Osmo Vanska's Farewell Concert

Emanuel Ax hugs Osmo Vanska MPR Photo / Nate Ryan

We are seeking permission to rebroadcast/archive the audio from the live concert; as soon as we have approval from the interested parties, we will make its availability known.

Following the resignation of Minnesota Orchestra Music Director Osmo Vänskä, the locked-out players of the orchestra announced that Vänskä will conduct three independent concerts Friday and Saturday at the University of Minnesota's Ted Mann Concert Hall  one on Friday, Oct. 4, and two on Saturday, Oct. 5. Tickets to the concerts quickly sold out.

Classical Minnesota Public Radio has been given permission to broadcast the concert at 8 p.m. CDT on Saturday, Oct. 5, live from Ted Mann Concert Hall. Brian Newhouse will host.

The Musicians of the Minnesota Orchestra will be joined by pianist Emanuel Ax in a program that includes works by Beethoven, Mozart and Stravinsky.

In an interview with MPR News Arts Reporter Euan Kerr, the orchestra's principal trombonist, Doug Wright, said it was likely to be an emotional evening. "We are honored that [Vänskä] is joining us," Wright said. "And at the same time, we are heartbroken it will be for the last time."

Wright said it has been therapeutic for the musicians to sit and play together, indicating the sessions had an air of normality to them. Wright added that this weekend, he expects the orchestra to set aside all the politicking and rancor of the past year and a half. The concerts, he said, will be simply about the music.

Here is the full program:

Osmo Vänskä's Farewell Concert

Musicians of the Minnesota Orchestra

Emanuel Ax, pianist

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN

Overture to Egmont, Op. 84

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN

Concerto No. 3 in C minor for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 37 Emanuel Ax, piano

WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART

Concerto No. 27 in B-flat major for Piano and Orchestra, K. 595 Emanuel Ax, piano

IGOR STRAVINSKY

Suite from The Firebird (1919)

Listen to Osmo Vänskä's Farewell Concert live on Classical MPR at 8 p.m. Central Daylight Time on Saturday, Oct. 5. Find your frequency here or stream online using the Classical MPR Media Player.

(Oct. 4 concert photos by Judy Griesedieck for MPR News; Oct. 5 concert photos by Nate Ryan.)