Jon Kimura Parker Plays Gershwin
TUE DEC 31, 2024 — WED JAN 1, 2025
Orchestra Hall
100 years ago, George Gershwin struck gold with Rhapsody in Blue. It was part of a trend to blend jazz and classical music in the concert hall—and although George Antheil predicted his jazz symphony would “put Gershwin in the shade,” that didn’t exactly pan out. Still, it’s a hoot to hear the two works side by side.
A Few Things to Know
- Jon Kimura Parker has spent 4 decades of his life getting to know Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. Over time, his interpretation has become freer and more improvisatory. In a San Diego Union-Tribune interview from 2012, Parker said that Rhapsody “stands alone…. It transcends everything.”
- When Duke Ellington saw a stained-glass cathedral window depicting three biblical kings, he took the concept and created an orchestral “window” of his own, honoring three Black kings – Balthazar, King Solomon, and Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Conductor William Eddins has stood on the podium in front of major orchestras around the world and first conducted the Minnesota Orchestra in 1992, but his newest creative project is MetroNOME, a socially missioned brewery in downtown St. Paul that supports music education right here in Minnesota.
- Your New Year’s Eve ticket Includes vintage jazz from Belle Amour and a champagne toast, on us!
- Plan your visit to Orchestra Hall
Program
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ELLINGTON
Three Black Kings
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TRADITIONAL/Bonds
He's Got the Whole World in His Hands
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GERSHWIN
Songs to be announced
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ANTHEIL
A Jazz Symphony
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GERSHWIN
Rhapsody in Blue
Artists
Minnesota Orchestra
William Eddins
conductor
Jon Kimura Parker
piano
The Grammy Award-winning Minnesota Orchestra, now in its second century, ranks among America’s top symphonic ensembles, with a distinguished history of acclaimed performances in its home state and around the world; award-winning recordings, broadcasts and educational engagement programs; and a commitment to intentionally build concert programs to feature more works by composers of color, exploring music both contemporary and historic. This past fall, Danish conductor Thomas Søndergård began his tenure as music director.
William Eddins has a multifaceted musical career as a conductor and pianist. He is the music director emeritus of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, a former associate conductor of the Minnesota Orchestra and a frequent guest conductor of major orchestras throughout the world. In September 2022 he will conduct the Minnesota Orchestra’s season opening subscription concerts for the first time, leading a program that includes Wynton Marsalis’ Swing Symphony with the combined forces of the Minnesota Orchestra, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and Marsalis himself on trumpet.
Known for his passionate artistry and engaging stage presence, pianist Jon Kimura Parker has performed regularly at the Berlin Philharmonic, Carnegie Hall, London’s South Bank, the Sydney Opera House and the Beijing Concert Hall. In 2019, he was appointed the Minnesota Orchestra’s first-ever Creative Partner for Summer at Orchestra Hall, a new role in which he is serving as a creative force behind the Orchestra’s summer festival and appearing each summer as a host, performer and personality. He is also artistic director of the Honens International Piano Competition and artistic advisor for the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival.
Plan your visit
- Pre-concert activities
- Valet Parking
- Pre-order Beverages
- Directions & Parking
- Helpful Tips
Know Before You Go
An engaging performance awaits, and the fun doesn’t stop there. Make this visit your own with food and activity options. Browse these helpful tips, and when your concert date arrives, all you have to do is sit back and enjoy.
Directions & Parking
All the information you need to know for getting to and from Orchestra Hall. Parking is just steps away from Orchestra Hall in the city-owned and skyway-connected 11th and Marquette Ramp.
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Accessibility Services
- Armless & Bariatric Chairs
- Assistive Listening Devices
- Large-Print Programs
- Noise-Cancelling Headphones
- Service Animals
- Wheelchair & Accessible Seating
Additional services are available upon request.
Sponsored by
The 2024-2025 Classical Season is presented by Ameriprise Financial.
