Philharmonia Fantastique: The Making of The Orchestra
Sun Oct 29, 2023
Orchestra Hall
What makes an orchestra? Come on a musical adventure with the magical Sprite, who will explain each of the instrument families that make up an orchestra. Featuring a Grammy Award-winning soundtrack played by the Minnesota Orchestra, Philharmonia Fantastique: The Making of the Orchestra is a multimedia concert that explores the connections between music, sound, performance, creativity and technology.
Music by Mason Bates
Written by Mason Bates & Gary Rydstrom
Directed by Gary Rydstrom
Animation direction by Jim Capobianco
Our Relaxed Family Concerts are designed for audiences of all ages, including individuals with autism or sensory sensitivities. Each concert takes place in an inclusive environment where audience members are welcome to be who they are and enjoy music together with family and friends.
A Few Things to Know
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Philharmonia Fantastique: The Making of the Orchestra will feature a variety of music—some soft and some loud—because we know that different audience members like different levels of sound. Review our tip sheet (coming soon) to read about quiet spaces, noise-canceling headphones and other options which are available for tailoring the concert experience to fit your family's preferences.
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Come early to participate in lobby activities, including opportunities to try instruments, engage in creative movement, make art, learn more about the program and meet Minnesota Orchestra musicians.
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Prepare for the concert experience by downloading our curriculum. A Playlist, lobby map, pre-visit story and other materials available approximately 2-4 weeks before the concert.
Artists
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.
Sarah Hicks is the Minnesota Orchestra’s principal conductor of Live at Orchestra Hall, a role in which she oversees planning for and conducts many concerts in the broad-spectrum series of popular music, jazz, Broadway classics, movie scores and other genres. She also conducted the Inside the Classics and Sam & Sarah series for ten seasons.
Hicks’ career has seen collaborations with a diverse range of artists, from Hilary Hahn and Dmitri Hvorostovsky to Rufus Wainwright, Jennifer Hudson and Smokey Robinson. She has been an artistic leader in concerts featuring artists from Minnesota’s internationally-renowned popular music scene—including shows with The New Standards, multiple sold-out performances with Dessa and a live-in-concert recording released on Doomtree Records, and collaborations with indie band Cloud Cult. A specialist in film music and the film in concert genre, she is passionate about creating concert experiences which combine sight and sound, and that welcome new audiences to the orchestral genre.
Accessibility Services
- ASL Interpretation
- Assistive Listening Devices
- Braille & Large Print Programs
- Open Captioning
- Service Animals Allowed
- Wheelchair & Accessible Seating
- Headphones & Ear Plugs
Additional services are available upon request.