Stravinsky’s Firebird
Fri Jul 21 — Sat Jul 22, 2023
Orchestra Hall
Regarded for his lively interpretations of both operatic and orchestral repertoire, Elias Grandy will lead this multi-rhythmic program centered around a suite from Igor Stravinsky’s famed ballet score, The Firebird. American composer Daniel Bernard Roumain wrote his Dancers, Dreamers and Presidents in honor of a dance between Barack Obama and Ellen DeGeneres in 2007; during this staging, BRKFST Dance Company will present the world premiere of the complete choreography they have set to the powerful piece. The program opens with Maurice Ravel’s La Valse, a tribute to the waltz, and Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, with the soloist role performed here by Jon Kimura Parker.
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).
- Our Summer at Orchestra Hall Artist in Residence, BRKFST Dance Company, is a Twin Cities-based breaking crew. The Orchestra first collaborated with them during last year's summer programming. Get to know BRKFST in our recent interview.
- In 1909, a then-obscure composer named Igor Stravinsky was approached after one of his first premieres by ballet impresario Sergei Diaghilev and choreographer Michel Fokine to set a score to their new ballet. Based on the old Russian legend of the Firebird, the ballet premiered in Paris the next year to thunderous enthusiasm. While Stravinsky would later go on to write other monumental works, The Firebird remains his most popular piece.
Program
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RAVEL
La Valse
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RACHMANINOFF
Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
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ROUMAIN
Dancers, Dreamers and Presidents
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STRAVINSKY
Suite from The Firebird
Minnesota Orchestra
Elias Grandy
conductor
Jon Kimura Parker
piano
BRKFST Dance Company
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 fall, Danish conductor Thomas Søndergård begins his tenure as music director.
From 2015 to 2023 German conductor Elias Grandy has been music director of Heidelberg’s Opera and Philharmonic Orchestra, where he significantly raised the caliber of both, providing thoughtful and innovative programming while burnishing the city’s fast-growing reputation as a vital musical hub. At the same time he has rapidly raised his international profile by conducting first-class orchestras mainly in Europe, America and Asia. He has been praised for his “passionate, spirited" interpretations of operatic and orchestral repertoire, for his ability to grasp “psychological subtleties” that enrich his music-making and for his extraordinary “precision and musical depth.”
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.
BRKFST Dance Company is a group of collaborative breaking choreographers based in St. Paul, Minnesota, and founded in 2014. BRKFST performs regionally, premiering work at Walker Arts Center, the Southern Theater and the Cowles Center. In 2022 they toured to Dublin, Ireland, for Dance2Connect (D2C) Hip Hop Festival, performing “60/40.” Their film Dreamers (2019) was deemed official selection in 11 international film festivals receiving “Grand Jury Award” (In/Motion Festival 2021) and “Best Experimental Film” (Tirana International Film Festival 2020). BRKFST has set repertoire and original work on dancers at the University of MN—Twin Cities, Carleton College, D2C Festival (Ireland) and Bates Dance Festival (Maine).
Plan your visit
- Pre-concert activities
- Valet Parking
- Pre-order Beverages
- Directions & Parking
- Helpful Tips
Sounds + Bites
When: Pre-Concert
Where: Peavey Plaza
Come early for Sounds + Bites: special food experiences and free entertainment by outstanding local performers on the magnificent Peavey Plaza, as well as other pre-concert happenings inside Orchestra Hall.
$6 Happy Hour
When: 90 minutes before the performance
Sip a beverage next to the reflecting pool during our $6 Happy Hour while you listen to free entertainment by outstanding local performers on the magnificent Peavey Plaza.
BRKFST Merchandise
When: All summer long!
Show your support for BRKFST Dance Company by buying some of their merchandise for sale. Visit the Merch Cart for more details.
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.
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.
The Creative Partner position is supported by Marilyn and Glen Nelson
