Celebrating Pride
Thu Jun 20 — Sat Jun 22, 2024
Orchestra Hall
Music Director Thomas Søndergård is ill and unable to conduct the remainder of this weekend’s performances. We’re pleased to share that Chad Goodman will step in on short notice and conduct both the Friday and Saturday evening concerts.
As the 2023–24 season comes to a close, we’ll have plenty of reasons to celebrate: an extraordinary first season with Thomas Søndergård as our music director and the month-long Pride festivities here in Minneapolis and around the country. In a program close to Thomas’ heart, we invite you to join us for music by composers from the LGBTQ+ community, culminating with the fireworks of Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony.
Pianists Christina and Michelle Naughton will replace Francesco Piemontesi, who is recovering from a recent bicycle accident in which he was hit by a car and broke his collarbone. We wish him a full and speedy recovery. They will perform Francis Poulenc's Concerto in D minor for Two Pianos and Orchestra, instead of the previously scheduled Szymanowski Symphony No. 4 (Symphonie concertante) for Piano and Orchestra.
A Few Things to Know
- July 2022 was a busy month for Thomas Søndergård, as he was announced as Minnesota Orchestra’s next music director and married his longtime partner, Swedish baritone Andreas Landin.
- The Twin Cities’ official Pride celebrations first began 51 years ago, but it took 41 more years before Minnesota passed a law that allowed same-sex couples to marry.
- Please note that Benjamin Britten’s Young Apollo and Szymanowski’s Symphony No. 4 (Symphonie concertante)—which had previously been listed on this program—will no longer be performed.
Program
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SMYTH
On the Cliffs of Cornwall
1 min noteOne Minute Note
Sweeping melodies and a tragic undercurrent run throughout this interlude from Smyth’s 1906 opera The Wreckers, which concerns the malicious 18th-century practice of shipwreck plunder in a Cornish village.
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POULENC
Concerto in D minor for Two Pianos and Orchestra
1 min noteOne Minute Note
Francis Poulenc’s minor-key Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra has been a beloved staple in concert halls ever since its premiere in September 1932, when the composer was one of the two soloists. The many facets and the changeable moods of this concerto are sheer delight.
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TCHAIKOVSKY
Symphony No. 4
1 min noteOne Minute Note
Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony, like Beethoven’s Fifth, presents a Fate motif at the outset. This is an adventurous work carrying us through lyrical episodes as well as high drama on the way to the exuberant conclusion.
Artists
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.
Chad Goodman, who has received widespread praise for his thrilling conducting, is currently in his inaugural season as music director of the Elgin Symphony Orchestra—only the fifth leader in the orchestra’s prestigious seven-decade history. He also serves as artistic director of IlluminArts, Miami’s art song and chamber music concert series.
Christina and Michelle Naughton have captivated audiences throughout the globe with the unity created by their mystical communication. Their career was launched in 2009 with a recital debut at the Kennedy Center and an orchestral debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Other highlights include performances with the Baltimore, Detroit, Nashville, San Diego and New Zealand symphonies, as well as the Mahler Chamber Orchestra.
Christina and Michelle Naughton have captivated audiences throughout the globe with the unity created by their mystical communication. Their career was launched in 2009 with a recital debut at the Kennedy Center and an orchestral debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Other highlights include performances with the Baltimore, Detroit, Nashville, San Diego and New Zealand symphonies, as well as the Mahler Chamber Orchestra.
Plan your visit
- Pre-concert activities
- Valet Parking
- Pre-order Beverages
- Directions & Parking
- Helpful Tips
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.
Pre-order beverages
Skip the lines at the bar! Pre-order your intermission beverage via the Minnesota Orchestra App when you arrive at Orchestra Hall.
We exist of so many different emotions and colors within us... let's celebrate the colors.”
Accessibility Services
- Armless & Bariatric Chairs
- Assistive Listening Devices
- Large-Print Programs
- Noise-Cancelling Headphones
- Service Animals
- Wheelchair & Accessible Seating
Additional services are available upon request.
SPONSORED BY
The 2023-2024 Classical Season is presented by Ameriprise Financial.