By Pamela Espeland | MINNPOST Published: FEBRUARY 18, 2020 — 9:17AM ‘Twelfth Night’ at the Guthrie is pure joy; Russian Renaissance at Aria Photo by Dan Norman Emily Gunyou Halaas, Sun Mee Chomet and Michael Hanna in “Twelfth Night.”   The Guthrie’s new production of Shakespeare’s romantic comedy “Twelfth Night” is pure joy. Filled with live music, movement and color,…  Read More →

By Terry Blain | Special to the Star Tribune Published: FEBRUARY 17, 2020 — 8:40AM http://www.startribune.com/vocalessence-explores-deep-roots-of-african-american-music-the-week-s-best-classical-concerts/567887142/ Bearing ‘Witness’ Thirty years ago, Philip Brunelle’s choir VocalEssence initiated a project called “Witness,” which aimed to “celebrate the artistic contributions of African-Americans to the fine arts and to our common cultural heritage.” The anniversary is marked this week…  Read More →

Multiple authors | Star Tribune February 14, 2020 – 11:10 PM: http://www.startribune.com/best-of-the-week-feb-16-23-tove-lo-joe-henry-gotta-dance-raphael-saadiq-vocalessence-winter-fest-more/567872132/ Behold Lo Like a raunchier and rowdier version of her fellow Swedish export Robyn, electro-pop singer Tove Lo has made a bigger splash in dance clubs and viral listening quarters than on pop radio, earning her a sizable underground following. She sticks to…  Read More →

Multiple authors | Star Tribune January 24, 2020 – 8:03 AM: http://m.startribune.com/best-of-the-week-jan-26-feb-2-walker-s-out-there-gza-noura-badi-assad-moana-sing-along-liszt-rex-orange-county-more/567260852/ Aussie theater company challenges perceptions about disabilities Walker Art Center’s monthlong “Out There” series concludes with the return of Back to Back Theatre, an Australian ensemble made up of artists with disabilities. In “The Shadow Whose Prey the Hunter Becomes,” Back to Back…  Read More →

By Pamela Espeland | MinnPost PUBLISHED: December 13, 2019 ww.minnpost.com/artscape/2019/12/all-is-calm-is-filmed-for-pbs-dog-act-at-gremlin-theatre/?fbclid=IwAR3d67FHcl0-DNebJRQ8ox8Jc32orIvL_NonUv7M8IDnM8Bi3snSwre2Vr0 Photo by Joseph Scheller Theater Latté Da spent part of this week with a film crew from New York Public Media (WNET). They were there to film Peter Rothstein’s award-winning “All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914” for national broadcast on PBS in 2020. For three days,…  Read More →

By Terry Blain | Star Tribune Published: OCTOBER 6, 2019 — 2:00PM http://www.startribune.com/beethoven-meets-poet-rita-dove-the-week-s-best-classical-concerts/562199432/ Beethoven with a side of poetry “Sonata for a crazy mulatto.” The dedication Beethoven wrote on the score of his towering “Kreutzer” Sonata was presumably meant affectionately, but would not play well today. The dedicatee in question was George Bridgetower, an Afro-European…  Read More →

by El Minnesota de Hoy | El Minnesota de Hoy abril 23, 2019: http://www.elminnesotadehoy.com/21-de-mayo-vocalessence-cantare-celebra-en-el-ordway-el-sonido-de-mexico/ VocalEssence ¡Cantaré! invita a un compositor mexicano a escuelas de las ciudades gemelas para un enriquecedor programa de residencia artística y cultural. Minneapolis, MN. Un concierto en el Ordway celebrando la música de México cerrará este año el programa VocalEssence ¡Cantaré! y…  Read More →

By Jon Bream and Chris Riemenschneider | Star Tribune APRIL 26, 2019 — 11:30AM: http://www.startribune.com/twin-cities-concerts-of-the-week-snoop-dogg-chris-koza-vocalessence-does-dylan-prince-tributes/509061512/ This week’s big gigs for April 26-May 2, also including Neko Case, Kodak Black, Arturo Sandoval, Foals and more. Snoop Dogg (Photo by Paul R. Giunta/Invision/AP) Snoop Dogg: With the Roots headed to Mystic Lake this summer, Snoop’s show this week…  Read More →

By Pamela Espeland | MinnPost April 24, 2019: https://www.minnpost.com/artscape/2019/04/yellow-tree-lyric-arts-artistry-2019-20-lineups/ Photo by Guy Magno A scene from a previous production of “Another Miracle on Christmas Lake.” Take a break from downtown parking woes … in both cities. Good theater happens in places that have ample free parking just outside the door. Three robust theater companies have recently…  Read More →