Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra

I can’t say good things about this orchestra. We had seen them twice already this month. Ticket prices are more reasonable compared to Minnesota Orchestra. Plus, their family and free concerts are nice being in other venues. We try to avoid the busy areas of Minneapolis or St. Paul. Overall, you can’t go wrong with them. Plus, you don’t get harassed by telemarketers like Minnesota Orchestra. I told them point-​blank that the reason why I don’t got to Minnesota Orchestra is because prices are too high and not good mix of music like St. Paul Chamber Orchestra.

Wow. Just saw them for the first time, and they are spectacular. Tickets are affordable (people in 20’s and 30’s can get an unusually good deal, too) and the quality of performance is beyond compare. Smaller than the Minnesota Orchestra, and with more emphasis on strings, SPCO provides a slightly more intimate musical experience, but still plenty of sound, exciting soloists and lots of charisma. Looking forward to their spectacular new concert hall opening next year. One of the best in the world, and yes, you can tell.

I really missed them during the lockout! I am pleased to report they are back and great as ever. And take advantage of the «membership» offer if it’s still available.

Fabulous musicians, beautiful people –what more is there to say! ;)

Their children’s ticket — just $ 5 is one of the best deals I’ve ever taken advantage of. I just took advantage of it to take my 14 year old daughter to see the 4 Seasons performance and as always — it was wonderful.
The ability to take advantage of this cultural jem and include my daughter for such a tiny additional fee is fabulous.
We made a night of it — Dinner before hand at Kincaid’s (just a short walk away) and desert after at Café Late up on Grand. One more childhood memory she will have for a long time to come.

The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra might be the best deal in the entire Twin Cities. They are prolific and no matter what concert you go to, you won’t be disappointed. Tickets vary in price, but check the website and you can get GREAT prices.
I have a season ticket package through club2030 and I think I paid about $ 8 per ticket. I mean, parking might cost me more than the concert. Gotta love that.
Also, the SPCO is great about including education in their performances. They typically have discussions where you can learn more about the music which is so helpful to enjoy the many layers of what is happening on stage. Take everyone you know who likes music.

I’m not exactly an orchestra person. I more like the idea of going to the SPCO than actually doing so. Nonetheless, the BF being one of those naturally gifted musician types, I decided this weekend would be a good time to pick up on his many subtle hints, and so to the orchestra we went. Going solely on my opinion, I would give this three stars. Orchestra is orchestra, and I am not knowledgeable enough to know if what I’m hearing is «good», whatever that means. But I have to add a star for how happy it made him, and in turn, me.
The SPCO is hosting several international orchestras and symphonies this month, and we happened to go on the night the London Sinfonietta played. The program was broken up into two sections, with the SPCO playing two traditional, piano-​based Beethoven pieces, and the London Sinfonietta playing what I can only describe as «ambient noise plus jazz freestyle over samples of typewriter clacking, interspersed with readings of mid-​century post-​modern literature about World War II.» That’s really the best I can do. It was at once beautiful, funny, and really, really weird. I’ve never seen anything like it, but again, my knowledge in this area is not extensive. I rather liked it, except that the piece seemed to go on FOREVER, and ended with everyone playing metal bowls that hummed insanely loudly while a lone trumpeter went crazy with the Cheese Whiz, to borrow a phrase.
So…not what I expected. But the BF enjoyed it, and I have to say that the Ordway Center was worth a visit in and of itself. We had the $ 10 «cheap seats» acquired as members of the 20 – 30 Club, which were in the balcony, and we still had a terrific view. The sound was fantastic. The only dull spot in the night was the jerk who sat next to us. He came alone, crabbed when we asked him to move so we could sit down, and then didn’t get up to let us out once the concert was over. He just stared off into space, content to ignore our glares, until the theater was nearly empty. Whatever.
There’s also a great view of Rice Park from the upper floors, and we would have liked to stroll through it had it not been ridiculously cold out.
A few pointers for other orchestra amateurs like me: There is no need to dress up for the SPCO. Jeans and sweaters abound, and I got funny looks in my cocktail dress. Also, you can buy a coffee right outside the doors of the theater but you can’t take it inside, so unless you have 10 minutes to slurp it down, don’t bother. And if you show up late, you will need to wait by the doors until the piece ends to be seated (we were on time, but this is important to know, as some pieces last 20 or more minutes and it would be a bummer to miss that much).
Would I go the orchestra every week? No. Do I enjoy it once every few years? Yes. I appreciate the 20 – 30 Club reduced price tickets, they certainly found their target audience with me.

I’m certainly no Chamber Orchestra aficionado, but we’ve seen the SPCO twice and they’ve been brilliant both times. We definitely pull down the mean age at the Ordway when we go, but it’s well worth it.
This past weekend, we saw them perform several pieces under visiting conductor Miguel Harth-​Bedoya. The first half of the show was dedicated to South American works, while the second half had a more North American flavor.
I won’t go into details about each piece because, well, I’m not qualified. There were a lot of very original sounds coming from the stage, though, and it was a treat to hear. The last piece was Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue and it brought the house down. I’ve never seen an entire section of orchestra patrons dancing in their seats, but piano soloist (Terrence Wilson) pulled it off.
Go check out the SPCO!

Haven’t been yet, but did want to throw a tip out that I just came across.
If you’re in your 20’s or 30’s, you can buy tickets for $ 10
Yes, any ticket.
An effort to get the crowd younger and interested… great idea.
Some VERY good deals to be had here.
Details:
Click on «Buy Tickets»
Click on «Club 2030»
For the purpose of their promotion here, I rate them 5stars. But I am certain once I go I’ll still rate it 5stars.

It’s an established fact that the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra (SPCO) is one of the première chamber orchestras in the world. And yet, it seems to languish in relative obscurity in the Twin Cities, except to the most ardent of classical music fans.
Part of the issue, I think, comes from the overwhelming modern day preference for larger «philharmonic» orchestras, including our own Minnesota Orchestra. Big cars, big houses, big orchestras. Big.
Certainly, they have their place, especially in handling some of the heavier pieces from the Romantic period. But an orchestra of the SPCO’s size can offer much more integrity to the work of Handel, Bach, Ravel, et. al.
The clean lines and nimbleness crucial to interpreting a master like Haydn, for example, is best attained by a pared down cast that allows the beauty of each instrument to be heard in exquisite form. Larger orchestras often fail in their attempts at the same repertoire, as they lend a heavy, sluggish and bulky sound to someone like Mozart. I once heard a full orchestra drown out the Queen of the Night, making her seem like a harmless water nymph.
The Ordway Center is the primary stage of the SPCO. Acoustically, this should work to their disadvantage, since chamber works are best performed in smaller, intimate settings (the Ordway is large enough to host a Britney Spears concert). But they are so skilled that they manage to overcome this barrier rather well. Occasional concerts are performed elsewhere, including the Ted Mann Concert Hall.
Although they broadcast nationally through over 60 public radio stations, the SPCO is best live, and I highly recommend them to anyone interested in (or curious about) classical music. Note: don’t miss their Beethoven symphonies!