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Tuesday August 22, 2023

Thomas Søndergård to Lead Historic First Concerts as Music Director, Opening the Minnesota Orchestra’s 2023-24 Season

Søndergård was announced as the Minnesota Orchestra’s next artistic leader in July 2022, becoming the 11th music director in the organization’s 120-year history

Season opening concerts September 21-23 feature music of Strauss and Mozart; programs September 28-30 include the conductor’s first collaboration with the Minnesota Chorale in Ravel’s Daphnis and Chloe

In addition to the concert programs, a free Open House celebrating the 2023-24 season and Søndergård’s arrival will take place on Saturday, September 30, at Orchestra Hall

Thomas Søndergård will lead two festive weeks of programming to open the Minnesota Orchestra’s 2023-24 season. Taking place September 21 to 23, the first set of concerts includes Richard Strauss’ Don Juan and An Alpine Symphony, and features Principal Oboe Nathan Hughes—the Orchestra’s newest section leader—as soloist in Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Oboe Concerto. The following week’s program features a presentation of Maurice Ravel’s Daphnis and Chloe, which will mark Søndergård’s first collaboration with the Minnesota Chorale, the Orchestra’s principal chorus.

The concerts usher in a new era for the Minnesota Orchestra, as Søndergård succeeds Osmo Vänskä to become the 11th music director to lead the Orchestra in its 120-year history. The Danish conductor was appointed as the Orchestra’s next artistic leader in July 2022, and served as the ensemble’s music director designate during the 2022-23 season.

The programs will be performed at Orchestra Hall in downtown Minneapolis. The first set of concerts will occur on Thursday, September 21, at 11 a.m., Friday, September 22, at 8 p.m., and Saturday, September 23, at 7 p.m., with ticket prices ranging from $31 to $106. The second set will occur on Thursday, September 28, at 11 a.m., Friday, September 29, at 8 p.m., and Saturday, September 30, at 2 p.m., with tickets ranging from $31 to $106. Choose Your Price tickets are available to all concertgoers for select seating sections ($5 minimum ticket price) for the September 23 and September 30 concerts.

Both Friday night performances on September 22 and 29 will be broadcast on stations of YourClassical Minnesota Public Radio. The concert on September 29 will additionally be broadcast live on Twin Cities PBS (TPT-2), and streamed for free through the Orchestra’s website and social media channels. The broadcast will subsequently be released for on-demand viewing with a digital subscription to the Orchestra’s Digital Concert Hall.

The 7 p.m. concert start time on Saturday, September 23, marks a departure from the Orchestra’s traditional 8 p.m. start; all Saturday evening concerts during the 2023-24 season will feature this earlier 7 p.m. start time. The 2 p.m. afternoon performance on Saturday, September 30, begins a season-long matinee series that will present select concerts at 2 p.m. and feature post-concert conversations with Søndergård.

In addition to these concert programs, an Open House will take place prior to the concert on Saturday, September 30, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Orchestra Hall. The free, community-oriented event will celebrate the Orchestra’s new season and musical leader, offering backstage tours, family-friendly activities, Danish crafts and performances by student musical ensembles, among other activities. All are welcome, and no tickets are required.

Søndergård’s September 21 to 23 appearances will be bookended musically by two tone poems of Strauss, reflecting his affinity for the German composer. Søndergård’s first concert with the Orchestra as a guest conductor in 2021 featured the late romantic composer’s Ein Heldenleben. This inaugural program presents his Don Juan and An Alpine Symphony; both considered ultra-modern at the time of their compositions, the latter is formed from 22 connected sections that depict a climber’s journey to the peak of a mountain. Between the two works, Principal Oboe Nathan Hughes will perform Mozart’s Oboe Concerto—the only concerto Mozart would write for the instrument. Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, Hughes joined the ensemble full-time during the 2022-23 season.

The second set of inaugural concerts on September 28 to 30 features adventurous music steeped in fantasy and lore. The program opens with contemporary composer Lera Auerbach’s Icarus, a symphonic poem based on the mythological Greek figure. Also borrowing from mythology is Medea’s Dance of Vengeance, a composition by Samuel Barber loosely based on Euripides’ tragedy. Søndergård and the Orchestra will also present two seminal French works of the 20th century: Claude Debussy’s Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun and Maurice Ravel’s Daphnis and Chloe. The latter features the Minnesota Chorale, which this December will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its first appearance with the Minnesota Orchestra.

 

About Thomas Søndergård

Danish conductor Thomas Søndergård, who in summer 2022 was announced as the 11th music director of the Minnesota Orchestra, has served as music director designate for the 2022-23 season and begins his inaugural season in September 2023. A highly regarded conductor in both the orchestral and opera spheres, he has earned a reputation for incisive interpretations of works by composers from his native Denmark, a great versatility in a broad range of standard and modern repertoire, and a collaborative approach with the musicians he leads.

Since 2018 Søndergård has been music director of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO), a role he will continue alongside his Minnesota appointment. Prior to joining the RSNO, he served as principal conductor and musical advisor to the Norwegian Radio Orchestra and then as principal conductor of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales (BBC NOW). As a guest conductor he has led major European and North American orchestras including the Berlin Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Gewandhaus Orchestra, Houston Symphony, London Philharmonic and the symphonies of London, Montreal and Toronto. More: minnesotaorchestra.org.

About Nathan Hughes

Nathan Hughes is the new principal oboe of the Minnesota Orchestra and a member of the faculty at the Juilliard School. He is a native of St. Paul, Minnesota, and previously served as principal oboe of the Metropolitan Opera as well as the Seattle Symphony and has recorded, toured, and made guest appearances as principal oboe with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra and San Francisco Symphony. 

An avid chamber musician, Hughes has performed with the Philadelphia, La Jolla, Seattle and Brooklyn Chamber Music Societies, as well as at ChamberFest Cleveland and Chamber Music Pittsburgh. In addition, he has made appearances at the festivals of Aspen, Bridgehampton, Lucerne, Marlboro, Pacific, Salzburg, Santa Fe, Sarasota, Spoleto and Tanglewood. He has received critical acclaim for his performances as soloist with the MET Chamber Ensemble at Carnegie Hall, Mainly Mozart Festival Orchestra, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Seattle Symphony, La Jolla SummerFest Chamber Orchestra and Verbier Festival Orchestra. More: minnesotaorchestra.org.

About Minnesota Chorale

The Minnesota Chorale has served as the Minnesota Orchestra’s principal chorus since 2004 and is entering its 29th season under the leadership of Kathy Saltzman Romey. Founded in 1972, the Chorale is Minnesota’s preeminent symphonic chorus, with a roster of over 200 singers. Best known for its work with the two major orchestras of the Twin Cities—including collaborations with the Minnesota Orchestra in performing, recording and international touring—the ensemble is equally dedicated to programs that build and enrich community. The Chorale continues to explore new artistic directions and collaborative opportunities, while earning the highest critical acclaim for its work on the concert stage. More: mnchorale.org.

Inaugural Concerts: Welcoming Music Director Thomas Søndergård

SØNDERGÅRD CONDUCTS ALPINE SYMPHONY

 

Thursday, September 21, 2023, 11 a.m. / Orchestra Hall

Friday, September 22, 2023, 8 p.m. / Orchestra Hall*

Saturday, September 23, 2023, 7 p.m. / Orchestra Hall

 

Minnesota Orchestra

Thomas Søndergård, conductor

Nathan Hughes, oboe

 

STRAUSS  Don Juan
MOZART Oboe Concerto
STRAUSS  An Alpine Symphony

 

Tickets: $31 to $106 [Free tickets available for young listeners under age 18, thanks to the Hall Pass program. Choose Your Price tickets ($5 minimum ticket price) are available for select seating sections for the September 23 concert.]

* The performance on Friday, September 22, will be broadcast live on stations of YourClassical Minnesota Public Radio, including KSJN 99.5 FM in the Twin Cities

Inaugural Concerts: Welcoming Music Director Thomas Søndergård

SØNDERGÅRD, DEBUSSY AND RAVEL

 

Thursday, September 28, 2023, 11 a.m. / Orchestra Hall

Friday, September 29, 2023, 8 p.m. / Orchestra Hall*

Saturday, September 30, 2023, 2 p.m. / Orchestra Hall

 

Minnesota Orchestra

Thomas Søndergård, conductor

Minnesota Chorale

 

AUERBACH Icarus
DEBUSSY Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun
BARBER Medea’s Dance of Vengeance
RAVEL Daphnis and Chloe

 

Tickets: $31 to $106 [Choose Your Price tickets ($5 minimum ticket price) are available for select seating sections for the September 30 concert. Free tickets available for young listeners under age 18, thanks to the Hall Pass program.]

* The performance on Friday, September 29, will be broadcast live on Twin Cities PBS (TPT-2) and YourClassical MPR, and streamed for free through the Orchestra’s website and social media channels. The concert will subsequently be released for on-demand viewing with a digital subscription through the Minnesota Orchestra’s Digital Concert Hall

Inaugural Concerts: Welcoming Music Director Thomas Søndergård

OPEN HOUSE

 

Saturday, September 30, 2023 / Orchestra Hall

 

Open House (Lobby) | 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Activities include:

  • Interactive exhibits
  • Performances by student musicians
  • Kid-friendly activities
  • Listening stations curated by Music Director Thomas Søndergård

 

Backstage Tours | 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

 

Tickets: FREE [Ticket is required for optional 2 p.m. concert.]

TICKET PURCHASING INFORMATION

Tickets and subscription packages can be purchased now at minnesotaorchestra.org or by calling 612-371-5656. For groups of 10 or more, call 612-371-5662.

The 2023-2024 Classical Season is presented by Ameriprise Financial.

The This Is Minnesota Orchestra digital concert series is made possible in part by a generous lead gift from Kathryn and Charles Cunningham. Digital subscriptions are available for purchase; the $60 annual household subscription can be purchased at minnesotaorchestra.org/digital-concerts

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

All programs, artists, dates, times and prices subject to change.