About this Concert:
This 1947 beloved holiday classic stars Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed and Lionel Barrymore—hear it in a whole new light as we screen the complete film in Orchestra Hall with the Minnesota Orchestra performing Dimitri Tiomkin’s iconic score live.
- Minnesota Orchestra
- Sarah Hicks, conductor
Read program notes (pdf)
More Details:
- It’s a Wonderful Life is the classic tale of a small-town man who overcomes a crisis of faith with a little angelic intervention.
- The film was not a box office success when it first came out, but is now ranked #1 on the American Film Institute’s list of the most inspirational American films of all time.
- Director Frank Capra called it his favorite work, and screened it for his family every Christmas.
- Dimitri Tiomkin (who composed the score) is a Hollywood music legend, and also wrote the themes for the TV westerns Rawhide and Gunslinger plus other classics such as High Noon and Dial M for Murder.
- One of the writers for this touching script was the sharp-tongued Dorothy Parker!
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.
Holiday
It's a Wonderful Life In Concert
Complete Film with Live Orchestra
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Other Performances
It's a Wonderful Life
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About this Concert:
This 1947 beloved holiday classic stars Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed and Lionel Barrymore—hear it in a whole new light as we screen the complete film in Orchestra Hall with the Minnesota Orchestra performing Dimitri Tiomkin’s iconic score live.
- Minnesota Orchestra
- Sarah Hicks, conductor
Read program notes (pdf)
More Details:
- It’s a Wonderful Life is the classic tale of a small-town man who overcomes a crisis of faith with a little angelic intervention.
- The film was not a box office success when it first came out, but is now ranked #1 on the American Film Institute’s list of the most inspirational American films of all time.
- Director Frank Capra called it his favorite work, and screened it for his family every Christmas.
- Dimitri Tiomkin (who composed the score) is a Hollywood music legend, and also wrote the themes for the TV westerns Rawhide and Gunslinger plus other classics such as High Noon and Dial M for Murder.
- One of the writers for this touching script was the sharp-tongued Dorothy Parker!
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.
Listen on Spotify
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OH+ Concert activities on Sunday December 18 / see all upcoming OH+ events

Coffee Concert
When: Pre-concert Where: All lobby bars Enjoy complimentary coffee and cookies before the concert. Available at all lobby bars.

Mary Louise Knutson Trio
When: 12:30-1:45pm Where: Roberta Mann Grand Foyer Enjoy holiday favorites performed by pianist Mary Louise Knutson, bassist Gordon Johnson and drummer Phil Hey. No ticket required! Free and open to the public.

Merchandise and Recordings
When: Pre-concert Where: Roberta Mann Grand Foyer Visit the Concessions Booth in the lobby to purchase a variety of Minnesota Orchestra merchandise including scarves, CDs and more!