A Weekend of Modern and Future Classics

Well, we've made it over the hump and now it's time for you to start thinking about your weekend! What fabulous event are you going to get all gussied-up for and take hot pictures of yourself and your hip friends to post on facebook? ;)
Luckily, you've got a cornucopia of classy choices to choose from, as demonstrated below:



THURSDAY-SUNDAY


Casanova's Homecoming is in it's second weekend at the Minnesota Opera, and seems to be pleasing the critics. The Star Trib says.."a spirited revival shows Casanova's Homecoming by Dominick Argento to be a great modern comic opera." (Read the full review here) and there's some fun back-story about "local" composer Argento here on the Minnesota Public Radio website.




SATURDAY


Osmo Vanska conducts the Minnesota Orchestra in Future Classics- an "electrifying night of fresh and innovative sounds" featuring brand spankin' new works from young (but accomplished) composers. One such composer is Angel Lam, whose name is awesome and makes me think of Gwen Stefani's little Harajuku girl-inspired fashion line called L.A.M.B. (LoveAngelMusicBaby). Luckily, Angel Lam's music doesn't sound so much like Gwen Stefani as it does Yo Yo Ma's Silk Road Ensemble, who recently performed her work.




SUNDAY


Vanska Plays Mozart/MSO Plays Vanska
My pick of the weekend (because IT IS FREE!) comes from the Metropolitain Symphony Orchestra, again with MN Orchestra director Osmo Vanska as guest composer and soloist. MSO is Minnesota's best civic orchestra, and my awesome cellist friend Aubrey plays with them.





THURSDAY-SUNDAY
and last but not least, in keeping with my recent Paris obsessing...



The University of Minnesota Opera presents three short operas from Igor Stravinsky's time in the city of lights.
If you're a U of M student, you get cut a "sweet" deal- $10 tickets with your student ID. The rest of us have to pay TWENTY dollars- a ridiculous price to see non-professionals at a government-funded public school, if you ask me. I wish I could afford to see this. Sounds awesome!




On the subject of affording tickets, I've been thinking for a while about joining the Minnesota Opera's club for twenty and thirty-somethings called Tempo. For a reasonable membership cost, you get some pretty sweet deals like discounted show tickets and invitations to special Opera-hosted events and parties. If I join, it will definitely be in time for La Boheme in March! I am so excited!! The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra has a similar type of deal called Club 2030, which is FREE and gets us youngsters the sweeeeet deal of $10 tickets and half-price wine and beer at neighboring restaurant Pazzaluna. I'm definitely going to be taking advantage of that awesomeness for their December performance Treasures of the Italian Baroque! More about that later.

Well... hope you get out and do something fun this weekend! And remember to check the Philharmonique calendar of local performances (link on the sidebar to your right) regularly- I'll try to keep it up to date with good stuff!