The Sphinx Virtuosi
with conductor Tito Muñoz and the Minnesota OrchestraThu Feb 1 — Sat Feb 3, 2024
Orchestra Hall
The Sphinx Virtuosi is a chamber orchestra comprising 18 of the nation's top Black and Latinx classical soloists. In these concerts, they'll share the stage with the Minnesota Orchestra, offering a sonic sampling of shorter orchestral works brimming with rhythm and reflection, including Carlos Simon’s meditative soundscape Breathe, Astor Piazzolla's evocative The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires and an epic, high energy conclusion with Silvestre Revueltas’ Sensemayá, a tone poem that’s often compared to Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring.
This program is presented as part of The Great Northern.
A Few Things to Know
- Michael Abels’ Global Warming was composed primarily response to the warming of political relationships worldwide at the end of the Cold War. However, since Abels wrote the piece in 1990, it has taken on new meaning in relation to the climate crisis.
- Inspired by the writings of theologian Howard Thurman, Carlos Simon’s Breathe creates space for reflection, peace and calm.
- American conductor Tito Muñoz. music director of the Phoenix Symphony, makes his Minnesota Orchestra debut in these concerts.
Program
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ABELS
Global Warming
1 min noteOne Minute Note
Composed in 1990 and inspired by the post-Cold War thaw in international relations, Global Warming blends elements of folk music from divergent cultures, with solo strings employing sliding pitches in ethereal opening and closing sections.
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NEGRÓN
Marejada for String Orchestra
1 min noteOne Minute Note
This piece from the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, originally intended for performance by a string quartet over Zoom, embraced the limitations of the medium by working around synchronization issues to create intriguing sounds that have taken on new life through in-person performances.
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PIAZZOLLA/Desyatnikov
Winter and Summer, from The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires
1 min noteOne Minute Note
The seasonal extremes of Buenos Aires are brought to life in two selections from Astor Piazzolla’s tango-flavored take on Antonio Vivaldi’s classic Four Seasons—by turns seductive, powerful and haunting.
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SIMON
Breathe
1 min noteOne Minute Note
Inspired by a quote from Howard Thurman, a spiritual adviser to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Breathe paints a meditative soundscape that begs us all to “stay put for a spell.”
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COLERIDGE-TAYLOR
Symphonic Variations on an African Air
1 min noteOne Minute Note
In his Symphonic Variations, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor takes the tune of the Spiritual “I’m troubled in mind” and cleverly hides it in an expansive and innovative theme and variations.
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REVUELTAS
Sensemayá
1 min noteOne Minute Note
Sensemayá, based on the Nicolás Guillén’s poem of the same name, builds from soloistic passages to a riotous climax for the full orchestra before ending ominously.
Artists
Minnesota Orchestra
Sphinx Virtuosi
Tito Muñoz
conductor
Njioma Chinyere Grevious
violin
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.
The Sphinx Virtuosi is a dynamic and inspiring professional self-conducted chamber orchestra that serves as the flagship performing entity of the Sphinx Organization—the leading social justice non-profit dedicated to transforming lives through the power of diversity in the arts. Comprising 18 accomplished Black and Latinx artists, the Sphinx Virtuosi evolves and transforms the face of classical music through artistic excellence, pioneering programming and impassioned community engagement.
Now in his tenth season as Virginia G. Piper music director of the Phoenix Symphony, Tito Muñoz previously served as music director of the Opéra National de Lorraine and the Orchestre symphonique et lyrique de Nancy in France. Other prior appointments include assistant conductor positions with the Cleveland Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra and the Aspen Music Festival.
Described as “superb” by the Chicago Classical Review, violinist Njioma Chinyere Grevious is an emerging, passionate and versatile solo, chamber and orchestral musician and performer. She is a graduate of the Juilliard School and a winner of its John Erskine Prize for scholastic and artistic achievement. In 2023, she won both the Robert F. Smith First Prize and the Audience Choice awards in the Senior Division of the Sphinx Competition and joint prizes in the CAG/YCAT auditions.
Plan your visit
- Pre-concert activities
- Valet Parking
- Pre-order Beverages
- Directions & Parking
- Helpful Tips
Pre-Concert interview with Michael Abels
led by Loki KarunaComposer and Pulitzer Prize-winner Michael Abels is interviewed by Loki Karuna. Abels' work Global Warming will be discussed in advance of its performance in today's program. This pre-concert program is presented in partnership with The Great Northern.
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.
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
Presented as part of
The 2023-2024 Classical Season is presented by Ameriprise Financial.
