Fei Xie Plays Jolivet
Thu Jun 5 — Fri Jun 6, 2025
Orchestra Hall
Wynton Marsalis’ Blues Symphony takes the 12-bar blues and explodes it into a lyrical, kaleidoscopic history of American music. A frequent Marsalis collaborator, Cristian Măcelaru has conducted the symphony in performances and a recording. Then to what many consider the most difficult concerto in the bassoon repertoire played by our beloved Principal Bassoon Fei Xie. Don’t miss this trifecta of Minnesota Orchestra firsts!
A Few Things to Know
- Principal Bassoon Fei Xie waited years to make his concerto debut with the Minnesota Orchestra, and when he finally got his chance, the seats in Orchestra Hall were empty. Instead, Xie had an audience all over the world through the Orchestra’s digital concert series during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, he takes the spotlight again–this time with a full house—in one of the bassoon’s most virtuosic and most beautiful concertos.
- “The blues is like our folk form…It’s like water that runs through our music.” Wynton Marsalis describes his Blues Symphony as an orchestral celebration of the way Blues music runs through almost every style of music throughout America’s history.
- Before venturing into an extremely successful worldwide conducting career, Cristian Măcelaru was the concertmaster of the Miami Symphony Orchestra and a section violinist in the Houston Symphony Orchestra.
- Plan your visit to Orchestra Hall
Program
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MARSALIS
Selections from Blues Symphony
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JOLIVET
Bassoon Concerto
-
ENESCU
Symphony No. 1
Artists
Minnesota Orchestra
Cristian Măcelaru
conductor
Fei Xie
bassoon
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.
Grammy Award-winning conductor Cristian Măcelaru is artistic director of the George Enescu Festival and Competition, music director of the Orchestre National de France, chief conductor of the WDR Sinfonieorchester, artistic director and principal conductor of the Interlochen Center for the Arts’ World Youth Symphony Orchestra, and music director and conductor of the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music.
Fei Xie joined the Minnesota Orchestra as principal bassoon at the beginning of the 2017-18 season after serving as principal bassoonist of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra—an ensemble he first joined as second bassoonist in 2008. When he won the principal role in 2012, Xie became the first Chinese-born bassoonist to hold such a position in a major American symphony orchestra. He was previously a member of the Houston Grand Opera, principal bassoonist of the Mansfield Symphony in Ohio, and has appeared as guest principal bassoonist with orchestras such as Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, Houston Symphony and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra.
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
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.
