A Symphonic Journey
with the Minnesota OrchestraFri Feb 18 — Sun Feb 20, 2022
Orchestra Hall
Travel writer and television host Rick Steves is coming to Orchestra Hall and is giving you a front-row seat to some of the most iconic sights and sounds in Europe. From Italy, England, Austria, Norway and beyond, Steves pairs personal photos and breathtaking video with beloved classical music selections by Wagner, Smetana, Verdi, Elgar, Grieg, Saint-Saëns and Beethoven on this historical and musical tour of Europe.
A Few Things to Know
- Steves' first self-published his first book with a disclaimer stating: “Anyone caught reprinting any material herein for any purpose whatsoever will be thanked profusely.”
- Steves’ dad was a piano technician and high school band teacher.
- We regret to share that due to a family emergency, Sarah Hicks is unable to conduct this week’s performances. Instead, we are pleased to welcome on short notice conductor Lee Mills.
Artists
Minnesota Orchestra
Lee Mills
conductor
Rick Steves
host
The Grammy Award-winning Minnesota Orchestra, founded in 1903 and led since its centennial by Music Director Osmo Vänskä, is recognized for distinguished performances around the world, award-winning recordings, radio broadcasts, educational engagement programs, and commitment to building the orchestral repertoire of the future. The Orchestra tours regularly throughout Minnesota and nationally, and has toured abroad in Australia, Canada, East Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and South Africa. Recording has been an important part of the organization’s mission since the 1920s. During Vänskä’s tenure, the Orchestra has undertaken acclaimed recordings, including complete cycles of symphonies by Ludwig van Beethoven, Jean Sibelius and—now underway—Mahler.
Lee Mills, the associate conductor of the Seattle Symphony and a four-time winner of the Solti Foundation U.S. Career Assistance Award, is internationally recognized as a passionate, multifaceted and energetic conductor. Throughout the global pandemic, he has remained busy conducting programs with the Seattle Symphony on its live-streaming platform, Seattle Symphony Live. He also led the Seattle Symphony in a special presentation for the NFL which was broadcast nationally to over 30 million television viewers. In November 2021, he was hailed in The Seattle Times as the “hero of the hour” when he stepped in on very short notice to replace ailing Thomas Dausgaard on a program featuring Amy Beach’s Gaelic Symphony and a world premiere of a double harp concerto by renowned contemporary composer Hannah Lash.
Your Concert Experience
Join us for Q&A’s, hosted discussions, exhibits and more. All free with your concert ticket!
Pre-Concert Interview
with Rick Steves and Brian Newhouse
When: Fri Feb 18 | 7:05pm-7:25pm
Where: Auditorium
Join Brian Newhouse, Minnesota Orchestra Associate Vice President of Individual Giving, and special guest Rick Steves for a conversation about this program and more.
The Jeleche Trio
When: Fri Feb 18 | 7:15pm-7:45pm
Where: Roberta Mann Grand Foyer
Guitarist Maja Radovanlija, vocalist and percussionist Sarah Larsson, and violinist Colleen Bertsch are Jeleche, an all-women ensemble performing new arrangements of Balkan, Central European, and Yiddish folk music. Jeleche explores how folk songs preserve and convey stories of lived experiences through eras of immigration from Europe.
Pre-Concert Interview
with Rick Steves and Brian Newhouse
When: Sun Feb 20 | 1:05pm-1:25pm
Where: Auditorium
Join Brian Newhouse, Minnesota Orchestra Associate Vice President of Individual Giving, and special guest Rick Steves for a conversation about this program and more.
The Jeleche Trio
When: Sun Feb 20 | 1:15pm-1:45pm
Where: Roberta Mann Grand Foyer
Guitarist Maja Radovanlija, vocalist and percussionist Sarah Larsson, and violinist Colleen Bertsch are Jeleche, an all-women ensemble performing new arrangements of Balkan, Central European, and Yiddish folk music. Jeleche explores how folk songs preserve and convey stories of lived experiences through eras of immigration from Europe.
Indulge at the Elixir Haus
When: Pre-Concert and Intermission
Where: Cargill Commons
Beverage service is available before and during each winter concert at Elixir Haus (located outside Orchestra Hall). Grab your coat and head outside for a sip of spirits or a cup of hot cocoa.
Pre- and Post-Concert Activities Sponsored By
Accessibility Services
- Assistive Listening Devices
- Large Print Programs
- Service Animals
- Wheelchair & Accessible Seating
Additional services are available upon request.
Sponsors
