This weekend, a performance sure to please fans of both the Minnesota Orchestra and the platinum-selling artist Ben Folds will be taking place at Orchestra Hall. The collaboration will appear in two shows this Friday, January 19th and Saturday, January 20th.
While it might seem a peculiar mashup to those unfamiliar, as Folds did not rise to fame on orchestral pieces, this won’t be his first foray into performing with a live orchestra: He has shared the stage all around the world, including with the Minnesota Orchestra for the first time back in February of 2016, directed by Sara Hicks.
Folds has created a voluminous library of music that bends genre to include pop albums with Ben Folds Five, (Brick is a popular song most 90’s kids will remember), multiple solo albums, and collaborative records with a wide range of artists that span different genres: Sara Bareilles, Regina Spektor, and William Shatner (yes, Captain Kirk).
His latest album, “So There,” is described as such by NPR: “Like so much of Folds’ songwriting, So There‘s songs ruminate on aging, regrets and raw feelings after ending a relationship…”
For more than ten years now, Folds has been performing with some of the world’s greatest and most talented symphony orchestras, but certainly hasn’t limited himself: His most recent cross-country tour was a high-energy rock performance featuring nothing more than him and his piano. He is also an outspoken advocate for music therapy and education as a member of Americans for the Arts, and as one of the Board of Directors for the Nashville Symphony. More information about Ben Folds, and his projects and work, can be found at benfolds.com.
Leading the orchestra for this performance once again will be the talented conductor Sara Hicks. Sara is the Minnesota Orchestra’s principal conductor of Live at Orchestra Hall, and has led a broad and varied range of projects since 2006, when she joined the Orchestra as an assistant conductor. This past December, she led a brand new “Home for the Holidays” program that was conceived and directed by Perter Rothstein and directed by Kevin Kling. She has had an already successful 2017-2018 season conducting several film music concerts including “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,” and “La La Land.” She has also conducted the Calgary Symphony, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, Cincinnati Pops Orchestra and San Diego Symphony, and has debuted with major orchestras in Melbourne, Brisbane, Montreal, Toronto, and Lisbon. More information about Sara can be found here: minnesotaorchestra.org.
The music will start spilling out of Orchestra Hall and into downtown Minneapolis at 8pm both nights. Tickets prices range from $45 to $95. More information about ticketing can be found at minnesotaorchestra.org, or you can go old school and call (612) 371-5656.
Live at Orchestra Hall
BEN FOLDS
with the Minnesota Orchestra
Friday, January 19, 2018, 8 p.m. / Orchestra Hall
Saturday, January 20, 2018, 8 p.m. / Orchestra Hall
Minnesota Orchestra
Sarah Hicks, conductor
Ben Folds, piano and vocals
Tickets: $45 to $95
TICKET PURCHASING INFORMATION
Individual tickets and subscription packages can be purchased online at minnesotaorchestra.org, or by calling 612-371-5656 (612-371-5642 for subscriptions) or 800-292-4141. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Orchestra Hall Box Office, 1111 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis (Stage Door ticketing is open Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lobby Box Office ticketing begins two hours before all ticketed performances); and at the skyway accessible Minnesota Orchestra Administrative Office, International Centre, 5th floor, 920 Second Avenue South, Minneapolis (open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.). For more information, call 612-371-5656, or visit minnesotaorchestra.org. For subscriptions, call 612-371-5642 or visit minnesotaorchestra.org/subscribe. For groups of 10 or more, call 612-371-5662.
All programs, artists, dates, times and prices subject to change.
(Unless otherwise noted, all information published was found in the following press release)
