The MacPhail Spotlight Series showcases the finest musicians in six concerts staged in MacPhail’s stunning new
Antonello Hall. This ticketed performance series features MacPhail faculty with special guests and provides an intimate listening experience for lovers of classical, jazz and opera. A unique feature of the Series is the post-concert reception where guests meet the artists while enjoying light refreshments.
Join us for the MacPhail Spotlight Series—where great musicians come to light.
Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for youth (6-18) and seniors (55 and older).
Download the Ticket Order Form (pdf)
Dances with the Devil
Sunday, October 25, 2009 at 7 p.m.
Minnesota Orchestra’s Manny Laureano conducts Igor Stravinsky’s L’Histoire du Soldat (The Soldier’s Story). Written in 1918, this piece describes the life of a young soldier in WWI, who gives his violin to the devil in exchange for a book that predicts the future. The music dances on with Le Grande Tango, a dramatic new style of tango music influenced by jazz and classical music, written for cello and piano.
Le Grande Tango by Astor Piazzola:
Teresa Richardson, cello and Ora Itkin, piano
L’Histoire du Soldat by Igor Stravinsky:
Conor O’Brien, violin; Robert Anderson, bass; Nina Olsen,clarinet; Laurie Merz, bassoon;
Takako Seimiya Senn, cornet; Larry Zimmerman, trombone; Bob Adney, percussion;
Andrea Leap, David O’Fallon, Audrey Stottler, actors;
Tamara Ober, dancer and Manny Laureano, conductor
Lyrical Romantics
Friday, November 20, 2009 at 8 p.m.
Immerse yourself in the lyrical compositions of these
passionate and expressive romantic pieces. Explore the rich
tonal palette infused with the spirit of Russian, German and
Danish composers.
Trio in B-flat, Op. 274 (II, III, IV) by Carl Reinecke:
Sue Ruby, piano; Lorelei Giddings, oboe and Vicki Wheeler, horn
Ariel by Ned Rorem:
Mary Laymon, soprano; Nina Olsen, clarinet and
Sonja Thompson, piano
Suite No. 2, Op. 17 for Two Pianos by Sergei Rachmaninoff:
Annette Lee, piano and Richard Stanton, piano
Sonata No. 2, Op. 100 for Violin and Piano by Johannes Brahms:
Jeremy Swider, violin and Gail Olszewski, piano
Jazz Innovations
Saturday, January 23, 2010 at 8 p.m.
Original compositions set the stage for an evening of swingin’
grooves from some of the Twin Cities’ leading jazz musicians
and MacPhail teaching artists.
Bryan Nichols and fellow musicians play a suite of original
compositions by Nichols that range from pensive balladry to
fiery up-tempo pieces. The award-winning Paul Renz Quintet
performs works by Paul Renz, moving from bop to funk, from
blues to fusion.
Bryan Nichols, piano; JT Bates, drums and Adam Linz, bass
Paul Renz Quintet: Paul Renz, guitar; Andrew Schwandt,
tenor saxophone; Nathan Fryett, drums; Eric Graham, bass
and Brian Ziemniak, piano
Mélange Internacional
Sunday, February 21, 2010 at 7 p.m.
MacPhail artists guide you on an eclectic musical journey,
sampling musical tones from India to Spain and beyond.
Season the evening with some Bach and Schubert, add
Indian raga, and sprinkle in a tribute to Spanish dance to
enjoy this Mélange Internacional.
Khammaj (traditional) and Charukeshi (traditional):
Paula Gudmundson, flute; Mark Ilang, sitar and
Rikki Davenport, tabla
Der Hirt auf dem Felsen (The Shepherd on the Rock),
Op. 129, D. 965 by Franz Schubert: Momoko Tanno, soprano;
Greg Kajiwara, clarinet and Jason Alfred, piano
Double Violin Concerto in D minor by J. S. Bach: Beatrice Blanc,
violin and Michael Sutton, violin and Gail Olszewski, piano
Dances Andalouses by Manuel Infante and Souvenirs, Op. 28,
by Samuel Barber: Susana Pinto, piano and Pınar Başgőze, piano
String awakening
Saturday, March 13, 2010 at 8 p.m.
Savor the rare opportunity to experience the nuanced
acoustics of Antonello Hall. From lively piano to lush and
hushed harmonies, this unique hall provides an exceptional
setting to showcase small chamber ensembles.
Chaconne in D minor from Partita No. 2 for Unaccompanied
Violin, BWV 1004 by J. S. Bach as transcribed by Ferruccio Busoni: Jon Iverson, piano
String Quartet No. 12 in C minor, D. 703, “Quartettsatz” by
Franz Schubert and String Quartet No. 3 in Bb Major, Op. 67
by Johannes Brahms: Artaria String Quartet
Artaria String Quartet: Ray Shows, violin; Nancy Oliveros, violin;
Annalee Wolf, viola and Laura Sewell, cello
Opals by Phillip Houghton, Above the Green Night by Edie Hill,
A Feast for Tantalus by Apostolos Paraskevas: Tantalus Guitar
Quartet
Tantalus Guitar Quartet: Kristian Anderson, Matthew Cochran,
Kevin Manderville and Stephen Mattingly
Operatic Overtures
Friday, April 30, 2010 at 8 p.m.
The MacPhail Center for Music Spotlight Series concludes the
season with a dynamic mixture of instrumental-only arias and
overtures from some of the world’s most celebrated operas—
opera without words! MacPhail’s teaching artists perform
works from great masters such as Rossini, Verdi and Mozart.
Featured performers include The Copper Street Brass Quintet
(Allison Hall, trumpet; Corbin Dillon, trumpet; Stefan Kac, tuba;
Alex Wolff, trombone and Timothy Bradley, French horn),
Irina Elkina, Julie Johnson, Gail Olszewski, Dragan Stojkovic,
Phala Tracy, Elizabeth Ericksen, Stella Anderson, Jason Alfred,
Sandra Powers, Mindy Eschedor and Faith Farr.
