Hope and Humanity
Thu May 19 — Sat May 21, 2022
Orchestra Hall
Thomas Wilkins makes his Minnesota Orchestra conducting debut in a soul-stirring performance that centers around Joel Thompson’s Seven Last Words of the Unarmed, a multi-movement choral work that presents the final spoken words of seven African American men who were each killed by the police or authority figures. The Minnesota Chorale, Twin Cities Choral Partners and 29:11 International Exchange join the Orchestra onstage in this concert that also features Franz Liszt’s poetic Les Préludes and Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s triumphant Fifth Symphony.
A Few Things to Know
- Seven Last Words of the Unarmed remembers the lives of Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin, Oscar Grant, Eric Garner, Kenneth Chamberlain, Amadou Diallo and John Crawford. Learn more about this work on our blog.
- The audience is invited to reflect on Seven Last Words of the Unarmed during the performance and intermission. A program insert includes questions for audience reflection that were compiled in part from resources on the Seven Last Words of the Unarmed website; also included in the insert is information on the George Floyd Global Memorial Exhibit “Everything is Somebody’s Offering: A Rememory Experience” hosted at Orchestra Hall from May 19 to 21.
- Bass singer Marcus Simmons is the soloist in the third movement of Seven Last Words of the Unarmed, titled “Mom, I’m going to college.”
- Liszt indicated that Les Préludes was his depiction of a poem by Alphonse de Lamartine that begins: “What is our life but a series of preludes to that unknown song whose first solemn note is tolled by death?”
- Tchaikovsky’s very popular Fifth Symphony—which journeys from minor to major and darkness to hope—is filled with wonderful mottos, orchestral color, balletic beauty and high drama. An entire decade elapsed between the composition of Tchaikovsky’s Fourth and Fifth symphonies, a creative dry spell that followed the composer’s personal crisis of a short-lived marriage.
Program
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LISZT
Les Préludes
1 min noteOne Minute Note
Finding inspiration in many sources, and written in a form new to the orchestral repertoire, Franz Liszt’s Les Préludes is the work that laid the foundation for many great symphonic poems.
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THOMPSON
Seven Last Words of the Unarmed
1 min noteOne Minute Note
Joel Thompson’s Seven Last Words of the Unarmed speaks of the grief, sadness and horror that the composer and the world have felt after witnessing recent killings of Black men by police and other authority figures in the U.S. The final words of seven of these unarmed men—Kenneth Chamberlain, Trayvon Martin, Amadou Diallo, Michael Brown, Oscar Grant, John Crawford and Eric Garner—serve as the text of each of the cantata’s seven movements, in a structure inspired by Haydn’s The Seven Last Words of Christ.
- INTERMISSION
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TCHAIKOVSKY
Symphony No. 5
1 min noteOne Minute Note
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s very popular Fifth Symphony—which journeys from minor to major and darkness to hope—is filled with wonderful mottos, orchestral color, balletic beauty and high drama. Watch for the finale’s false conclusion, a great climax that tricks many listeners into thinking the performance is complete.
Artists
Minnesota Orchestra
Thomas Wilkins
conductor
Minnesota Chorale
Twin Cities Choral Partners
29:11 International Exchange
choir
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 begins his second season as music director.
Thomas Wilkins is principal conductor of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, the Boston Symphony’s artistic advisor for education and community engagement, and principal guest conductor of the Virginia Symphony. In addition, he holds Indiana University’s Henry A. Upper Chair of Orchestral Conducting. In 2021 he completed a long and successful tenure as music director of the Omaha Symphony Orchestra. He debuted with the Minnesota Orchestra in May 2022, leading a program that included Joel Thompson’s Seven Last Words of the Unarmed.
The Minnesota Chorale has served as the Minnesota Orchestra’s principal chorus since 2004 and is now in 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, the ensemble is equally dedicated to programs that build and enrich community. A seasoned artistic partner, the Chorale continues to explore new artistic directions and collaborative opportunities, while earning the highest critical acclaim for its work on the concert stage. In 2018, members of the Chorale traveled to South Africa to perform alongside the Minnesota Orchestra in its historic concerts in Soweto and Johannesburg.
29:11 International Exchange is a music ministry based in South Africa and the United States. Its mission is to facilitate hope and reconciliation through musical performance and collaboration, artist development and cross-cultural relationships. By recognizing that each of us is worthy of understanding and love, we can bridge the ideological, racial and socio-economic gaps that divide us, and live together as citizens of the world.
Your Concert Experience
Join us for Q&A’s, hosted discussions, exhibits and more. All free with your concert ticket!
exhibit by the George Floyd Global Memorial
When: Thu May 19 | 9:30am - 5:00pm
Where: Orchestra Hall
On May 25, 2020, George Floyd was lynched by the Minneapolis Police at the corner of 38th & Chicago. In response, people from Minneapolis and the world came together to offer expressions of pain and hope, as protest and public grief. As you experience this selection of offerings from George Floyd Square, allow yourself to feel, remember, and be moved to continue the work of racial justice.
Pre-Concert Interview with composer Joel Thompson
When: Thu May 19 | 10:15am
Where: Auditorium
Join Minnesota Orchestra musician Sam Bergman for an on-stage interview with Seven Last Words of the Unarmed composer Joel Thompson about the creation and impact of this powerful piece.
exhibit by the George Floyd Global Memorial
When: Fri May 20 & Sat May 21 | 9:30am - 10:00pm
Where: Orchestra Hall
On May 25, 2020, George Floyd was lynched by the Minneapolis Police at the corner of 38th & Chicago. In response, people from Minneapolis and the world came together to offer expressions of pain and hope, as protest and public grief. As you experience this selection of offerings from George Floyd Square, allow yourself to feel, remember, and be moved to continue the work of racial justice.
Pre-Concert Panel Discussion
When: Fri May 20 & Sat May 21 | 7:00pm
Where: Target Atrium
Jeanelle Austin, executive director of the George Floyd Global Memorial, moderates a discussion with Seven Last Words of the Unarmed composer Joel Thompson and other special guests about Thompson's powerful composition, how the issues it highlights have impacted our local community, and where we go from here.
Video: Joel Thompson's Seven Last Words of the Unarmed
Accessibility Services
- Assistive Listening Devices
- Large Print Programs
- Service Animals
- Wheelchair & Accessible Seating
Additional services are available upon request.
Sponsored By
With these concerts we honor the memory of Dr. Marvin E. Goldberg in appreciation of his generous estate gift to the Minnesota Orchestra.
This concert is co-sponsored by Trudi Anderson and Joseph Green.
