MINNESOTA ORCHESTRA PERFORMS WEST SIDE STORY LIVE IN CONCERT

In special subscription concert performances on February 15, 16 and 17, the Minnesota Orchestra plays Leonard Bernstein’s score to West Side Story, while the complete 1961 film is shown on a large screen above the Orchestra Hall stage. David Newman, an Academy Award-nominated Hollywood composer and conductor, leads the Minnesota Orchestra in these concerts.
Since its debut on Broadway in 1957 and the film adaptation which followed, West Side Story has become a classic, earning many accolades and awards. The film, featuring Bernstein’s score and Stephen Sondheim’s lyrics, won a total of ten Academy Awards including Best Score and Best Picture. Many of its songs have since become pop culture touchstones, including Maria, Tonight, Somewhere and America.
The concerts are held at Orchestra Hall in downtown Minneapolis on Thursday, February 15, at 11 a.m.; Friday, February 16, at 8 p.m.; and Saturday, February 17, at 8 p.m., with tickets priced from $34 to $96. Tickets are 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.
About West Side Story
Winner of ten Academy Awards and with original music by Leonard Bernstein, West Side Story was co-directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins. It features Robbins’ choreography, with screenplay by Ernest Lehman, book by Arthur Laurents and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The 1961 film, which stars Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, Rita Moreno, George Chakiris and Russ Tamblyn, is an adaptation of the 1957 Broadway musical of the same name.
David Newman, conductor
David Newman is one of today’s most accomplished creators of music for film, having scored more than 110 films, ranging from War of the Roses, Matilda, Bowfinger and Heathers to the more recent Five Flights Up and Serenity. His music has brought to life the critically-acclaimed dramas Brokedown Palace and Hoffa; top-grossing comedies Galaxy Quest and Throw Mama from the Train; and the award-winning animated films Ice Age, The Brave Little Toaster and Anastasia, the last of which earned him an Academy Award nomination. He is also a highly sought-after conductor, appearing with leading orchestras throughout the world including the New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra, San Diego Symphony, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra and Cleveland Orchestra. More: imgartists.com.
Leonard Bernstein, composer
Leonard Bernstein was the music director of the New York Philharmonic from 1958 to 1969 and conducted the world’s major orchestras, recording hundreds of performances. His books and televised Young People’s Concerts with the New York Philharmonic established him as a leading educator. His Broadway musicals include On the Town, Wonderful Town, Candide and West Side Story, and his additional compositions include Jeremiah, Mass, Chichester Psalms, Slava!, and the ballets Fancy Free, Facsimile and Dybbuk. His honors included the Antoinette Perry Tony Award for Distinguished Achievement in the Theater, 11 Emmy Awards, the Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award and the Kennedy Center Honors. Bernstein died in October 1990.
Minnesota Orchestra Classical Concerts
WEST SIDE STORY
Complete Film with Live Orchestra
Thursday, February 15, 2018, 11 a.m. (Coffee Concert) / Orchestra Hall
Friday, February 16, 2018, 8 p.m. / Orchestra Hall
Saturday, February 17, 2018, 8 p.m. / Orchestra Hall
Minnesota Orchestra
David Newman, conductor
Tickets: $34 to $96
OH+ Events
Free Concert Preview with Phillip Gainsley and conductor David Newman in the Auditorium on Thursday, February 15, at 10:05 a.m.; Friday, February 16, at 6:55 p.m.; and Saturday, February 17, at 6:55 p.m. Newman will discuss his family’s history in the film industry and demonstrate the “Newman System” of syncing film with live orchestra. This event is free; however, a concert ticket is required for entry.
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.