Søndergård Conducts the Rite of Spring
Thu Oct 20 — Sat Oct 22, 2022
Orchestra Hall
Immerse yourself in an orchestral experience that will keep you on the edge of your seat as Thomas Søndergård conducts Stravinsky’s groundbreaking and radical ballet score The Rite of Spring. Lili Boulanger’s Of a Spring Morning brings a sweet, playful beginning to this program that truly puts the entire ensemble at the center. In between, and also orchestrated for dance, Ravel’s Mother Goose ballet includes five tender and nostalgic miniatures inspired by fairy tales.
A Few Things to Know
- Thomas Søndergård began his music career at the age of 8, studying percussion. He joined the Royal Danish Orchestra as a timpanist until changing career paths to become a conductor at age 27.
- Of a Spring Morning was the final work created by French composer Lili Boulanger before she died tragically at the age of 24.
- Maurice Ravel was known to have had an extensive collection of toys, music boxes, figurines and other small collectibles. His love of whimsical storytelling is apparent in Mother Goose.
- Stravinsky’s music for The Rite of Spring broke all the rules of traditional classical compositions, especially for use on the ballet stage. Initially rife with controversy, his music calls for an enormous orchestra which he pushes to the extremes of range, volume and rhythmic complexity.
Program
-
L. BOULANGER
Of a Spring Morning
-
RAVEL
Mother Goose [complete ballet]
-
STRAVINSKY
The Rite of Spring
Artists
Minnesota Orchestra
Thomas Søndergård
conductor
The Grammy Award-winning Minnesota Orchestra, founded in 1903 and led since its centennial by Music Director Osmo Vänskä, is recognized for distinguished performances around the world, award-winning recordings, radio broadcasts, educational engagement programs, and commitment to building the orchestral repertoire of the future. The Orchestra tours regularly throughout Minnesota and nationally, and has toured abroad in Australia, Canada, East Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and South Africa. Recording has been an important part of the organization’s mission since the 1920s. During Vänskä’s tenure, the Orchestra has undertaken acclaimed recordings, including complete cycles of symphonies by Ludwig van Beethoven, Jean Sibelius and—now underway—Mahler.
Danish conductor Thomas Søndergård, the newly announced 11th music director of the Minnesota Orchestra, will serve for the 2022-23 season as the ensemble’s music director designate before beginning his music director role in September 2023. He is the current music director of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO), following six seasons as principal guest conductor. Between 2012 and 2018, he served as principal conductor of BBC National Orchestra of Wales (BBC NOW), after stepping down as principal conductor and musical advisor of the Norwegian Radio Orchestra.
Accessibility Services
- Assistive Listening Devices
- Large Print Programs
- Service Animals
- Wheelchair & Accessible Seating
Additional services are available upon request.
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