The Minnesota Orchestra
My very first professional job, back in 1959, brought about my relocation from Denver, Colorado all the way East to Minneapolis, Minnesota. I worked for a division of Remington Rand, and I went about creating a life for myself out there.
It was cold during the winter: Frequently temperatures of Minus 20 degrees F.
The local symphony orchestra was well known: the Minneapolis symphony, conducted at that time by Antal Dorati. Many years passed, and some challenges were overcome. Ultimately, the orchestra became the so-called “Minnesota Orchestra”, and their conductor for many years was Stanisław Skrowaczewski.
Like so many other businesses, orchestras faced financial challenges, with decreasing public attendance and very little government assistance. In October, 2012, when the orchestra management and the musicians could not reach an agreement, music at that orchestra came to a dark stop.
Last week, however, a light came on: The musicians of the Minnesota Orchestra announced that they will present a series of 10 concerts on their own, without management involvement. The Minnesota Orchestra Musicians will play a 10-concert season, and they have lined up a few big-name guests, most notably the violinists Itzhak Perlman and Joshua Bell.
Conductor Osmo Vanska, the renowned Finnish conductor will lead the orchestra in four of the concerts, including a program devoted to one of his specialties, the Sibelius symphonies.
For more on the group’s schedule, click HERE.
Here is the Scherzo from Mahler’s 5th Symphony. Performed by the Minnesota Orchestra, Osmo Vänskä, conductor.
http://youtu.be/6lGBuamtwUk
Tags: Minneapolis Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, Osmo Vänskä, 10-concert season