For Immediate Release
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Kristin Fischer Rosel
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Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra Performs Stravinsky's Petrushka on March 20
Free concert to showcase sections of orchestra also features Grieg, Strauss, Ravel
MINNEAPOLIS, March 1, 2011 -- The Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra is pleased to announce its upcoming concert featuring Igor Stravinsky's thrilling Petrushka.
Sunday, March 20, 4:00 p.m
Normandale Lutheran Church
6100 Normandale Road, Edina, MN 55436
Stravinsky's vibrant and colorful ballet score tells the story of three puppets that magically come to life at a Russian fair and experience the full range of human emotions. "Petrushka is not only one of the 20th century's greatest ballets, it is also a brilliant showpiece for the orchestra," said MSO Music Director William Schrickel.
Additional works on the program include: Edvard Grieg's Funeral March, composed in honor of his friend and fellow Norwegian composer Rikard Nordraak in 1866; Richard Strauss' Serenade in E-Flat, written by the Bavarian composer in 1881 when he was just 18 years old; and Maurice Ravel's Introduction and Allegro, a work commissioned in 1905 by the Maison Érard, maker of harps and pianos, to promote its new pedal harp as a rival to the more established chromatic harp.
"I designed this program to feature the various instrumental families individually as well as the orchestra as a whole," said Schrickel. "Strauss' Serenade shows off our wind players, Grieg's Funeral March is for large brass ensemble, and Ravel's Introduction and Allegro allows the MSO's strings to lend glowing support to three of the orchestra's distinguished principal players."
Principal players of the MSO - flutist Erica Bennett, clarinetist Paul Schulz and harpist Nikki Christopher - are the featured soloists in the Ravel.
All MSO concerts are free of charge; free-will donations are appreciated. No tickets or reservations are needed. Please visit the MSO website at www.msomn.org for the full 2010-11 season program.
Program: Stravinsky's Petrushka William Schrickel, conductor
Erica Bennett, flute
Paul Schulz, clarinet
Nikki Christopher, harp
Edvard Grieg - Funeral March in Memory of Rikard Nordraak, EG 107
Richard Strauss - Serenade in E-flat, op. 7 (TrV 106)
Maurice Ravel - Introduction & Allegro for Flute, Clarinet, Harp & Strings
Igor Stravinsky - Petrushka (1947 version)
William Schrickel and MSO
The Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra celebrates William Schrickel's 11th season as its Music Director. He was an Assistant Conductor of the Minnesota Orchestra for the 2005-06 season and was the Music Director of the St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra from 2002-2008.
The Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra is in its 29th season. Founded in 1982 by Saint Olaf College graduates, the orchestra has grown from a small chamber ensemble to a full symphony orchestra, a magnet for some of the area's finest professional and amateur instrumentalists. The primary goal of the orchestra is to reach all corners of the metropolitan area with a full spectrum of orchestral music and to encourage audiences to experience the excitement of live symphonic performances. Visit the Season Programs section of the MSO site for more information.
About Erica Bennett
Erica Bennett has played with the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra since 2009 and has served as acting principal flute this season. A graduate of St. Olaf College, she completed her bachelor's degree in Music Performance and graduated magna cum laude with Departmental Distinction in music. In 2008 she completed her Master of Music degree at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, where she played principal flute in the university's orchestra. Erica has played with the Rochester Symphony Orchestra,the Dolce Wind Quintet, the Park Avenue Quintet, and numerous chamber ensembles.She has taught private flute lessons for nearly ten years at studios and schools in the Twin Cities.
About Paul Schulz
Paul Schulz graduated summa cum laude with a music performance degree in clarinet and horn from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and received his Master of Music degree in horn performance from Arizona State University. He has performed with many professional and amateur ensembles, including the Minnesota Orchestra, Minnesota Sinfonia, Minnesota Opera, Phoenix (AZ) Symphony and Sun Cities (AZ) Symphony. He joined the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra in 1991 as its bass clarinetist, becoming co-principal clarinet in 1999 and principal clarinet in 2005.
About Nikki Christopher
Nikki Christopher played her first performance with the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra in 2006 and became principal harp in 2007. Her previous principal positions include Sorg/Whitewater Opera Companies (OH/IN), Florence Symphony (SC), Saint Cloud Symphony, Fargo-Moorhead Symphony and the award-winning C.O.B.R.A. Ensemble Cincinnati. She has also appeared with the Dale Warland Singers, the National Lutheran Choir and Minnesota Opera. She currently holds positions with the Northern Symphony and Mankato Symphony.