Litton leads "A Russian Spectacular," with Gluzman soloing in Prokofiev Violin Concerto

Sommerfest Artistic Director Andrew Litton conducts Minnesota Orchestra concerts Feb. 16 and 17; Violinist Vadim Gluzman makes subscription solo debut in Prokofiev’s Second Violin Concerto

Program includes Shostakovich’s epic Seventh Symphony, a WWII-era salute to the city of Leningrad

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(January 20, 2012) Sommerfest Artistic Director Andrew Litton returns for his annual appearance on the Minnesota Orchestra’s classical subscription series, leading all-Russian concerts February 16 and 17 that open with Prokofiev’s Second Violin Concerto, featuring acclaimed Israeli soloist Vadim Gluzman.  The program concludes with Shostakovich’s Seventh Symphony, dedicated to the city of Leningrad and completed in December 1941, when the city was under siege by Nazi forces.  Litton, a leading Shostakovich exponent, has conducted four of the composer’s other symphonies with the Orchestra in recent seasons.

The concert is performed twice at Minneapolis’ Orchestra Hall: on Thursday, February 16, at
11 a.m., and Friday, February 17, at 8 p.m., with ticket prices ranging from $22 to $84.  For tickets, call (612) 371-5656 or visit minnesotaorchestra.org.

Andrew Litton, conductor
Andrew Litton is in his tenth season as artistic director of Sommerfest and his ninth as music director of the Bergen Philharmonic.  In addition to conducting the Orchestra at subscription concerts and at Sommerfest, he is an accomplished pianist and has led several works at Orchestra Hall from the keyboard. 

During the 2011-12 season, Litton guest conducts such ensembles as the Hong Kong Philharmonic, Beethovenhalle Orchestra, Netherlands Philharmonic, MDR Sinfonie of Leipzig, Hamburg Symphony, Belgian National Orchestra, Bournemouth and City of Birmingham symphony orchestras, and National Symphony of Washington, D.C.  He is conductor laureate of Britain’s Bournemouth Symphony and music director emeritus of the Dallas Symphony. 

In 2011 the King of Norway made Litton a Knight of the Norwegian Order of Merit, recognizing his work with the Bergen Philharmonic.  Among his additional honors is a 1997 Grammy Award.

Vadim Gluzman, violin
Vadim Gluzman, acclaimed on five continents as a soloist and chamber musician, performed with the Minnesota Orchestra at the 2000, 2008 and 2010 Sommerfests.  These concerts mark his subscription series debut at Orchestra Hall.  His engagements for 2011-12 include performances with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, BBC Symphony, London Philharmonic, Bergen Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony and Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Mexico, among other ensembles, as well as a tour with the Schleswig-Holstein Orchestra.

Gluzman performs often with pianist Angela Yoffe, his wife; together they founded the North Shore Chamber Music Festival in Northern Illinois.

Among Gluzman’s recordings are a disc of the Tchaikovsky and Glazunov violin concertos, performed with the Bergen Philharmonic under Andrew Litton, and newly released recordings of music by Bruch and Sofia Gubaidulina.

“A Russian Spectacular”: Music of Prokofiev and Shostakovich
Prokofiev’s lyrical Second Violin Concerto veers between extremes, now gentle, now full of energy.  The composer’s imagination—and his penchant for saucy touches—are often evident, as in his use of castanets near the work’s exciting, exotic close.

In June 1941 Hitler’s troops invaded the Soviet Union; the vast Seventh Symphony is Shostakovich’s response.  The composer called the war “the struggle between culture and barbarity, between light and darkness,” dedicating the work to “our coming victory over the enemy” and to his besieged native city, Leningrad.  Recurring throughout the symphony is a heroic theme introduced early in the massive first movement, long before a jaunty marching tune signals the approach of an invading force and the destruction to follow.  Nostalgic central movements depict a way of life now lost forever, and despite the tension in the finale, the heroic theme returns, heralding victory.

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Minnesota Orchestra Classical Concerts
A RUSSIAN SPECTACULAR:
PROKOFIEV AND SHOSTAKOVICH

Thursday, February 16, 2012, 11 a.m. / Orchestra Hall
Friday, February 17, 2012, 8 p.m. / Orchestra Hall

Minnesota Orchestra
Andrew Litton, conductor
Vadim Gluzman, violin

PROKOFIEV                         Violin Concerto No. 2
SHOSTAKOVICH                Symphony No. 7, Leningrad

Tickets: $22-$84

Music Up Close: Concert Preview with John Birge – Feb. 16, 10:30 a.m.; Feb. 17, 7 p.m.

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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.

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PRESS CONTACTS:
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Sandi Brown, Public Relations Coordinator
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