Dessa
with The Minnesota OrchestraThu Aug 3 — Sat Aug 5, 2023
Orchestra Hall
Singer, songwriter and essayist Dessa returns to the stage with the Minnesota Orchestra for a powerful collaboration that transcends genre. With her charismatic wit, potent lyrics and an expressive alto voice, Dessa has earned a national reputation for crafting ambitious, multi-disciplinary live shows that move, entertain and surprise her audiences.
A Few Things to Know
- In 2018 and 2019, Dessa and the Minnesota Orchestra embarked on their biggest collaboration to date and in March 2019 released Sound the Bells, a full-length live album from a series of two concerts.
- A consummate wordsmith: In addition to being a world-renowned hip hop artist and singer, Dessa is also a podcast host, guest lecturer and author of My Own Devices: True Stories from the Road on Music, Science and Senseless Love.
- You can hear Dessa's incredible talents on other high profile projects like The Hamilton Mixtape and the documentary, RBG.
- Come early and enjoy a delicious Bubbles and Bites package prepared by Wandering Kitchen featuring a charcuterie box paired with your choice of bubbles, wine or a non-alcoholic sparkling beverage. After your concert, enjoy s'mores and a crafted cocktail with your own personal fire pit. (Read more about these tasty offerings).
You can also purchase Bubbles and Bites (Thurs, Fri, Sat) or a S'mores Nightcap (Thurs, Fri, Sat) separately.
Artists
The Grammy Award-winning Minnesota Orchestra, led by Danish conductor Thomas Søndergård—who is serving as music director designate during the 2022-23 season—is recognized for distinguished performances around the world, award-winning recordings and broadcasts, educational engagement programs, and commitment to building the orchestral repertoire of the future. Founded in 1903, the Orchestra has an extensive history of touring throughout Minnesota, nationally and abroad, including high-profile visits in recent years to Cuba, Europe and South Africa. Recording projects undertaken in the past two decades include complete cycles of symphonies by Beethoven, Sibelius and Mahler, all recorded under Osmo Vänskä, who is now the Orchestra’s conductor laureate.
Sarah Hicks is the Minnesota Orchestra’s principal conductor of Live at Orchestra Hall, a role in which she oversees planning for and conducts many concerts in the broad-spectrum series of popular music, jazz, Broadway classics, movie scores and other genres. She also conducted the Inside the Classics and Sam & Sarah series for ten seasons.
Hicks’ career has seen collaborations with a diverse range of artists, from Hilary Hahn and Dmitri Hvorostovsky to Rufus Wainwright, Jennifer Hudson and Smokey Robinson. She has been an artistic leader in concerts featuring artists from Minnesota’s internationally-renowned popular music scene—including shows with The New Standards, multiple sold-out performances with Dessa and a live-in-concert recording released on Doomtree Records, and collaborations with indie band Cloud Cult. A specialist in film music and the film in concert genre, she is passionate about creating concert experiences which combine sight and sound, and that welcome new audiences to the orchestral genre.
Accessibility Services
- Armless & Bariatric Chairs
- Assistive Listening Devices
- Large-Print Programs
- Noise-Cancelling Headphones
- Service Animals
- Wheelchair & Accessible Seating
Additional services are available upon request.