This past Sunday during our 'snowmageddon' I wallowed through drifting snow, blowing ice pellets careening into to my face and a near total white-out to make my way to the Minnesota History Center and catch a concert in the 3M auditorium.
Granted, we live approximately 1 1/2 miles away on Ramsey Hill, but none-the-less, it was an adventure well worth it. Even in sopping wet jeans and dripping hair, I was overwhelmed when entering the echo-ey and hallowed halls of Minnesota history - a Jenney biplane flying above me, the towering windmill wishing it could have just a small taste of the storm outdoors and the walls painted a seemingly endless blue sky.
I love our museum and so I just had to ask the Society's Director, Michael Fox, if per chance he listens classical music.
Not only does he listen, but he's a regular concert-goer and keeps up with his piano lessons as an adult.So Michael dropped by MPR to share his playlist with me in between a long day of meetings at the State Capitol. His voice is a touch scratchy.
It shouldn't be a huge surprise that one of Michael Fox's favorite groups is St. Paul-based The Rose Ensemble, which "re-awakens the ancient" and brings historically-informed concerts to life. He especially wanted us to listen to Kathy Lee, one of the group's marvelous sopranos and a founding member.
Michael tells me that, like many of us, music helps him gather his thoughts when many things are happening at once. Joshua Bell has just the tone and temperament to bring him down to earth.
We also listen to Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings, a stirring reminder of our fragility and limited time on this planet. And one Mozart sonata that is exquisitely played and a performance - like Mount Everest - worth striving to emulate as Michael keeps up with his own piano lessons.
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Michael Fox's playlist:
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Check out more from Music with Minnesotans:
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In Act I of Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night' Duke Orsino says "If music be the food of love, play on!" Join me next week when Minneapolis Chef Nick Schneider shares his playlist and sumptuous music/food pairings.
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