James Ehnes and Beethoven’s Seventh
Fri Jun 16 — Sat Jun 17, 2023
Orchestra Hall
A season of grand orchestral endeavors comes to a close with the remarkable Sir Andrew Davis on the podium and one of Minnesota Orchestra’s dearest friends, violinist James Ehnes, playing the heartbreakingly beautiful Violin Concerto by Alban Berg. Also at the heart of the program is an imaginative work by Chen Yi that shares musical traditions from the Guangxi Zhuang region of China. Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony is the perfect piece to bring this fantastic season to its final notes with abounding energy and showstopping orchestral force.
A Few Things To Know
- James Ehnes was recognized as Gramophone’s Classical Artist of the Year in 2021 and is the recipient of two Grammy Awards.
- Alban Berg's Violin Concerto was premiered by violinist Louis Krasner in 1936—Krasner served as the then-Minneapolis Symphony's concertmaster from 1944-1949. MNOrch staffer Michael Divino has a personal story about this, which you can read in the latest installment of "Our Picks."
- Sir Andrew Davis recently celebrated 50 years of partnership with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, having served as both conductor laureate and chief conductor; he is now the music director of the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
- Beethoven, who was notoriously self-critical, admitted that the Seventh Symphony was one of his own personal favorites, calling it “one of the happiest products of my poor talents.”
- “Duo Ye is a form of age-old traditional song and dance of the Dong minority in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China, in which people stand in a circle with a bonfire in the center, and dance with slow steps towards one direction, while singing a short phrase,” explained Chen Yi, in a program note about her composition, Duo Ye.
Program
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BEETHOVEN
Egmont Overture
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BERG
Violin Concerto
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CHEN
Duo Ye for Chamber Orchestra
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BEETHOVEN
Symphony No. 7
Artists
Minnesota Orchestra
Sir Andrew Davis
conductor
James Ehnes
violin
The Grammy Award-winning Minnesota Orchestra, led by Danish conductor Thomas Søndergård—who is serving as music director designate during the 2022-23 season—is recognized for distinguished performances around the world, award-winning recordings and broadcasts, educational engagement programs, and commitment to building the orchestral repertoire of the future. Founded in 1903, the Orchestra has an extensive history of touring throughout Minnesota, nationally and abroad, including high-profile visits in recent years to Cuba, Europe and South Africa. Recording projects undertaken in the past two decades include complete cycles of symphonies by Beethoven, Sibelius and Mahler, all recorded under Osmo Vänskä, who is now the Orchestra’s conductor laureate.
Plan your visit
- Pre-concert activities
- Valet Parking
- Pre-order Beverages
- Directions & Parking
- Helpful Tips
Pre-Concert Interview
When: Fri June 16, 7:15pm | Sat June 17, 7:15pm
Where: N. Bud Grossman Mezzanine
Join host Phillip Gainsley, conductor Sir Andrew Davis, and soloist James Ehnes in a conversation about today's concert program and more.
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 MN Orch 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.
With this concert we honor the memory of C. Curtis Dunnavan
Sponsored by
Co-sponsored by
Dr. Stanley M. and Luella G. Goldberg
Cynthia and Jay Ihlenfeld
