Over the years numerous MBF artists have become friends of the Festival, returning two or more times. We have enjoyed Osmo Vänskä and the Minnesota Orchestra performing the complete symphonies of Beethoven, and the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra delighted audiences for six seasons performing repertoire for as few as sixteen players and as many as forty. Dale Warland, perhaps the dearest friend of them all, along with 43 singers, gave us eight summers of extraordinary choral music. Branford Marsalis, Thomas Hampson, Garrick Ohlsson, and Marc Andre-Hamelin all enjoy coming to Winona, and this year we welcome back Joshua Bell for the fourth time. Joshua rarely, if ever, plays recitals in the summer. His concerts are always sold out and are never less than stunning.
Of course, along with old friends, one of the wonderful things about each season is the opportunity to get to know new Festival artists. And, while some really do become true, dear friends, others may return only occasionally, and still others come once and may never return. No matter what, though, nearly every artist leaves us with endearing anecdotes…such as the time when pianist Sam Haywood, between his rehearsal and concert, spent time preparing coffee for the stage crew (much to their surprise!). Or the time when, between rehearsals during the day, Sir James Galway wandered the hallways of Somsen Hall playing Irish folk tunes on his penny whistle. If you have ever heard a penny whistle, you will know it is not a subtle instrument, and thus people all over the building stepped out from their offices seeking the source of the sound, only to find Sir James Galway himself with a smile on his face playing away as he wandered down the hallway.
As we begin our thirteenth season, we also welcome back the Manhattan Chamber Players. After their stunning performance in 2017 we knew we wanted them back. Their ability to explore and present repertoire with unusual and varied combinations of instruments provides a wonderful contrast to our other concert offerings. All things in life are about relationships and the Manhattan Chamber Players, in addition to being phenomenal artists, are also a delight to work with. We look forward to continuing our friendship with them.
– Ned Kirk, Artistic & Managing Director
