Minn. Orchestra fills out season with Live at Orchestra Hall, Sommerfest, family concerts
The Minnesota Orchestra today rounds out its classical season announced last week with what is to be called the Live at Orchestra Hall series (formerly the Orchestra Pops presentations), Sommerfest, and its Friends and Family concerts.
The Live at Orchestra Hall season launches with the Orchestra playing live to a specially prepared print of the classic movie "West Side Story," which preserves the dialogue and singing of the original stars, but has had the music removed. Sarah Hicks will conduct.
It's the first of three film-based concerts, which include a tribute to Bugs Bunny, and the music of Pixar movies.
The season has an array of visiting guest artists including singer Bobby McFerrin, comedian Bill Cosby, jazz pianist Ramsey Lewis and guitarist John Pizzarelli in a tribute to Nat King Cole. Also performing at Orchestra Hall will be Matthew Morrison of the "Glee" television program and trumpeter Doc Severinsen, a long-time favorite.
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Andrew Litton returns once again as artistic director of Sommerfest, which runs from from July 5 to 26. It will feature a mixture of piano recitals with Broadway shows, and a semi-staged production of Die Fledermaus.
In one change, the Family and Friends concert season will now be sponsored by the Friends of the Minnesota Orchestra (formerly WAMSO.) The events in Orchestra Hall are free for children who come with an adult purchasing a ticket.
Details of the full seasons are below:
WEST SIDE STORY
Film with the Minnesota Orchestra, Live!
Friday, Feb. 28, 2014, 8 p.m. / Orchestra Hall
Saturday, March 1, 2014, 8 p.m. / Orchestra Hall
Minnesota Orchestra, Sarah Hicks , conductor
The Minnesota Orchestra performs Leonard Bernstein’s score live while the newly remastered film is shown in its entirety, with the original vocals and dialogue intact.
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Live at Orchestra Hall
CHRIS BOTTI: IMPRESSIONS
Thursday, March 20, 2014, 8 p.m. / Orchestra Hall
Friday, March 21, 2014, 8 p.m. / Orchestra Hall
Chris Botti , trumpet
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Live at Orchestra Hall
MATTHEW MORRISON OF GLEE with the Minnesota Orchestra
Saturday, April 5, 2014, 8 p.m. / Orchestra Hall
Sarah Hicks, conductor, Matthew Morrison, vocals
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Live at Orchestra Hall
DOC SEVERINSEN’S SOLID GOLD with the Minnesota Orchestra
Saturday, April 12, 2014, 8 p.m. / Orchestra Hall
Sunday, April 13, 2014, 2 p.m. / Orchestra Hall
Minnesota Orchestra Doc Severinsen , conductor and trumpet, Vanessa Thomas, vocals
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Live at Orchestra Hall
RAMSEY LEWIS AND JOHN PIZZARELLI: STRAIGHTEN UP AND FLY RIGHT THE NAT KING COLE TRIBUTE
Friday, April 18, 2014, 8 p.m. / Orchestra Hall
Ramsey Lewis , piano John Pizzarelli, guitar
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Live at Orchestra Hall
BOBBY McFERRIN: spirityouall
Saturday, April 19, 2014, 8 p.m. / Orchestra Hall
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Live at Orchestra Hall
RED BARAAT
Friday, April 25, 2014, 8 p.m. / Orchestra Hall
Brooklyn-based ensemble Red Baraat makes its first-ever visit to Orchestra Hall, presenting a program that’s part Bollywood and part New Orleans brass band, adding some hip-hop, jazz, funk and go-go
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Live at Orchestra Hall
WARNER BROS. presents BUGS BUNNY AT THE SYMPHONY II with the Minnesota Orchestra
Friday, May 23, 2014, 8 p.m. / Orchestra Hall
Saturday, May 24, 2014, 8 p.m. / Orchestra Hall
Minnesota Orchestra George Daugherty, conductor
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Live at Orchestra Hall
BILL COSBY LIVE
Saturday, May 31, 2014, 2 p.m. & 8 p.m. / Orchestra Hall
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Live at Orchestra Hall
THE MIDTOWN MEN with the Minnesota Orchestra
Friday, June 20, 2014, 8 p.m. / Orchestra Hall
Minnesota Orchestra Sarah Hicks , conductor
Christian Hoff , J. Robert Spencer, Michael Longoria, Daniel Reichard, vocals
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Live at Orchestra Hall
PIXAR IN CONCERT with the Minnesota Orchestra
Saturday, June 21, 2014, 8 p.m. / Orchestra Hall
Sunday, June 22, 2014, 2 p.m. / Orchestra Hall
Minnesota Orchestra, Sarah Hicks, conductor
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Sommerfest
SALUTE TO AMERICA
Saturday, July 5, 2014, 8 p.m. / Orchestra Hall
Minnesota Orchestra, conductor and program to be announced
The Minnesota Orchestra launches Sommerfest 2014 with a lively celebration of American music—all-time patriotic favorites to mark the anniversary of our nation’s independence.
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Minnesota Orchestra Classical Concerts
RACHMANINOFF AND BRAHMS
Thursday, July 10, 2014, 11 a.m. / Orchestra Hall
Friday, July 11, 2014, 8 p.m. / Orchestra Hall
Minnesota Orchestra, Andrew Litton , conductor, Natasha Paremski , piano
KABALEVSKY Overture to Colas Breugnon
RACHMANINOFF Piano Concerto No. 3
BRAHMS Symphony No. 2
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Minnesota Orchestra Classical Concerts
A NIGHT IN VIENNA
Saturday, July 12, 2014, 8 p.m. / Orchestra Hall
Minnesota Orchestra Andrew Litton, conductor, Natasha Paremski, piano
Program to include:
CHOPIN Piano Concerto No. 1
J. STRAUSS, JR. On the Beautiful Blue Danube
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Minnesota Orchestra Classical Concerts
MOZART AND RACHMANINOFF
Friday, July 18, 2014, 8 p.m. / Orchestra Hall
Minnesota Orchestra, Courtney Lewis , conductor; Michael McHale , piano
TCHAIKOVSKY Romeo and Juliet, Fantasy-Overture
MOZART Piano Concerto No. 23
RACHMANINOFF Symphonic Dances
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Sommerfest
BRAVO BROADWAY
Saturday, July 19, 2014, 8 p.m. / Orchestra Hall
Minnesota Orchestra, Courtney Lewis, conductor
Program and vocalists to be announced
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Sommerfest
GERSHWIN AND BERNSTEIN
Friday, July 25, 2014, 8 p.m. / Orchestra Hall
Minnesota Orchestra Andrew Litton, conductor and piano
COPLAND Rodeo
GERSHWIN Rhapsody in Blue
BERNSTEIN Three Dance Episodes from On the Town
Symphonic Dances from West Side Story
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Sommerfest
OPERA FINALE: DIE FLEDERMAUS
Complete Semi-Staged Opera
Saturday, July 26, 2014, 8 p.m. / Orchestra Hall
Minnesota Orchestra, Andrew Litton , conductor
Cast to be announced
J. STRAUSS, JR. Die Fledermaus
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FRIENDS & FAMILY CONCERTS
ORCHESTRA HALL COMMUNITY HOUSE!
SUPERSONIC SOUNDS
Sunday, March 2, 2014, 2 p.m. / Orchestra Hall
Minnesota Orchestra, conductor to be announced Sedra Bistodeau, violin
R. STRAUSS Also sprach Zarathustra, selection WAGNER Ride of the Valkyries SIBELIUS Violin Concerto: Allegro, ma non tanto (III) R. STRAUSS Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks RESPIGHI The Pines of Rome: The Pines of the Appian Way (IV)Sound Discover Station held at 1pm in lobby.
RITE OF SPRING
Sunday, April 27, 2014, 1 p.m. & 3 p.m. / Orchestra Hall
Minnesota Orchestra Courtney Lewis, conductor
Lauren Stringer , author and narrator
Selections from: COPLAND Appalachian Spring, STRAVINSKY The Rite of Spring
Sound Discover Station held at 2 p.m. in lobby.
CHRIS McKHOOL’S FIDDLEFIRE!
Sunday, May 11, 2014, 2 p.m. / Orchestra Hall
Chris McKhool, fiddle and vocals
Kevin Laliberté , nylon string guitar
Drew Birston , electric bass
Alberto Suarez , percussion
Sound Discover Station held at 1 p.m. in lobby.
PETER AND THE WOLF
Sunday, July 20, 2014, 1 p.m. & 3 p.m. / Orchestra Hall
Minnesota Orchestra Courtney Lewis, conductor
Theatre de la Jeune Lune alumni, actors
PROKOFIEV Peter and the Wolf [production originally created by Theatre de la Jeune Lune] Additional program details to be announced.