Rachmaninoff’s fascination with bells dates back to his childhood, when his grandmother would take him to town on church festival days. “The bell ringers were artists,” he recalled. Growing up in a country where bells carry profound cultural and spiritual meaning, it’s no surprise that they permeate Rachmaninoff’s music—and to great effect in his rarely performed choral symphony, The Bells. Plus, our own Susie Park performs Szymanowski's virtuosic and folk music inspired Violin Concerto No. 2
Program
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TCHAIKOVSKY
Hamlet, Fantasy-Overture
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SZYMANOWSKI
Violin Concerto No. 2
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RACHMANINOFF
The Bells
Artists
Minnesota Orchestra
Thomas Søndergård
Conductor
Susie Park
Violin
Felicia Moore
Soprano
John Matthew Myers
Tenor
Minnesota Chorale
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.
Danish conductor Thomas Søndergård, who in September 2025 began his third season as music director of the Minnesota Orchestra, is a highly regarded conductor in both the orchestral and opera spheres. He has earned a reputation for incisive interpretations of works by composers from his native Denmark, a great versatility in a broad range of standard and modern repertoire, and a collaborative approach with the musicians he leads.
Australian-born Susie Park, the Minnesota Orchestra’s first associate concertmaster since 2015, will be featured as soloist with the ensemble in June 2023 in Brahms’ Double Concerto with Associate Principal Cello Silver Ainomäe. She has performed solos with numerous major orchestras in Europe, the U.S. and Australia, as well as Korea’s KBS Orchestra and Orchestra Wellington in New Zealand. She was the violinist of the Eroica Trio from 2006 to 2012, with which she recorded the ensemble’s Grammy-nominated CD of all-American repertoire, and toured internationally. Her interest in music of all genres has also led to collaborations with artists such as jazz trumpeter Chris Botti.
Noted by The Wall Street Journal for her "opulent, Wagner-scaled soprano" and acclaimed by The New York Times as the "lustrous, commanding soprano," Felicia Moore is recognized by Opera News as "a genuine jugendliche dramatische soprano of exciting potential (and present accomplishment)." She is a powerful and innovative artist, having made music in partnership with Alan Gilbert, Anne Manson, Sir Donald Runnicles, Ken-David Masur, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Susanna Mälkki, Rafael Payare, Speranza Scappucci, Alexander Shelley, Evan Rogister, Gary Thor Wedow, Ryan Wigglesworth and Brian Zeger, among others.
Praised for his "strong, pleasant timbre with textual command and expressiveness" (Opera Magazine), John Matthew Myers has garnered acclaim for his "lovely, warm tenor of considerable promise" (Opera News) in recent collaborations with companies such as the New York Philharmonic, American Symphony Orchestra, Verbier Festival, Metropolitan Opera, Opéra National de Paris, Teatro alla Scala and Teatro La Fenice. His critically acclaimed solo debut album, a thoughtful program of works by American and American émigré composers titled Desiderium with pianist Myra Huang, was released on AVIE Records in 2022.
The Minnesota Chorale has served as the Minnesota Orchestra’s principal chorus since 2004 and is now in its 29th season under the leadership of Kathy Saltzman Romey. Founded in 1972, the Chorale is Minnesota’s preeminent symphonic chorus, with a roster of over 200 singers. Best known for its work with the two major orchestras of the Twin Cities, the ensemble is equally dedicated to programs that build and enrich community. A seasoned artistic partner, the Chorale continues to explore new artistic directions and collaborative opportunities, while earning the highest critical acclaim for its work on the concert stage. In 2018, members of the Chorale traveled to South Africa to perform alongside the Minnesota Orchestra in its historic concerts in Soweto and Johannesburg.
Plan your visit
- Running Time
- ~2 hours, including intermission
- Doors Open
- 1 hour, 30 mins prior to performance
Sponsored by
The 2026-2027 Classical Season is presented by Ameriprise Financial.