Performed by the Minnesota OrchestraFeb.28, 29 & Mar 1

The MN Orchestra is 109 years

old! The first concert was

in 1903

It was first named the

“Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra”

Has had 10 principal

conductors & many

associate conductors

Has toured the world

giving concerts

Changed it’s name to

the “Minnesota Orchestra”

in 1968

Has 98 musicians &

performs over 200 concerts

each year.

Over 400,000 people come

to their concerts each

year

Gives educational concerts for 85,000 youth

annually

Has premiered

and/or commissioned over 300 new compositions

Orchestra Hall is actually 2

separate buildings

connected by a hallway.

Orchestra Hall opened

in 1974.

The lobby will be

rebuilt in 2012. The hall will

remain the same.

Orchestra Hall is

famous for the “cubes” that are in

the walls and ceiling.

Welcome to the MN Orchestra

Orchestra HallThe Outside…the pictures on the outside of the building change from time to time.

Orchestra Hall -

The Stage

Orchestra Hall - The Auditorium –

with over 2,400 seats

The NEW Orchestra Hall – opening in 2013 The Hall will remain the same. Only the Lobby will change.

Peter and the Wolf by Sergei Prokofiev

Mother Goose Suite(Excerpts) – by Maurice Ravel

Hungarian Fantasyby Franz Liszt

What we will be hearing….

Sergei ProkofievApril 23, 1891 – March 5, 1953

Born in Ukraine/Russia.

Was a child prodigy.

Entered the St. Petersburg Conservatory at age 13. By then had written 4 operas, a symphony, two sonatas and many piano pieces.

Composed first piano piece at age 5.

Wrote his first opera at age 9.

By age 12 had written two operas.

Studied piano as a young child.

Wrote 133 works.

Died from a stroke.

Written in 1936Written as a symphony for children and to introduce children to the orchestraProkofiev wrote both the words and the music

Written in just 2 weeksDebuted on May 2, 1936

Each character has a theme and an instrument

Peter & The Wolf Characters

Cat: Clarinet

Grandfather:BassoonBird: Flute

Wolf: French Horns

Peter: Strings

Duck:Oboe

Hunters:Tympani

Maurice RavelMar 7, 1875 – Dec. 28, 1937

Born in France, near the Spanish border. His family moved to Paris where he grew up.

At 7 his father encouraged him to take piano lessons

At 14, entered the Paris Conservatory to study music. Studied there for 15 years.

Always loved Spanish music, and it influenced his writing.

Was a soldier in World War I

First came to America in 1928

Had a terrible automobile accident in 1932 and never regained his creative spirit.

Died from a brain hemorrhage.

Laideronnette – Empress of the Pagoda

Story from a French Fairy Tale

Part of a larger collection called “The Mother Goose Suite” by Maurice Ravel

The French tales are very different from the American versions

This fountain may be similar to the one Laideronnette used.

Mother Goose Suite (Excerpts) – by Maurice Ravel

Five separate pieces describing fairy tales,

written by French authors.

The five movements: Sleeping Beauty Pavane, Little Tom Thumb,Laideronnette

(Empress of the Pagoda), The Conversations of

Beauty and the Beast, The Enchanted

Garden.

Was originally written in 1908-1910 for piano

– four hands, two players

In 1911 it was rewritten for orchestra and later turned into a ballet.

We will be hearing the LAIDERONNETTE &The ENCHANTED GARDEN

Franz LisztOct. 22, 1811 – July 31, 1886

I was a great pianist and composer

Wow! Your music teacher is the

BEST!

I lived in Hungary!

I was just 9 years old when I gave my

first concert!

I was a child prodigy.

Beethoven heard me play, and said I

would give happiness to many people.

Don’t you just LOVE my long hair? And my profile – I’m

so handsome!

I should have

smiled for this

picture!!

I loved the Hungarian

gypsy music and it helped

me be a better

composer!!

Hungarian Fantasyby Franz Liszt

Originally this piece was written as part of his “Hungarian Rhapsodies”.

Rewritten as a piece for piano and orchestra.

Premiered on June 1, 1853.

This is Liszt’s only Fantasy for piano and orchestra.

Austin Frohmander – A senior from Blaine High School will be playing the piano part.