2012 Festival Schedule

vdg — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 20:59:52 +0000

July 1
Branford Marsalis
and Ned Kirk
July 3
Li-Wei Qin and
Albert Tiu
July 5 FREE
Minnesota Orchestra
July 7
Sharon Isbin
July 10
Eroica Trio
July 12
Angela Hewitt
July 14 & 15
Dale Warland and
Festival Chorale
July 19 & 20
Leipzig String Quartet
July 22
Minnesota Orchestra

Branford Marsalis, saxophone and Ned Kirk, piano

Sunday, July 1, 3:00 p.m.
Somsen Auditorum, Winona State University
$25, $21 students and senior citizens

Known for his innovative spirit and broad musical scope, world-renowned saxophonist Branford Marsalis is equally at home on the stages of the world’s greatest clubs and concert halls. The three-time Grammy winner last appeared in Winona to great acclaim in 2008, performing the works of Villa Lobos and Milhaud with the Philarmonia Brasileira. This summer, Marsalis returns to the Festival for a rare appearance as a recital soloist, performing a selection of classical saxophone masterworks and transcriptions. Join Branford Marsalis and Festival Artistic and Managing Director Ned Kirk for an exciting Festival opener you won’t want to miss!

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Li-Wei Qin, cello and Albert Tiu, piano

Tuesday, July 3, 7:30 p.m.
Page Theatre, Saint Mary’s University
$25, $21 students and senior citizens

Since winning the Silver Medal at the 1998 Tchaikovsky Competition and First Prize at the 2001 Naumberg Competition, Li-Wei Qin has established himself as one of the leading cellists of his generation. He is a frequent soloist with orchestras throughout Europe, Asia, and Australia, and is currently Head of Cello Studies at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music in Singapore. Qin is joined by celebrated pianist Albert Tiu for a recital featuring sonatas by Beethoven and Rachmaninoff.

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Minnesota Orchestra

Thursday, July 5, 8:00 p.m.
Lake Park Bandshell
Free outdoor pops concert

The summer wouldn’t be complete without the Minnesota Orchestra’s annual free pops concert at Lake Park. Remember to bring your picnic basket and blanket, and join the thousands of friends, neighbors, and families who gather every year for this favorite summer tradition!

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Sharon Isbin, guitar

Saturday, July 7, 7:30 p.m.
Page Theatre, Saint Mary’s University
$25, $21 students and senior citizens

Acclaimed for her extraordinary lyricism, technique, and versatility, multiple Grammy winner and Minnesota native Sharon Isbin regularly gives sold-out performances in some of the world’s greatest concert halls. With over 25 recordings ranging from Baroque to jazz-fusion, Isbin has also been acclaimed for expanding the guitar repertoire with some of the finest new works of the century. She brings this remarkable versatility to Winona this summer for the Minnesota Beethoven Festival’s first solo guitar recital.

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Eroica Trio

Tuesday, July 10, 7:30 p.m.
Page Theatre, Saint Mary’s University
$25, $21 students and senior citizens

The most sought-after trio in the world, the Eroica Trio thrills audiences with flawless technical virtuosity, irresistible enthusiasm, and sensual elegance. Named after Beethoven’s Third Symphony, this “heroic” element is aptly reflected in the trio’s passionate approach to music as well as their success as the first all-female chamber ensemble to reach the top of their field. Don’t miss the opportunity to hear this celebrated ensemble in concert.

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Angela Hewitt, piano

Thursday, July 12, 7:30 p.m.
Page Theatre, Saint Mary’s University
$25, $21 students and senior citizens

Angela Hewitt is a phenomenal pianist known for her refined musicianship, with a vast repertoire ranging from Couperin to the contemporary. Particularly admired for her recent recordings of the complete major keyboard works of Bach, Hewitt has been hailed as “the pre-eminent Bach pianist of our time,” by The Guardian. She brings her consummate artistry to the Festival this summer, in a recital featuring Bach’s monumental Goldberg Variations.

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Dale Warland and Festival Chorale

Saturday, July 14, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, July 15, 3:00 p.m.
Chapel of Saint Mary of the Angels, Saint Teresa Campus of Saint Mary’s University
$25, $21 students and senior citizens

Hosted by
Brian Newhouse

Returning for his third summer in Winona, beloved choral director Dale Warland will once again lead the Festival Chorale in two concerts of unforgettable music. With a program emphasizing composers from Minnesota, Winona’s Chapel of Saint Mary of the Angel will resound with the glorious sounds of our state’s most talented composers. Minnesota Public Radio’s Brian Newhouse returns to the Festival as well to host the weekend’s concerts.

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Leipzig String Quartet

Thursday, July 19, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, July 20, 7:30 p.m.
Minnesota Marine Art Museum
$25, $21 students and senior citizens

Since its founding two decades ago, the Leipzig String Quartet has garnered the attention of international critics and audiences with its distinctive dark timbre and meticulously sculpted interpretations of a widely varied repertoire. As part of an ongoing project, the Quartet is currently performing the complete Beethoven string quartets, with the audience choosing which quartets they would like to hear at each concert. Come enjoy an evening of Beethoven string quartets, hand-selected by you!

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Minnesota Orchestra

Sunday, July 22, 4:00 p.m.
Osmo Vänskä, conductor
Erin Keefe, violin
Winona Middle School
$25, $21 students and senior citizens

The Festival would not be complete without Osmo Vänskä and the Minnesota Orchestra playing Beethoven! This season the Orchestra performs Beethoven’s Third Symphony as well as his much loved Violin Concerto, featuring the Orchestra’s new concertmaster, Erin Keefe. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear Keefe in her debut concerto performance with the Orchestra!

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