Orchestra Hall felt more like Helsinki on January 13th! Minneapolis helped kick off an American celebration of the nation of Finland's 100th birthday, complete with Finnish folk music in the Roberta Mann Grand Foyer, a visit from Finnish Ambassador to the U.S. Kirsti Kauppi, and - of course - a traveling sauna. The evening's program featured music from Finnish composers Kalevi Aho and Jean Sibelius, and the orchestra welcomed cello dynamo Alisa Weilerstein for a stunning interpretation of Dvořák's Cello Concerto. Kippis!
Finnish folk music provided by the Singing Strings from Evergreen School of Performing Arts.
A patron tours the Traveling Sauna for Finland 100.
The Traveling Sauna for Finland 100.
The Singing Strings entertaining the crowd before the concert.
Finnish Ambassador to the U.S. Kirsti Kauppi addresses the audience.
Roma Duncan, piccolo; Kathy Keinzle, harp
Cello section
Percussionist Kevin Watkins hard at work.
Cellist extraordinaire Alisa Weilerstein, following Maestro Vänskä
Rhapsodic playing on Dvořák's Cello Concerto from guest artist Alisa Weilerstein
Music Director Osmo Vänskä and Alisa Weilerstein take a bow.
Maestro Vänskä conducting
Associate Principal Second Violin Jonathan Magness keyed in on Maestro Vänskä
Binoculars come in handy for watching a concert and exploring Orchestra Hall
Minneapolis-based violinist Sara Pajunen having some fun performing Finnish folk music for patrons post-concert.
Osmo Vänskä signs a CD for a fan.
