Beethoven and Brahms
Thu Jul 10 — Sat Jul 12, 2025
Orchestra Hall
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Johannes Brahms’ Second Symphony was written at a beautiful summer resort in Austria where he’d rented a couple of rooms and was surrounded by nature. When a friend played through the score he told Brahms, “It is all rippling streams, blue sky, sunshine, and cool green shadows.” Doesn’t that sound like a perfect day in Minnesota?
Program
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WEBER
Overture to Der Freischütz
1 min noteOne Minute Note
Weber’s Der Freischütz revolutionized German Romantic opera in a milestone tale infused with folk elements and supernatural drama. Its overture, packed with tunes from the opera, embodies the timeless struggle between good and evil.
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BEETHOVEN
Romance Nos. 1 and 2 for Violin and Orchestra
1 min noteOne Minute Note
Beethoven’s Romances highlight the violin’s lyrical beauty. Today’s soloist, the Minnesota Orchestra’s own Cecilia Belcher, loves “how both Romances are gentle and flowing, and each has a middle section which reveals more excited energy before returning to the familiar sweet melody.”
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BRAHMS
Symphony No. 2
1 min noteOne Minute Note
Brahms’ Second Symphony contrasts his stormy First with warmth, lyricism and pastoral charm, unfolding melodic richness and subtle unity across four expressive, beautifully orchestrated movements.
Artists
Minnesota Orchestra
Kensho Watanabe
conductor
Cecilia Belcher
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 commissioning and performing the music of our time. In September 2025, Danish conductor Thomas Søndergård began his third season as music director.
Critically acclaimed for “a combination of authority, charisma, and technical aplomb rarely found in a young conductor” (Seen and Heard International), Kensho Watanabe is quickly establishing himself internationally as an artist known for his collaborative leadership and intelligently-crafted performances.
Violinist Cecilia Belcher, who joined the Minnesota Orchestra in 2014, was named assistant principal second violin in 2017. Previously, she performed with the St. Louis Symphony from 2008 to 2014, and also frequently performed with the Houston Symphony Orchestra and the New York City chamber orchestra The Knights. She has been principal second violin of ROCO in Houston and the Minnesota Bach Ensemble and, as concertmaster, she led the New World Symphony, Reno Philharmonic, Aspen Music Festival Opera Orchestra and Mississippi Valley Orchestra. She has enjoyed traveling the world for festivals and performances, including to Aspen, Tanglewood, Verbier, Banff, Beijing, the BBC Proms, South Africa, New Zealand and throughout Europe.
Plan your visit
- Running Time
- ~2 hours, including intermission
- Doors Open
- 1 hour, 30 mins prior to performance
- Come early for Sounds + Bites!
6:30 PM - $7 Happy Hour
Plus, enjoy food vendors inside Orchestra Hall and shop wares from local vendors.
View the food menu.
Pre-Concert Conversation
45 minutes prior to all performances; follow signage for location
Join Phillip Gainsley in conversation with music critic Michael Anthony. Michael Anthony is a retired music critic for the Minnesota StarTribune, and currently writes for MinnPost. He is also a contributor to Opera magazine and the author of Osmo Vänskä, Orchestra Builder, and the recently released The MN Opera at 60: The Unlikely Rise of America’s Most Surprising Opera Company.
Sponsored by
The 2024-2025 Classical Season is presented by Ameriprise Financial.
