Erin Keefe Plays Beethoven
Thu Mar 13 — Fri Mar 14, 2025
Orchestra Hall
Dobrinka Tabakova’s relationship with Schubert began when she was a child and was drawn to the purity of his music. Her homage not only creates a universe where Schubert’s presence is felt, it’s also a cosmic portal to his Symphony No. 8. Plus, Concertmaster Erin Keefe is in the spotlight, this time with Beethoven’s beloved Violin Concerto.
A Few Things to Know
- Schubert’s Unfinished Eighth Symphony is one of classical music’s great mysteries. Some believe that it was left incomplete due to Schubert’s ill physical and mental health—he suffered from depression—or that he was negatively comparing his own work to that of his contemporary, Ludwig van Beethoven, who had already completed eight of his own symphonies at the time.
- Bulgarian composer Dobrinka Tabakova garnered worldwide recognition at the age of 22 when her choral work Praise was selected for performance at Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee.
- Erin Keefe became Minnesota Orchestra’s concertmaster in 2011 and gave her first concerto performance with the Orchestra the next year, playing Beethoven’s Violin Concerto. Although she has been featured many times, this is the first time she returns to Beethoven’s Violin Concerto with the Orchestra since that solo debut.
- Norwegian conductor Tabita Berglund begins her new role as the principal guest conductor the Detroit Symphony in the 2024-25 season.
- Plan your visit to Orchestra Hall
Program
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BEETHOVEN
Violin Concerto
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TABAKOVA
Fantasy Homage to Schubert
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SCHUBERT
Symphony No. 8, Unfinished
Artists
Minnesota Orchestra
Tabita Berglund
conductor
Erin Keefe
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.
Hailed as “one of Europe’s greatest promises” (Helsingin Sanomat), Tabita Berglund is one of today’s most exciting, talented young conductors who is fast gaining a reputation for her alert, charismatic and inspiring style which elicits “exceptional music-making” (The Arts Desk). Berglund is currently principal guest conductor of Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra, appointed to this post following her debut engagement with the orchestra in 2020. In the 2024-25 season she will begin a four-year term as principal guest conductor of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
American violinist Erin Keefe, who became concertmaster of the Minnesota Orchestra in September 2011, has established a reputation as an artist who combines exhilarating temperament and fierce integrity. At Sommerfest 2012 she made her concerto solo debut with the Orchestra, performing Beethoven’s Violin Concerto. She has since been featured as soloist in two concertos by Mendelssohn—the Violin Concerto and, in May 2022, the Double Concerto for Violin, Piano and Orchestra—as well as the violin concertos of Brahms and Kurt Weill, and Dvořák’s Romance for Violin and Orchestra. In February 2023, she performed Leonard Bernstein’s Serenade, after Plato's "Symposium," for Solo Violin, Strings, Harp and Percussion. Keefe joined the violin faculty at the Curtis Institute of Music in 2022.
Winner of an Avery Fisher Career Grant, the Pro Musicis International Award as well as numerous international competitions, she has appeared as soloist in recent seasons with the Minnesota Orchestra, New Mexico Symphony, New York City Ballet Orchestra, Korean Symphony Orchestra, Amadeus Chamber Orchestra, Turku Philharmonic, Sendai Philharmonic and the Gottingen Symphony and has given recitals throughout the United States, Austria, Italy, Germany, Korea, Poland, Finland, Japan and Denmark.
Plan your visit
- Pre-concert activities
- Valet Parking
- Pre-order Beverages
- Directions & Parking
- Helpful Tips
Half Off Half Hour
50% off wine, beer, spirits and non-alcoholic beverages.
- For 7pm concerts: 5:30-6pm
- For 8pm concerts: 6:30-7pm
- For 11am concerts: 9:30-10am
- For 2pm concerts: 12:30-1pm
Discussion with Phillip Gainsley
When: Thu Mar 13, Fri Mar 14 | 45 Min. Prior
Where: On Stage (Thu), Target Atrium (Fri)
Join Phillip Gainsley in conversation with guest conductor Tabita Berglund and Minnesota Orchestra Concertmaster Erin Keefe.
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.
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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 2024-2025 Classical Season is presented by Ameriprise Financial.
