Parker, Mendelssohn and Beethoven
Fri Jul 14, 2023
Orchestra Hall
Lee Mills conducts Beethoven’s light-hearted Eighth Symphony in his first appearance with the Minnesota Orchestra since the former Seattle Symphony associate conductor’s debut in February 2022. At the heart of the program is Jon Kimura Parker’s performance of Felix Mendelssohn’s momentous First Piano Concerto.
A Few Things to Know
- Come early and enjoy a delicious Bubbles and Bites package prepared by Wandering Kitchen featuring a charcuterie box paired with your choice of bubbles, wine or a non-alcoholic sparkling beverage. After your concert, enjoy s'mores and a crafted cocktail with your own personal fire pit. (Read more about these tasty offerings). You can also purchase Bubbles and Bites or a S'mores Nightcap separately.
- "I often compare piano concertos to action movies, and if that makes sense to you, this concerto has more than its fair share of car chases!" says Parker of the Mendelssohn he performs on this concert. Read why Felix Mendelssohn's Piano Concerto No. 1 is his pick of the summer.
Program
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ASSAD
Brazilian Fanfare
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MENDELSSOHN
Piano Concerto No. 1
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CICCHELLI
Sketch of a Butterfly
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BEETHOVEN
Symphony No. 8
Artists
Lee Mills
conductor
Jon Kimura Parker
piano
Lee Mills, the associate conductor of the Seattle Symphony and a four-time winner of the Solti Foundation U.S. Career Assistance Award, is internationally recognized as a passionate, multifaceted and energetic conductor. Throughout the global pandemic, he has remained busy conducting programs with the Seattle Symphony on its live-streaming platform, Seattle Symphony Live. He also led the Seattle Symphony in a special presentation for the NFL which was broadcast nationally to over 30 million television viewers. In November 2021, he was hailed in The Seattle Times as the “hero of the hour” when he stepped in on very short notice to replace ailing Thomas Dausgaard on a program featuring Amy Beach’s Gaelic Symphony and a world premiere of a double harp concerto by renowned contemporary composer Hannah Lash.
Known for his passionate artistry and engaging stage presence, pianist Jon Kimura Parker has performed regularly at the Berlin Philharmonie, Carnegie Hall, London’s South Bank, the Sydney Opera House and the Beijing Concert Hall. In 2019 he was appointed the Minnesota Orchestra’s first-ever creative partner for Summer at Orchestra Hall, a new role in which he is serving as a creative force behind the Orchestra’s summer festival and appearing each summer as a host, performer and personality.
Plan your visit
- Pre-concert activities
- Valet Parking
- Pre-order Beverages
- Directions & Parking
- Helpful Tips
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.
Video: From Last Summer: Jon Kimura Parker Plays Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3
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.
Sponsored by:
The Creative Partner position is supported by Marilyn and Glen Nelson
