Update browser for a secure Minnesota Orchestra experience

It looks like you may be using a web browser version that we don't support. Make sure you're using the most recent version of your browser, or try using of these supported browsers, to get the full Minnesota Orchestra experience: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge.

Kevin John Edusei
Kevin John Edusei, conductor | © Marco Borggreve

Shostakovich, Moussa and Ravel

Thu Apr 7 — Fri Apr 8, 2022

Orchestra Hall

~2 hrs including a 20 min intermission

Shostakovich’s First Violin Concerto is an intensely challenging, virtuosic and emotionally charged piece, performed by violinist Ning Feng in his Minnesota Orchestra debut. Also making his first appearance here is conductor Kevin John Edusei, who leads the Orchestra in a series of atmospheric orchestral works by Samy Moussa and Maurice Ravel. From the mysterious night sky in Nocturne to the joyful dances of Daphnis and Chloe to the iconic snare drum rhythm of Boléro, this concert will send your imagination soaring.

A Few Things to Know

  • Shostakovich’s First Violin Concerto was premiered by Ukrainian-born violinist David Oistrakh, who in 1955 and 1965 performed with the Minnesota Orchestra, which was then known as the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra. Learn more about the connections between Shostakovich and Oistrakh.
  • Ravel’s Daphnis and Chloe and Boléro were both originally written as music for ballet, but have instead become orchestral favorites that stand on their own.
  • Kevin John Edusei has won numerous awards and competitions for his conducting, including the 2008 International Dimitri Mitropoulos Competition, which is named after the Minnesota Orchestra’s fourth music director.
  • This concert marks the second consecutive month the Minnesota Orchestra is performing a piece by Canadian composer Samy Moussa. Moussa, who also has a successful career as a conductor in both Europe and North America, is currently the artist in residence with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.

Date & Time

{{perf.Date}}

{{perf.Time}}

Program

  • SHOSTAKOVICH

    Violin Concerto No. 1

    1 min note

    One Minute Note

    Once hidden within the repressive climate of Stalin’s regime, Shostakovich’s concerto alternates somber movements with brighter, virtuosic passages. A spectacular cadenza links the ominous third movement with the work’s striking, fast-paced finale.

  • INTERMISSION
  • MOUSSA

    Nocturne

    1 min note

    One Minute Note

    In Moussa’s Nocturne, the center of gravity is pitched in the lower registers, with a few moments of brightness. The final minutes create a ghostly atmosphere through unusual modern techniques.

  • RAVEL

    Suite No. 2 from Daphnis and Chloe

    1 min note

    One Minute Note

    The ancient lovers in Ravel’s Daphnis and Chloe Suite are shown in happy moments. Rippling woodwinds announce sunrise; solo flute represents Daphnis telling the tale of Pan and Syrinx; and the couple celebrates with a joyous dance.

  • RAVEL

    ‎Boléro

    1 min note

    One Minute Note

    Over a beguiling and insistent rhythm, Boléro repeats a single hypnotic melody on an ever-shifting combination of instruments. With each change in orchestral color, the tension builds—to a climax of shattering intensity.

Artists

Minnesota Orchestra

Your Concert Experience

Join us for Q&A’s, hosted discussions, exhibits and more. All free with your concert ticket!

bolerobolero Dance Performance

When: Thu Apr 7, 10:15-10:45am & Fri Apr 8, 7:15-7:45pm
Where: Roberta Mann Grand Foyer, Balcony A, Balcony B

bolerobolero, set to Ravel's iconic orchestral work, is a contemporary interpretation choreographed by Berit Ahlgren (HoneyWorks) and Helen Hatch (Hatch Dance). The work is a response to our need to continue dancing and creating during upheavals in the social and political landscapes during the summer of 2020.

Video: Performance clip of Ravel's Daphnis and Chloe from October 2016

Accessibility Services

  • Assistive Listening Devices
  • Large Print Programs
  • Service Animals
  • Wheelchair & Accessible Seating

Additional services are available upon request.

Sponsored By

MSAB
Delta
Target