Symphonies No. 3 and 4
Thu Jan 13 — Fri Jan 14, 2022
Orchestra Hall
Our Sibelius Festival continues with another weekend of Grammy-winning music and violin magic from guest soloist Elina Vähälä. Music Director Osmo Vänskä leads the Minnesota Orchestra in Symphony No. 3, a profound and curious work in three movements, followed by the shadowy Symphony No. 4. Topping off an already spectacular program, Vähälä is back for a second week to perform Sibelius’ Violin Concerto in its most familiar revised version.
A Few Things to Know
- Elina Vähälä premiered fellow Finnish composer Jaakko Kuusisto’s Violin Concerto with the Minnesota Orchestra in September 2017.
- Sibelius’ Fourth Symphony was written at a dark time in the composer’s life, when he was physically and psychologically recovering from cancer and in withdrawal from cigars and alcohol. He expressed his deep angst and emotional struggles through this work.
Program
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SIBELIUS
Symphony No. 4
- INTERMISSION
-
SIBELIUS
Symphony No. 3
-
SIBELIUS
Violin Concerto (final version)
Artists
Minnesota Orchestra
Osmo Vänskä
conductor
Elina Vähälä
violin
The Grammy Award-winning Minnesota Orchestra, led by Danish conductor Thomas Søndergård—who is serving as music director designate during the 2022-23 season—is recognized for distinguished performances around the world, award-winning recordings and broadcasts, educational engagement programs, and commitment to building the orchestral repertoire of the future. Founded in 1903, the Orchestra has an extensive history of touring throughout Minnesota, nationally and abroad, including high-profile visits in recent years to Cuba, Europe and South Africa. Recording projects undertaken in the past two decades include complete cycles of symphonies by Beethoven, Sibelius and Mahler, all recorded under Osmo Vänskä, who is now the Orchestra’s conductor laureate.
Minnesota Orchestra Conductor Laureate Osmo Vänskä, whose 19-year tenure as the Orchestra’s music director concluded in summer 2022, is renowned internationally for his compelling interpretations of the standard, contemporary and Nordic repertoires. His multi-year project with the Orchestra to perform and record all ten Mahler symphonies concluded in November 2022 with the Third Symphony. Signature initiatives of his music director tenure included a Sibelius symphonies cycle that earned the Orchestra its first Grammy Award and major tours to Cuba, Europe and South Africa. As a guest conductor, he has received extraordinary praise for his work with many of the world’s leading orchestras.
Elina Vähälä appears regularly with all of the key Finnish orchestras as well being a guest of countless high-profile orchestras across the globe such as Houston Symphony, Vancouver Symphony, Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra, Beethoven Orchester Bonn, Dortmund Philharmoniker, Istanbul State Symphony, Malmo Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg, RTVE Spanish Radio Orchestra, and has toured throughout the UK, Finland, Germany, China, Korea and South America. She enjoys a fruitful working partnership with many leading conductors such as Leonard Slatkin, Carlos Kalmar, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Okko Kamu, Jakub Hrůša, Thierry Fischer, Sakari Oramo, Leif Segerstam, Josep Caballé-Domenech, Alexander Liebreich, and Michał Nesterowicz.
The 2021/22 season will see Elina Vähälä return to Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra and Seoul International Music Festival as well as her debuts with Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra and Pannon Philharmonic. She will also appear at the festivals in Tampere, Clandeboye and Oulu, where she has recently been appointed Artistic Director.
Your Concert Experience
Join us for Q&A’s, hosted discussions, exhibits and more. All free with your concert ticket!
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-Concert Interview
with Valerie Little
When: Thu Jan 13 | 10:15am-10:35am
Where: Auditorium
Join Assistant Principal Librarian Valerie Little and soloist Elina Vähälä for a conversation about the challenge of playing Sibelius' Violin Concerto, both the popular version and the seldom-played original.
The World of Jean Sibelius Exhibit
When: Thu Jan 13 | Pre-Concert and Intermission
Where: Balcony A
"The World of Jean Sibelius," produced by Finnish documentarian Pekka Hako, is comprised of panels illustrating in images and text Sibelius' life and work. Learn about Sibelius as a composer, a student, an artist, and a family man. This exhibit is sponsored by the Finlandia Foundation.
Osmo Vänskä Retrospective Photography Exhibit
When: Thu Jan 14 | Pre-Concert and Intermission
Where: Roberta Mann Grand Foyer
Stroll down memory lane in our lobby photography exhibit, as we celebrate some of the indelible moments of the last two decades with Music Director Osmo Vänskä.
Pre-Concert Interview
with Valerie Little
When: Fri Jan 14 | 7:05pm -7:25pm
Where: Auditorium
Join Assistant Principal Librarian Valerie Little and soloist Elina Vähälä for a conversation about the challenge of playing Sibelius' Violin Concerto, both the popular version and the seldom-played original.
The World of Jean Sibelius Exhibit
When: Fri Jan 14 | Pre-Concert and Intermission
Where: Balcony A
"The World of Jean Sibelius," produced by Finnish documentarian Pekka Hako, is comprised of panels illustrating in images and text Sibelius' life and work. Learn about Sibelius as a composer, a student, an artist, and a family man. This exhibit is sponsored by the Finlandia Foundation.
Osmo Vänskä Retrospective Photography Exhibit
When: Fri Jan 14 | Pre-Concert and Intermission
Where: Roberta Mann Grand Foyer
Stroll down memory lane in our lobby photography exhibit, as we celebrate some of the indelible moments of the last two decades with Music Director Osmo Vänskä.
Accessibility Services
- Assistive Listening Devices
- Large Print Programs
- Service Animals
- Wheelchair & Accessible Seating
Additional services are available upon request.
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