Minnesota Orchestra concerts on April 13 and 14 feature French-Canadian pianist Louis Lortie as the soloist in Liszt’s First Piano Concerto. On the podium for these concerts is German conductor Markus Stenz, who last conducted the Minnesota Orchestra in Mahler’s Sixth Symphony in 2005. In addition to Lortie’s performance, the program also includes Wagner’s Siegfried Idyll and Schumann’s Second Symphony, a work that echoes Schumann’s own emotional strife and triumphs.

The Minnesota Orchestra concerts are held at Orchestra Hall in downtown Minneapolis on Friday, April 13, at 8 p.m., and Saturday, April 14, at 8 p.m., with ticket prices ranging from $29 to $101. More information is available at minnesotaorchestra.org and by phone at 612-371-5656. For further purchasing details, refer to the information section at the conclusion of this press release.

Markus Stenz, conductor

Markus Stenz is the chief conductor of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, principal guest conductor of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and conductor in residence of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra. He has conducted many of the world’s leading orchestras, and is known for his vibrant, masterful musical interpretations, with a special passion for German orchestral works. His 2017-18 season includes performances with the St. Louis, Colorado, Utah and San Diego symphonies, as well as international engagements at major venues in Brazil, Britain, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands and South Korea. His previous positions have included general music director of the City of Cologne and Gürzenich-Kapellmeister, principal guest conductor of the Hallé Orchestra, music director of the Montepulciano Festival, principal conductor of the London Sinfonietta, and artistic director and chief conductor of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. More: kirshbaumassociates.com, markusstenz.com.

Louis Lortie, piano

Louis Lortie is currently the artist in residence at the Shanghai Symphony, with which he performs four different programs throughout this season. His other engagements in the 2017-18 season include performances with the Chicago, BBC, Dallas and Adelaide symphony orchestras, and the Liszt Festival. He also performs two recitals at London’s Wigmore Hall and embarks on an extensive recital tour in Italy. He has made more than 45 recordings for the Chandos label, covering repertoire from Mozart to Stravinsky, including a set of the complete Beethoven sonatas and a set of the complete Liszt Annees de Pelerinage, which was named one of the ten best recordings of 2012 by The New Yorker. His current recording projects include Poulenc works for piano and orchestra with the BBC Philharmonic and music by Fauré and Scriabin. More: seldycramerartists.com, louislortie.com.

Wagner, Liszt and Schumann

The Siegfried Idyll, one of Wagner’s few purely instrumental works, is lovely, warm and melodic music. Conceived as a love token from the composer to his wife Cosima, it was premiered as a surprise to her on Christmas morning, with the musicians performing on the staircase to her bedroom.
The powerful main theme of Liszt’s First Piano Concerto, punctuated each time by winds and brass, finds key moments to recur throughout the work’s four movements, which are played without pause. Among the musical highlights are the cascading notes in the piano cadenzas, the poetic Quasi adagio second movement and the unusually prominent use of the triangle.

Schumann’s Second Symphony opens in a troubled, shadowy landscape, with many of its melodies wandering or melancholy. As it progresses, the music grows in confidence and concludes with emotional, triumphant gestures.
Minnesota Orchestra Classical Concerts
WAGNER, LISZT AND SCHUMANN

Friday, April 13, 2018, 8 p.m. / Orchestra Hall
Saturday, April 14, 2018, 8 p.m. / Orchestra Hall
Minnesota Orchestra
Markus Stenz, conductor
Louis Lortie, piano

WAGNER Siegfried Idyll
LISZT Piano Concerto No. 1
SCHUMANN Symphony No. 2

Tickets: $29 to $101
TICKET PURCHASING INFORMATION


Individual tickets can be purchased online at minnesotaorchestra.org or by calling 612-371-5656 or 800-292-4141. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Orchestra Hall Stage Door, 1111 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis (open Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.); at the Minnesota Orchestra Administrative Office, International Centre, 5th floor, 920 Second Avenue South, Minneapolis (open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.); and at the Orchestra Hall Box Office, two hours before all ticketed performances. For more information, call 612-371-5656 or visit minnesotaorchestra.org. For groups of 10 or more, call 612-371-5662.

All programs, artists, dates, times and prices subject to change.

The Star Tribune is the Minnesota Orchestra’s media partner for the 2017-18 season.



This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.