him at age 31.
- A passionate advocate for contemporary composers and their work, Libby Larsen co-founded the Minnesota Composers Forum, now the American Composers Forum, in 1973 to assist composers in a transitional time for American arts.
*This work is part of Minnesota Orchestra's season-long exploration and celebration of American music. Learn more about our American Expressions festival in January 2019.
Accessibility at Orchestra Hall
About This Concert
Called “a sweet stream of melodies” when it premiered, Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony sparkles alongside Libby Larsen and Johann Strauss’ aquatically-themed selections in this cheerfully springy 60 minute musical interlude.
This concert, selected by our Student Ambassadors, features $12 student tickets and free extras in the Student Zone. Activities start an hour and a half before the concert. More information coming soon!
Program
*LARSEN
Symphony: Water Music / 17 min
SCHUBERT
Symphony in B minor, Unfinished / 22 min
J. STRAUSS, Jr.
On the Beautiful Blue Danube / 10 min
Artists
- Minnesota Orchestra
- David Danzmayr, conductor
Fun Facts
- Symphony in 60 concerts include a pre-show happy hour, local craft beer, and a chance to mingle with musicians post-performance (9:15pm).
- Scholars are still mystified as to why Schubert didn’t finish Symphony No. 8; some speculate that it was due to the onset of syphilis that would eventually kill him at age 31.
- A passionate advocate for contemporary composers and their work, Libby Larsen co-founded the Minnesota Composers Forum, now the American Composers Forum, in 1973 to assist composers in a transitional time for American arts.
*This work is part of Minnesota Orchestra's season-long exploration and celebration of American music. Learn more about our American Expressions festival in January 2019.
Accessibility at Orchestra Hall
About This Concert
The five-time Grammy®-winning a cappella group takes the stage with its captivating blend of classical, pop and pure voice performing a musical retrospective that includes J.S. Bach, Simon and Garfunkel, the Beatles and more.
Please note: the Minnesota Orchestra does not perform on this concert.
Fun Facts
- The group won five Grammy® awards, has made more than 50 albums and appeared on numerous film and TV soundtracks including Sex and the City, Grey’s Anatomy and Glee.
- The Swingles’ newest album, Folklore, explores folk music from around the world and features collaborations with traditional artists.
Accessibility at Orchestra Hall
About This Concert
Go boldly where few films have gone before as the Enterprise crew confronts one of the greatest threats Starfleet has ever faced (Benedict Cumberbatch) in J.J. Abrams’ sci-fi blockbuster, while the Orchestra plays Michael Giacchino’s spectacular score – live!
Artists
- Minnesota Orchestra
- Sarah Hicks, conductor
Fun Facts
- Director J.J. Abrams praises Giacchino’s music as “the secret weapon of the Star Trek series.”
- Giacchino holds the distinction of being the only composer to score both a Star Trek movie and a Star Wars movie, the latter being 2016's Rogue One.
Accessibility at Orchestra Hall
Please note: to enhance the clarity of spoken dialogue during this film screening and live musical performance, English subtitles will appear at the bottom of the screen.
©2013 Paramount Pictures. ™ CBS Studios Inc.
About This Concert
Seriously talented and seriously funny, Igudesman and Joo return to the Minnesota Orchestra for a one-of-a-kind madcap musical satire.
Artists
- Minnesota Orchestra
- Sarah Hicks, conductor
- Aleksey Igudesman, violin
- Hyung-ki Joo, piano
Fun Facts
- Aleksey Igudesman and Hyung-ki Joo’s unique combination of humor and music reflects their shared goal to make classical music accessible to diverse audiences—think P.D.Q. Bach or Victor Borge on caffeine.
- They first met each other at age 12 in the mid-1980s at the Yehudi Menuhin School in England, and in 2004 they created their first show as a duo, “A Little Nightmare Music.”
Accessibility at Orchestra Hall
About This Concert:
The beloved children's book The Tin Forest comes to life in this magical concert.
- Minnesota Orchestra
- Akiko Fujimoto, conductor
Fun Facts:
- Join us for a concert sure to delight audiences of all ages! All seats $12. One-hour concert. No intermission.
- Composer Steve Heitzeg often uses “found objects” as instruments in his works, and his music is filled with surprises. This will delight students who hear The Tin Forest, a musical retelling of Helen Ward’s beloved children’s book, in which an ugly junkyard magically grows into a beautiful forest.
- Rounding out this concert are thrilling Dvořák and Smetana selections performed by the Orchestra, plus a star turn by pianist Emma Taggart, age 16, who performs the dramatic third movement of Grieg’s Piano Concerto—showing the talent that won her the 2018 Young People’s Concerto Competition!
- Participate in lobby activities (11:45am-12:45pm and 1:45pm-2:45pm), including opportunities to try orchestral instruments, engage in creative movement, participate in collaborative art-making, learn more about the program and meet Minnesota Orchestra musicians.
Sensory-Friendly Family Concerts:
- The Minnesota Orchestra’s Sensory-Friendly Concerts are inclusive experiences for patrons of all ages and abilities, including individuals on the autism spectrum and those with sensory sensitivities.
- All families are welcome! We invite you to Orchestra Hall—a supporting and relaxed environment.
- Concerts take place in an environment where audience members are welcome to be who they are and enjoy music with family and friends.
- Learn more about the concert experience with our tip sheet and other preparatory materials!
Accessibility
Read more about Accessibility at Orchestra Hall.
Steve Heitzeg’s The Tin Forest was originally commissioned by FRIENDS of the Minnesota Orchestra as a chamber work for Kinder Konzerts; the Minnesota Orchestra subsequently commissioned a full orchestra version of the work.
About This Concert
Grab a ticket to ride in a mesmerizing symphonic journey through the history of The Beatles at Abbey Road that features smart new arrangements of their greatest hits interspersed with never-before-seen images from The Beatles Book Archives.
Artists
- Minnesota Orchestra
- Jeff Tyzik, conductor
Fun Facts
- This performance includes gems like “Ticket to Ride,” “Get Back,” “Hey Jude,” “Here Comes the Sun” and “All You Need is Love.”
- The Beatles were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked them as the best artist of all time, and they received the 2014 Grammy® Lifetime Achievement Award.
Accessibility at Orchestra Hall
About This Concert:
From Latin grooves to swingin’ sounds and floating waltzes, this program is sure to make you feel the rhythm!
- Minnesota Orchestra
- Akiko Fujimoto, conductor
BARROSO/arr. Wasson
Brasil
REICH
Hand Clapping Music for Claves
TCHAIKOVSKY
Waltz of the Flowers, from The Nutcracker
ELLINGTON/arr. Strayhorn
The Floreadores, from The Swingin’ Nutcracker
SIBELIUS
Dance Intermezzo No. 2
COPLAND
Hoedown, from Rodeo
COPLAND
Simple Gifts, from Appalachian Spring
MENKEN
Under the Sea, from Disney’s The Little Mermaid
Fun Facts:
- Join us for a concert sure to delight audiences of all ages! All seats $12. One-hour concert. No intermission.
- Steve Reich was a pioneer of minimalist music composition, and was among the first to use tape loops, human breath and hand clapping to create styles known as “pulse” and “phase” music.
- Under the Sea was written by Alan Menken for Disney’s The Little Mermaid. It was Menken’s first score for Disney, and it won the Academy Award for Best Song in 1989.
- The traditional Shaker hymn Simple Gifts was made famous after its use in Aaron Copland's popular ballet Appalachian Spring. Weezer, REM, Judy Collins and Jewel have recorded versions of it, and John Williams’ Air and Simple Gifts arrangement was performed at Barack Obama’s inauguration ceremony on January 20, 2009.
- Come early for pre-concert activities (12:45-1:45pm), including opportunities to try orchestral instruments, engage in creative movement, participate in collaborative art-making, learn more about the program and meet Minnesota Orchestra musicians.
- The Minnesota Orchestra may photograph or film portions of this experience for promotional and archival purposes. Please note that by entering, you consent to be photographed or filmed for these uses.
Sensory-Friendly Family Concerts:
- The Minnesota Orchestra’s Sensory-Friendly Family Concerts are inclusive experiences for patrons of all ages and abilities, including individuals on the autism spectrum and those with sensory sensitivities.
- All families are welcome! We invite you to Orchestra Hall—a supporting and relaxed environment.
- Concerts take place in an environment where audience members are welcome to be who they are and enjoy music with family and friends.
- Learn more about the concert experience with our tip sheet and other preparatory materials!