Ginastera, Kodály and Tchaikovsky
Thu Jun 8 — Fri Jun 9, 2023
Orchestra Hall
Hungarian composer Zoltan Kodály believed fervently that music was good for the soul. So it makes sense that on such a colorful, vivacious program, we hear not one but two of his works, the less-familiar Hungarian folk tune-inspired Concerto for Orchestra as well as the much-loved Dances of Galánta. Miguel Harth-Bedoya takes the podium, also conducting Ginastera’s Harp Concerto in a special performance by Chanhassen native Grace Roepke. Tchaikovsky’s brilliant Capriccio italien brings spirit to the soul as the concert concludes.
A Few Things To Know
- Grace Roepke was the Grand Prize winner of the FRIENDS of the Minnesota Orchestra Young Artists Competition in 2019, becoming the first harpist to receive the honor in the competition’s six-decade history. Read our recent Q&A with her here.
- Capriccio italien was written to evoke some of the sights and sounds that Tchaikovsky encountered on a visit to a carnival.
- The Ginastera Harp Concerto has only been programmed once before on a Minnesota Orchestra concert, featuring then-Principal Harp Kathy Kienzle in 2016.
- Miguel Harth-Bedoya has recently concluded tenures as chief conductor of the Norwegian Radio Orchestra and as music director of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. He is an environmental activist who co-founded a compost business and has committed to zero-waste living.
Program
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KODÁLY
Concerto for Orchestra
1 min noteOne Minute Note
Kodály’s Concerto for Orchestra is infused with Hungarian folk melodies and built on Baroque-era structures, namely the concerto grosso form of small groups in interplay with the full ensemble and, in the middle movement, passacaglia—continual variations over a repeating bass line.
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GINASTERA
Harp Concerto
1 min noteOne Minute Note
Ginastera’s Harp Concerto explores the folk rhythms of Argentina and the many capabilities of the harp, including its fiery energy, mysterious colors and dreamlike special effects.
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KODÁLY
Dances of Galánta
1 min noteOne Minute Note
In Dances of Galánta, Kodály memorializes his boyhood home, imposing his own structure on five dances the local Romani band had played—haunting, majestic, stomping and whirling—producing a vivid image of yesteryear.
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TCHAIKOVSKY
Capriccio italien
1 min noteOne Minute Note
Tchaikovsky’s delightful ode to Rome opens with a striking military bugle call and continues with episodes based on Italian songs, both lyrical and lively, before the work closes with a sizzling tarantella dance.
Artists
Minnesota Orchestra
Miguel Harth-Bedoya
conductor
Grace Roepke
harp
The Grammy Award-winning Minnesota Orchestra, now in its second century, ranks among America’s top symphonic ensembles, with a distinguished history of acclaimed performances in its home state and around the world; award-winning recordings, broadcasts and educational engagement programs; and a commitment to intentionally build concert programs to feature more works by composers of color, exploring music both contemporary and historic. This fall, Danish conductor Thomas Søndergård begins his tenure as music director.
Peruvian-born conductor Miguel Harth-Bedoya has earned acclaim for his idiomatic interpretations from a diverse and wide range of repertoire in concerts across the globe. His 30-year career as a professional conductor—including 20 seasons at the helm of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra—is complemented by his deep commitment to passing his experience to the next generation of musicians, and he is director of orchestral studies at Baylor University and music director of the Baylor Symphony Orchestra, as well as founder of The Conducting Institute.
Grace Roepke is an international award-winning soloist and the newly appointed principal harp of the Louisville Orchestra. As the first and only harpist to be awarded the Grand and First Prize at the FRIENDS of the Minnesota Orchestra Young Artist Competition, she has also received top prizes in numerous competitions including the American Harp Society National Competition, the Dutch Harp Festival World Harp Competition, and the Lyon & Healy Awards. As a soloist, she has appeared twice with the Cleveland Institute of Music Orchestra under JoAnn Falletta and Sunny Xia, as well as with the Eastern Music Festival Orchestra under José-Luis Novo. Upcoming solo appearances for the 2022-2023 season include the performances with Long Bay Symphony with Charles Jones Evans and the Minnesota Orchestra with Miguel Harth-Bedoya.
Plan Your Visit
- Pre-concert activities
- Valet Parking
- Pre-order Beverages
- Directions & Parking
- Helpful Tips
Pre-Concert Presentation
When: Thurs June 8, 10:15am | Fri June 9, 7:15pm
Where: Target Atrium
Janet Horvath, former associate principal cello of the Minnesota Orchestra, discusses her book, The Cello Still Sings—A Generational Story of the Holocaust and of the Transformative Power of Music. The book is a history of three generations darkened by the long shadow of the Holocaust, and a secret her father discloses weeks before his death about playing with Leonard Bernstein, which helps Janet make sense of her fraught upbringing.
Know Before You Go
An engaging performance awaits, and the fun doesn’t stop there. Make this visit your own with food and activity options. Browse these helpful tips, and when your concert date arrives, all you have to do is sit back and enjoy.
Directions & Parking
All the information you need to know for getting to and from Orchestra Hall. Parking is just steps away from Orchestra Hall in the city-owned and skyway-connected 11th and Marquette Ramp.
Pre-order beverages
Skip the lines at the bar! Pre-order your intermission beverage via the MN Orch App when you arrive at Orchestra Hall.
Accessibility Services
- Armless & Bariatric Chairs
- Assistive Listening Devices
- Large-Print Programs
- Noise-Cancelling Headphones
- Service Animals
- Wheelchair & Accessible Seating
Additional services are available upon request.
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