About Press Room Conductor James Gaffigan, cellist Anthony Ross star in program of Russian masterworksConductor James Gaffigan, cellist Anthony Ross star in program of Russian masterworks
James Gaffigan returns to conduct Minnesota Orchestra concerts February 9 to 11; Principal Cellist Anthony Ross featured as soloist in Prokofiev’s Sinfonia concertante
Program concludes with Tchaikovsky’s final work, the Sixth (Pathétique) Symphony
(January 17, 2012) The Minnesota Orchestra presents a program of Russian masterpieces, all written late in their composers’ careers, in concerts led by young American conductor James Gaffigan. The Orchestra’s principal cellist, Anthony Ross, is featured as soloist in the program’s centerpiece, Prokofiev’s virtuosic Sinfonia concertante for Cello and Orchestra. The concerts include a selection from Mussorgsky’s ballet Khovanshchina and conclude with Tchaikovsky’s Sixth (Pathétique) Symphony, a work of heartbreaking beauty that premiered only nine days prior to the composer’s passing in 1893.
The concert is performed three times at Orchestra Hall: on Thursday, February 9, at 11 a.m.; Friday, February 10, at 8 p.m.; and Saturday, February 11, at 8 p.m., with ticket prices ranging from $22 to $84. For tickets, call (612) 371-5656 or visit minnesotaorchestra.org.
James Gaffigan, conductor
James Gaffigan has earned acclaim as one of the top emerging conductors, having conducted major orchestras on national and international stages. He made his debut with the Minnesota Orchestra in March 2010.
In 2011 he became chief conductor of Switzerland’s Lucerne Symphony Orchestra and principal guest conductor of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra. He previously held positions with the San Francisco Symphony and Cleveland Orchestra.
During 2011-12 Gaffigan debuts with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, London Philharmonic and Sydney Symphony, among other ensembles, and conducts return engagements with the National, Dallas, Baltimore, Milwaukee and Toronto Symphony Orchestras. Later this year he will conduct a staging of Rossini’s La Cenerentola at England’s Glyndebourne opera house.
Anthony Ross, cello
Anthony Ross, now in his 24th year as a Minnesota Orchestra member, assumed the principal cello post in 1991. While here he has drawn acclaim for his solo performances of many great concertos and chamber works, including, most recently, Walton’s Cello Concerto and the Brahms Piano Trio in B major. He has also performed on stages from Pensacola, Florida, to Rhodes, Greece.
Ross has performed at music festivals in the U.S. and Europe and has been a faculty member at the Grand Teton, Aspen, Madeline Island and Indiana University festivals. He has recorded Bernstein’s Three Meditations with the Minnesota Orchestra as well as Carter and Rachmaninoff sonatas for Boston Records. Among his honors are two McKnight Fellowships and the 1982 bronze medal of Moscow’s prestigious Tchaikovsky Competition.
Together with Assistant Principal Cello Beth Rapier, his wife, Ross organizes an annual concert benefitting Habitat for Humanity. For details on that concert, visit minnesotaorchestra.org/aroundtown.
Prokofiev’s Sinfonia concertante
Prokofiev’s Sinfonia concertante is essentially a three-movement cello concerto, but it places greater emphasis on the orchestral, or symphonic, material than is common for a solo concerto—a fact reflected in its title. Premiered in 1954 with famed cellist Mstislav Rostropovich as soloist, the work has been dubbed “the very Everest of the virtuoso cellist’s repertory” due to the difficulty of the solo role. It incorporates many technical challenges and special effects while also offering the soloist episodes of soaring lyricism and warmth of character. Incorporated into its unusual formal layout are several humorous episodes, as well as some that are dance-like in nature, some grotesque, some capricious and even fantastical.
Minnesota Orchestra Classical Concerts
ROSS, PROKOFIEV AND TCHAIKOVSKY
Thursday, February 9, 2012, 11 a.m. / Orchestra Hall
Friday, February 10, 2012, 8 p.m. / Orchestra Hall
Saturday, February 11, 2012, 8 p.m. / Orchestra Hall
Minnesota Orchestra
James Gaffigan, conductor
Anthony Ross, cello
MUSSORGSKY Dance of the Persian Maidens, from Khovanshchina
PROKOFIEV Sinfonia concertante for Cello and Orchestra
TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 6, Pathétique
Music Up Close: Concert Preview with Phillip Gainsley and Anthony Ross – Feb. 9, 10:30 a.m.; Feb. 11, 7 p.m.
Pre-concert Performance: Northwest Suburban Conference Festival High School Orchestra – Feb. 10, 6:30 p.m.
Post-concert Q&A with conductor James Gaffigan – Feb. 11
Individual tickets are available for purchase at the Minnesota Orchestra Box Office at 11th and Marquette in Minneapolis, online at minnesotaorchestra.org or by calling (612) 371-5656 or (800) 292-4141. For groups of 10 or more, call (612) 371-5662 or (800) 292-4141, ext. 662. Prices listed do not include a $5.75 service charge per transaction for all phone or mail orders. Save $1 by purchasing tickets online or by having the Orchestra e-mail your tickets. There are no service charges for subscribers, group purchasers or in-person transactions at the Orchestra Hall Box Office. A non-discountable $3.50 facility fee is included in the price of each individual ticket. No refunds. Some fees and restrictions may apply to ticket exchanges. All sales are final. All programs, artists, dates, times and prices subject to change.
Delta Air Lines is the official airline of the Minnesota Orchestra’s 2011-12 season.
The Star Tribune and 830 WCCO-AM are the Minnesota Orchestra’s media partners for the 2011-12 season.
This activity is made possible in part by a grant provided by the Minnesota State Arts Board through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature from the State’s general fund and its arts and cultural heritage fund with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.
PRESS CONTACTS:
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