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Minnesota Public Radio Presents a Host of Events Inspired by the Holiday Season
November 9, 2007
WHAT: Minnesota Public Radio again welcomes the holiday season to The Fitzgerald Theater with a variety of artists: the Norwegian folk of Trio Mediaeval, the gospel of the Steele Family show, the jazz of The New Standards, as well as traditional holiday favorites Robin and Linda Williams and Peter Ostroushko.
All events will be held at Minnesota Public Radio's The Fitzgerald Theater, 10 E. Exchange St., St. Paul
Saturday, November 24
Trio Mediaeval
8 p.m.
Tickets: $30 and $25. MPR members receive a discount. Contact the Fitzgerald Theater box office, 651-290-1221, http://fitzgeraldtheater.publicradio.org/.
Vocal ensemble Trio Mediaeval will present a Thanksgiving-weekend concert of Norwegian folk songs with special guest percussionist Birger Mistereggen. This concert will commence the group's North American tour in support of their forthcoming ECM release, Folk Songs. Trio Mediaeval is famed for its diverse polyphonic repertoire and pristine vocal lines. Joshua Kosman of the San Francisco Chronicle writes, "Singing doesn't get more unnervingly beautiful." The Norwegian songs to be presented in this concert complement the repertoire of sacred music and contemporary pieces that has made the group famous since they began singing together in Oslo in 1997.
Tune In: The event will be recorded for broadcast on Minnesota Public Radio's Classical Music Service, date TBD.
Saturday, December 1
Robin and Linda Williams with special guest
Eliza Gilkyson
8 p.m.
Tickets: $30 and $25. MPR members receive a discount. Contact the Fitzgerald Theater box office, 651-290-1221, http://fitzgeraldtheater.publicradio.org/.
Robin and Linda Williams and Their Fine Group return to the Fitzgerald Theater for a holiday show with special guest Eliza Gilkyson. She and the Williams struck a special spark in their joint performances at the Bob Feldman Tribute in September and this show reunites them. The Williams bring a blend of bluegrass, folk, old-time and acoustic country that combines wryly observant lyrics with a wide-ranging melodicism. The couple was prominently featured in Robert Altman's A Prairie Home Companion, filmed at the theater. Eliza Gilkyson is renowned for her personal blend of American country, blues, folk and rock'n'roll.
Thursday, December 8
The New Standards Holiday Show
8 p.m.
Tickets: $20. MPR members receive a discount. Contact the Fitzgerald Theater box office, 651-290-1221, http://fitzgeraldtheater.publicradio.org/.
The New Standards triumphantly return to the Fitzgerald Theater for a show of holiday tunes on Saturday, December 8. This show follows their amazing Current Guest Session in November 2006. The New Standards are a minimalist jazz trio composed of John Munson (of Semisonic and Trip Shakespeare), Chan Poling (of The Suburbs) and Steve Roehm (of Electropolis). With Munson on bass, Poling on piano and Roehm on vibraphone, the band reinterprets songs from a wide variety of genres, and for this show they are sure to have some surprising takes on classic holiday tunes. Joining The Standards will be guests including Haley Bonar, Dan Wilson, Matt Wilson, Adam Levy, Jelloslave, Maddie Poling and Laurie Lindeen. Other very special guests TBA.
Tune In: The event will be recorded for broadcast on Minnesota Public Radio's The Current, date TBD.
December 14-15
The Steele Family Holiday Show>
8 p.m.
Tickets: $38, $33 and $28. MPR members receive a discount. Contact the Fitzgerald Theater box office, 651-290-1221, http://fitzgeraldtheater.publicradio.org/.
Minnesota's first family of gospel and soul, the Steeles, will bring a special Christmas show to the Fitzgerald Theater for two nights. Their soul-stirring Christmas performance is a must-see this holiday season.
The Steeles have recorded with George Clinton, Fine Young Cannibals, Kim Carnes, 10,000 Maniacs, and Big Head Todd and the Monsters, among others. The Jevetta Steele-performed song "Calling You," from the 1987 film Bagdad Cafe, was nominated for a Best Song Oscar. Their biggest break as a group came when Prince featured them on his 1990 Graffiti Bridge album. They can also be heard on national commercials, movie soundtracks (Corina, Corina, and Hoopdreams), and seen on local stages. Jearlyn Steele is a regular performer on A Prairie Home Companion and was featured prominently in Robert Altman's film of the same name.
Saturday, December 22
Peter Ostroushko's Heartland Holiday Concert
8 p.m.
Tickets: $32. MPR members receive a discount. Contact the Fitzgerald Theater box office, 651-290-1221, http://fitzgeraldtheater.publicradio.org/.
Peter Ostroushko and the Heartland Holiday Ensemble will present their annual Heartland Holiday Concert at the Fitzgerald Theater on Saturday, December 22. The concert will celebrate the holiday spirit with a musical journey from the ancient a cappella carols of Ostroushko's Ukranian heritage to Brazilian choros as interpreted by mandolin. The show will also feature short story master Ron Carlson sharing a holiday tale. Carlson is the author of eight books of fiction, most recently A Kind of Flying (Norton, 2003).
The Heartland Holiday Ensemble will feature pianist Dan Chouinard, singer Ruth MacKenzie (Trova), multi-talented percussionist Marc Anderson, bassist Joel Sayles, guitarist Dirk Freymuth and singer Natalie Nowytski.
Tune in: The event will be recorded for national broadcast in 2008, date TBD.
Press Contacts:
Christina Schmitt
Minnesota Public Radio
651-290-1449
cschmitt@mpr.org
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