Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to correct the date of the Guthrie’s Shakespeare marathon.
From a virtual pipe organ used in a classical music concert, to a fusion of orchestral instrumentation and hip hop stylings, what’s old is new and what’s new is old this week in the Twin Cities. Read on for several shows that explore innovative approaches in the classical music sphere, plus the Steve Kenny Quintet performing the hot new Berlin club in Minneapolis, and TV veteran Linda Purl making a stop at Crooner’s. Also this week, the Guthrie invites audiences in a marathon of Shakespeare as it presents its history play trilogy.
Oratorio Society
Matthew Mehaffey, a professor at the School of Music at the University of Minnesota, and music archeologist Dave Fielding are on a mission to bring out of print music from the British Isles back to life. A few years ago, they launched the “English Heritage Music Series,” a project that aims its sights on British performance scores, whose full orchestration is unavailable. Changes in international copyright laws have made it possible to reconstruct important British scores and make them available widely.
This week, Mehaffey, also the artistic director of the Oratorio Society, conducts one of these scores. The performance marks the U.S. premiere and the first performance since the 1880s of Charles Villiers Stanford’s “The Three Holy Children.” The performance marks 100 years since the Anglo-Irish composer’s death, and features a 140-voice chorus and a 50-piece orchestra including the School of Music’s new virtual pipe organ. Friday, April 5 at 7:30 p.m. at Ted Mann Concert Hall ($25, $35). More information here.
Nur-D with The Minnesota Orchestra
Hip hop artist Nur-D has been making waves in Minnesota since he splashed on the scene in 2018, performing with big acts like the Wu-Tang Clan, Ludacris and Tyler, The Creator, and releasing albums that have often infused social consciousness as part of the artistry. The New York-born, Rosemount, Minnesota-raised artist visits Orchestra Hall this week for for two concerts featuring the artist’s music adapted for the Minnesota Orchestra by Andy Thompson (who has also arranged music for Dessa and Taylor Swift). Joining the orchestra will be frequent Minnesota Orchestra guests the South African musical ensemble 29:11 International Exchange. Before the show, browse local vendors like Pimento Jamaican Kitchen and Modist Brewing. Friday, April 5, and Saturday, April 6, at 8 p.m.,($33-$99). More information here. More information here.
Steve Kenny Quintet
The closing of kj’s hideaway last month was a blow to the jazz community in the Twin Cities, as musicians and audiences lost a dedicated venue for the art form. At the same time, the opening of Berlin, a new nightclub in Minneapolis, offers a hopeful sign for the scene. Located in the North Loop, the club has a sensuous atmosphere, with the music curation showing a tendency toward jazz and experimentation. I went to see Davu Seru, Nathan Hanson and deVon Gray in February for a no cover show and the place was packed. I felt like I was in some slightly more cosmopolitan city than the one I currently live in.
Steve Kenny hosted his Saturday Night Jazz series at kj’s hideway, which he took up after the series had to move from Black Dog Café closed in the pandemic. Now, the trumpeter, band leader, composer and curator is figuring out next steps for the popular series. For now, he’ll be playing this Saturday at Berlin with the Steve Kenny Quintet— featuring Dave Brattain on the saxophone, Kavyesh Kaviraj playing piano, Dan Carpel on bass, and Abinnet Berhanu on drums. Saturday, April 6 at 8 p.m. ($15). More information here.
Shakespeare’s History Plays
Do you like Shakespeare? Ok, but do you REALLY like Shakespeare? Prove it by going to see three Shakespeare history plays in one day. The Guthrie is hosting these “Marathon Days” just twice— once on April 13, and once on May 18, where Richard II, Henry IV and Henry V are all being shown the same day.
Directed by artistic director Joseph Haj, the three plays feature a repertory cast, starring local favorites Tyler Michaels King and William Sturdivant as Richard II and Henry IV, respectively, and newcomer (for the Guthrie– he’s performed on Broadway) Daniel José Molina playing Henry V. You can also stretch out the experience by seeing the plays separately on different nights. This kind of opportunity doesn’t happen every day so if you want to say to your grandkids “We few, we happy few, we band of brothers” about the experience get your tickets.
The first marathon takes place Saturday, April 13 at 10 a.m., 3 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. at the Guthrie ($150), with the second Marathon on May 18. You can also get a 3-play package during the run ($66-189) or just get a ticket for a single show (tickets starting at $34) through Mary 24/25 at the Guthrie. More information here.
Linda Purl at Crooners
Linda Purl has had a marathon of a career in film and television, from her days as Fonzie’s girlfriend on “Happy Days” to shows like “The Office,” “Matlock,” and “The Bold and the Beautiful,” and numerous theater roles. These days, she’s coupled with Hollywood actor Patrick Duffy, with whom she helps run a charitable business called “Duffy’s Dough,” centered around the latter’s family sourdough recipe. She also maintains her performing career with a cabaret show called “This Could Be the Start,” coming to Crooner’s this week at the Dunsmore Room. Performing with pianist Tedd Firth, Purl sings from the American songbook. Saturday, April 6 at 7 p.m. at Crooner’s ($35-$40). More information here.
Chamber Music Society of Minnesota: Aaron Diehl
When Ariana Kim, co-artistic director of the Chamber Music Society of Minnesota was a student at Juilliard, she performed “Conversations for Jazz Quartet and String Quartet” by Gunther Schuller, a work that fuses jazz and classical elements together, with a pianist named Aaron Diehl. This week, the two team up again to perform the groundbreaking piece of music in a concert hosted by CMSM, in Diehl’s first visit with the group. Diehl will also perform solo, will duet with Kim, and perform a jazz set. Sunday, Apr. 7th at 4 pm at Sundin Music Hall at Hamline University ($25). More information here.
Sheila Regan
Sheila Regan is a Twin Cities-based arts journalist. She writes MinnPost’s twice-weekly Artscape column. She can be reached at sregan@minnpost.com.
