Olga Kern, piano

Grieg Piano Concerto

Thu Mar 23 — Fri Mar 24, 2023

Orchestra Hall

~2 hrs, including intermission

“Olga Kern [is] an absolute whiz at the piano.” —The New York Times

Kinetic and frenetic, Hannah Kendall’s The Spark Catchers paints a vivid picture of the activity inside match-making factories in the 1800s, complete with soaring melodies and harmonic power. Then, virtuoso pianist Olga Kern makes her Minnesota Orchestra debut in Edvard Grieg’s distinctly Norwegian Piano Concerto. Conductor Christoph König also debuts in these concerts, leading the Orchestra in Robert Schumann’s Rhenish Symphony, a work that was sparked by Schumann’s move to the Rhine River and his visits to the spectacular Cologne Cathedral.

A Few Things To Know

German-born conductor Christoph König is the chief conductor designate for the Spanish Radio Symphony Orchestra.
Kern is a recipient of Ellis Island Medal of Honor, an honor that has been awarded to individuals such as Rosa Parks, Buzz Aldrin, Coretta Scott King and retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.
Kendall’s The Spark Catchers was inspired by a poem of the same name by Lemn Sissay, which repeats the word “strike” at the end of several stanzas. The first section of Kendall’s piece is titled “Sparks and Strikes.”
Schumann’s Third Symphony was a roaring success in his new post as music director in Dusseldörf, but his career there didn’t ultimately flourish; he struggled with his health and attempted suicide by jumping into the Rhine River three years after the work’s premiere.

Explore the concert extras

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Date & Time

Program

KENDALL

The Spark Catchers
1 min note

One Minute Note

Inspired by Lemn Sissay’s evocative poem commemorating a Victorian-era match factory workers’ strike, The Spark Catchers comprises four contrasting sections that summon moods of liveliness, darkness, suspense and delicacy.
GRIEG

Piano Concerto
1 min note

One Minute Note

This virtuosic keyboard showcase, written when its composer was only 25, reveals its heritage in evocations of traditional Norwegian song and dance, and contains a wealth of themes and dramatic gestures.
SCHUMANN

Symphony No. 3, Rhenish
1 min note

One Minute Note

This five-movement symphony, named for the German Rhineland the composer had just happily journeyed to, opens with energy, syncopations and rhythmic displacements. The charming second and third movements segue to a solemn fourth that brings the symphony’s first appearance of trombones, and the finale is a joyful return to sunlight.

Full Program Notes

Artists

Minnesota Orchestra

Plan your visit

Pre-concert activities
Valet Parking
Pre-order Beverages
Directions & Parking
Helpful Tips

Pre-Concert Interview with Christoph König

When: Thurs Mar 23 | 10:15am
Where: Auditorium

Join Valerie Little, Minnesota Orchestra's Assistant Principal Librarian, in a conversation with guest conductor Christoph König about today's concert.

Pre-Concert Interview with pianist Olga Kern

When: Fri Mar 24 | 7:15pm
Where: N. Bud Grossman Mezzanine

Join Valerie Little, Minnesota Orchestra's Assistant Principal Librarian, in a conversation with pianist Olga Kern, soloist for tonight's concert.

Know Before You Go

An engaging performance awaits, and the fun doesn’t stop there. Make this visit your own with food and activity options. Browse these helpful tips, and when your concert date arrives, all you have to do is sit back and enjoy.

Directions & Parking

All the information you need to know for getting to and from Orchestra Hall. Parking is just steps away from Orchestra Hall in the city-owned and skyway-connected 11th and Marquette Ramp.