This Saturday night, we begin our series of live broadcasts of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra from the Ordway Center in downtown Saint Paul.
There's nothing as cool as being there in the hall as the event unfolds — even if it's just through your speakers. Anything can happen in a live concert; there aren't any second chances! So there's a kind of energy and buzz as the performers rise to the occasion and give it all they've got.
This week will be particularly good and is not to be missed. The SPCO, together with Cantus, will present a brand-new commissioned work by one of the hottest young composers in the business, Nico Muhly. It's called "Luminous Body" and takes text from many sources – including Christ, Buddha, Mohammed and Plato. The music is poetic, abstract and riveting in its beauty. The words will grab you, and particularly because of the way they are set, they pop out and almost envelop our senses.
Since this is a brand-new piece, I was curious about how Cantus approached learning it. I visited a piano rehearsal last week with Cantus and you can hear how they put things together by clicking on the audio at the top of this article. It's eye-opening.
Also on the program are two concertos – the Bach double and Haydn's Sinfonia Concertante, highlighting something the orchestra is really skilled at doing – making chamber music and playing as a true collaborative ensemble. The soloists all come from the ranks of the orchestra.
The concert finishes with one of my favorite pieces – Brahms' Haydn Variations. Here was a man unsure if he could even write a symphony, let alone succeed in the orchestral world. While he labored over his first, he took out time to write this gem. Maestra Joana Carneiro told me this is truly romantic music and she plans to highlight that aspect in the concert.
There's nearly 300 years of music history to be heard in this first live broadcast. I hope you'll join me Saturday at 8:00 p.m.!
Love the music?
Show your support by making a gift to YourClassical.
Each day, we’re here for you with thoughtful streams that set the tone for your day – not to mention the stories and programs that inspire you to new discovery and help you explore the music you love.
YourClassical is available for free, because we are listener-supported public media. Take a moment to make your gift today.
