Fabien Gabel Returns
Fri Dec 10 - Sat Dec 11, 2021
Orchestra Hall
Two stunning new church bells were recently donated to the Minnesota Orchestra, and they are the perfect pitches for the most resounding moments of Hector Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique. Conductor Fabien Gabel returns to the podium for this remarkable work that breaks all the rules and blurs all the boundaries. Before the bells toll though, American violinist Tai Murray—whose sound is all at once striking, elegant, and virtuosic—stands in the solo spotlight for Felix Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto.
A Few Things to Know
- The Orchestra’s new bells—a gift from Gary B. Cohen, a season subscriber since 2001—are tuned to play the pitches C and G, custom-cast for the Orchestra by the world-renowned Royal Eijsbouts foundry in the Netherlands.
- Now based in Europe, Tai Murray made her solo debut with the Chicago Symphony at age nine.
- French conductor Fabien Gabel has been the Music Director of the Orchestre Symphonique de Québec since 2012 and Music Director of the innovative Orchestre Français des Jeunes since 2017.
Program
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HUMPERDINCK
Königskinder, Concert Overture
1 min noteOne Minute Note
Like Engelbert Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, Königskinder is a fairy-tale opera involving a witch—but in this case with a central romance between a king’s son and a goose girl. Although they meet a tragic end, this is not foreshadowed in the energetic overture, set in triple meter with regal undertones.
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MENDELSSOHN
Violin Concerto
1 min noteOne Minute Note
Felix Mendelssohn’s exquisite Violin Concerto maintains the transparent textures of a Mozart-Haydn orchestra, but it rings out with a splendor the earlier composers never dreamed possible. The solo violinist’s soaring lines, both graceful and impassioned, conclude in an exultant three-octave leap.
- INTERMISSION
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BERLIOZ
Symphonie fantastique
1 min noteOne Minute Note
In what musicologist Michael Steinberg called “the most remarkable First Symphony ever written,” Hector Berlioz breaks the rules and oversteps the boundaries, creating an exhilarating, one-of-a-kind journey: the story of an artist and his obsession with a woman.
Artists
Minnesota Orchestra
Fabien Gabel
conductor
The Grammy Award-winning Minnesota Orchestra, now in its second century, ranks among America’s top symphonic ensembles, with a distinguished history of acclaimed performances in its home state and around the world; award-winning recordings, broadcasts and educational engagement programs; and a commitment to intentionally build concert programs to feature more works by composers of color, exploring music both contemporary and historic. In September 2024, Danish conductor Thomas Søndergård began his second season as music director.
Fabien Gabel is music director designate of the Tonkünstler-Orchester, a position which begins with the 2025-26 season. He has established an international career of the highest caliber. Praised for his dynamic style and sensitive approach to the score, he is best known for his eclectic choice of repertoire, ranging from core symphonic works to new music to championing lesser-known composers of the 19th and 20th centuries.
Your Concert Experience
Join us for Q&A’s, hosted discussions, exhibits and more. All free with your concert ticket!
Concert Preview
with Phillip Gainsley
When: Fri Dec 10 & Sat Dec 11 | 7:05pm -7:25pm
Where: Auditorium
Join Phillip Gainsley and special guests for a conversation about this program and more.
Twin Cities Bronze Handbell Ensemble
When: Fri Dec 10 | 7:15pm -7:45pm
Where: Roberta Mann Grand Foyer
Twin Cities Bronze is an auditioned community handbell ensemble of advanced ringers from the Twin Cities Metro area in Minnesota. Distinctive among handbell groups for performing without a conductor, the ensemble is also known for its energetic and visually appealing performance style.
MacPhail Suzuki Vivace Violin Group
When: Sat Dec 11 | 7:15pm -7:45pm
Where: Roberta Mann Grand Foyer
The MacPhail Suzuki Vivace Violin Group is a performance group for advanced violin students from 8–16 years old, with emphasis is on improving musicianship, performance practice, leadership skills, and artistry with the violin.
Simpson Housing Services Blanket Drive
When: Pre and Post-Concert
Where: Roberta Mann Grand Foyer
Donate new twin, full, and queen size blankets to support Simpson Housing Services, a local nonprofit that helps thousands of people experiencing homelessness find the housing, support, and shelter they need in a time of personal crisis. Look for collection bins near the Christmas tree in the lobby.
The fantastique sounds and behaves like nothing ever heard before.”
Accessibility Services
- Assistive Listening Devices
- Large Print Programs
- Service Animals
- Wheelchair & Accessible Seating
Additional services are available upon request.
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