Brea(d)th
Thu May 18 — Sat May 20, 2023
Orchestra Hall
In a new work commissioned by the Minnesota Orchestra in the wake of George Floyd’s murder, composer Carlos Simon and librettist Marc Bamuthi Joseph tell a uniquely American story. As Simon and Joseph write in their artist statement: “brea(d)th is a classical work, inspired by the enduring presence of George Floyd the Ancestor, asking America to consider an equitable future.” Rooted in the Minneapolis community and centered around Joseph’s words, brea(d)th considers the nation’s history, promise and possibilities. Conductor Jonathan Taylor Rush will lead the Orchestra—and the 150 singers who will join them onstage—through this groundbreaking work.
A Few Things to Know
- The music of Kennedy Center composer in residence Carlos Simon—including his An Elegy: A Cry from the Grave and Fate Now Conquers—has become a staple in the Minnesota Orchestra’s repertoire in recent years.
- In preparation for brea(d)th, Simon and Joseph have made frequent trips to the Twin Cities, connecting with community members to learn about local history and future aspirations.
- The program includes two additional works written more than a century apart: Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s lyrical Petite Suite de Concert and Wynton Marsalis’ Tuba Concerto, which was premiered in 2021 by the Philadelphia Orchestra, and will be performed at by Minnesota Orchestra Principal Tuba Steven Campbell.
- View the libretto of brea(d)th written by Marc Bamuthi Joseph, as well as a program insert containing information about the art installation and murals on display in Orchestra Hall’s Roberta Mann Grand Foyer and Target Atrium from May 11-20, as well as acknowledgements and information about events beyond Orchestra Hall presented by George Floyd Global Memorial and Justice for George.
Program
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COLERIDGE-TAYLOR
Petite Suite de Concert
1 min noteOne Minute Note
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Petite Suite de Concert offers a variety of charming ideas in each of its brief yet affective four movements, showcasing the composer’s immense talents in capturing the romanticism and sentimentality of early 20th-century British musical tastes.
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MARSALIS
Tuba Concerto
1 min noteOne Minute Note
The rarely spotlighted tuba takes center stage in a recent concerto by the eminent composer, jazz trumpeter and bandleader Wynton Marsalis—fusing traditions ranging from classical to bebop to boogaloo. Of note are a passage in which the soloist plays the tuba and sings simultaneously, and a blistering finale that nods to bebop saxophonist Charlie “Bird” Parker.
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SIMON/JOSEPH
brea(d)th [World Premiere, libretto by Marc Bamuthi Joseph]
1 min noteOne Minute Note
In the world premiere of brea(d)th, with music by Carlos Simon and libretto by Marc Bamuthi Joseph—who performs as spoken word artist—the murder of George Floyd is situated in the context of the United States’ centuries-long oppression of Black Americans, asking the audience to consider how we heal and what comes next. Joseph’s libretto, which “considers bread, as in value, breath, as in lifeforce, and breadth, as in the radius of American promise,” is tightly woven with Simon’s music of great emotional range—at turns solemn, bluesy, heart-rending and dissonant, with an instrumental Elegy movement for strings placed at the center.
Artists
Minnesota Orchestra
Jonathan Taylor Rush
conductor
Marc Bamuthi Joseph
librettist and spoken word artist
Steven Campbell
tuba
Minnesota Chorale
Twin Cities Choral Partners
29:11 International Exchange
choir
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.
Hailed as a continually rising talent in the conducting world by the Baltimore Sun, Jonathan Taylor Rush brings passion, unique interpretation, and a refreshing energy to the orchestral experience. In the fall of 2020, Rush was appointed as the assistant conductor for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. In the fall of 2022, he was promoted to associate conductor. Previously, Rush served as music director of the Buckeye Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as conducting fellow for the Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestras.
Bamtuhi (Marc Bamuthi Joseph) is a 2017 TED Global Fellow, an inaugural recipient of the Guggenheim Social Practice initiative, and an honoree of the United States Artists Rockefeller Fellowship. Bamuthi’s opera libretto, We Shall Not Be Moved, was named one of 2017’s “Best Classical Music Performances” by The New York Times. His evening-length work created in collaboration with composer Daniel Bernard Roumain, The Just and The Blind, was commissioned by Carnegie Hall and premiered to a sold out house at Carnegie in March 2019. His upcoming opera Watch Night is inspired by the forgiveness exhibited by the congregation of Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, and will premiere at The Perelman Center in New York in 2023.
Principal Tuba Steven Campbell, a native of Texas, assumed his current post in 2005, after having performed with the Minnesota Orchestra on its 2004 European tour and in numerous subscription concerts. He performed two solos with the Orchestra during the 2010-11 season: Torbjörn Lundquist’s Landscape for Tuba and String Orchestra at subscription concerts and George Kleinsinger’s Tubby the Tuba at education and family concerts. In a May 2023 subscription concert, he performed Wynton Marsalis’ Tuba Concerto. A frequent presence in the Orchestra's chamber music series, Campbell has performed on Victor Ewald’s Brass Quintet No. 3, James Stephenson's Pillars and Paquito D'Rivera's Four Pieces for Brass Quintet, among others.
The Minnesota Chorale has served as the Minnesota Orchestra’s principal chorus since 2004 and is now in its 29th season under the leadership of Kathy Saltzman Romey. Founded in 1972, the Chorale is Minnesota’s preeminent symphonic chorus, with a roster of over 200 singers. Best known for its work with the two major orchestras of the Twin Cities, the ensemble is equally dedicated to programs that build and enrich community. A seasoned artistic partner, the Chorale continues to explore new artistic directions and collaborative opportunities, while earning the highest critical acclaim for its work on the concert stage. In 2018, members of the Chorale traveled to South Africa to perform alongside the Minnesota Orchestra in its historic concerts in Soweto and Johannesburg.
The members of musical ensemble 29:11 come from the areas of the Cape Flats in Cape Town, South Africa. They have been trained by world-renowned musician Camillo Lombard and are currently under the direction of Brendon Adams, co-founder of New Hope International Exchange. They performed at Orchestra Hall most recently in November 2019 performances of Vaughan Williams’ Dona Nobis Pacem.
Plan your visit
- Pre-concert activities
- Valet Parking
- Pre-order Beverages
- Directions & Parking
- Helpful Tips
Pre-Concert Interview
When: Thurs, 10:15am | Fri & Sat, 7:15pm
Where: Target Atrium
Join host Garrett McQueen in conversation with composer Carlos Simon and librettist Marc Bamuthi Joseph about their composition, brea(d)th, a new work commissioned by the Minnesota Orchestra. As described in their artist statement: “brea(d)th is a classical work, inspired by the enduring presence of George Floyd the Ancestor, asking America to consider an equitable future.”
Memorialize the Movement Mural Display
When: Thurs, May 18 - Sat, May 30
Where: Target Atrium
Experience a sample of protest murals created during the Minneapolis Uprising of 2020, curated for the premiere of brea(d)th by Memorialize the Movement, a living archive that collects, preserves, and activates the plywood murals from 2020 and beyond. The murals represent a tangible manifestation of the community’s collective outpouring of grief, resolve, hope, anger, and love.
Juxtaposition Arts Installation
When: Thurs, May 18 - Sat May 20
Where: Orchestra Hall lobby
Teaching artists and youth apprentices from Juxtaposition Arts have created a sculptural fabric installation for the Orchestra Hall lobby inspired by Marc Bamuthi Joseph and Carlos Simon's composition, brea(d)th.
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.
From the Artists
Brea(d)th is a classical work, inspired by the enduring presence of George Floyd the Ancestor, asking America to consider an equitable future.”
Video: Carlos Simon and Marc Bamuthi Joseph's brea(d)th: Reflections on a First Rehearsal
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.
With these concerts we gratefully recognize Al and Kathy Lenzmeier for their generosity as lead sponsor.
Sponsored by
The Minnesota Orchestra is grateful to The Daniel N. and Constance B. Kunin Fund for supporting the commissioning of Carlos Simon’s brea(d)th.
