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. This past fall, Danish conductor Thomas Søndergård began his tenure as music director.

Danish conductor Thomas Søndergård, who in fall 2023 began his tenure 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. His inaugural season began in September 2023 with two weeks of historic concerts highlighted by Richard Strauss’ Alpine Symphony and, with the Minnesota Chorale, Ravel’s complete ballet score Daphnis and Chloe. Another season highlight will come in June 2024, as he conducts season finale concerts of music by LGBTQ+ composers.

Kevin Puts, who is now directing his seventh Minnesota Orchestra Composer Institute, won the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for the opera Silent Night, which was commissioned and premiered by the Minnesota Opera, as was his 2015 opera The Manchurian Candidate. His work has been commissioned and performed by leading orchestras in the U.S. and abroad, including the New York Philharmonic, Boston Pops, Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra and Minnesota Orchestra. His newest opera is an operatic adaptation of Michael Cunningham’s The Hours, co-commissioned by the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Metropolitan Opera with libretto by Greg Pierce. It is scheduled for its fully staged premiere by the Metropolitan Opera in November 2022, starring Renée Fleming, Joyce DiDonato and Kelli O’Hara. In March 2022 the Philadelphia Orchestra gave the premiere performance of a concert version of the opera under the baton of Yannick Nézet-Séguin.