This summer, the Lakes Area Music Festival will fill central Minnesota with MYTHS AND MAGIC. As hundreds of artists from around the globe return to their summer home for music-making, we’ll be reminded of the enchanting experiences that bring them back year after year: sharing laughter, reuniting with friends, and—of course—creating unforgettable music.
Fairy tales like Hänsel & Gretel and The Nightingale will whisk us away to enchanted worlds, while sagas like The Lord of the Rings and Wagner’s epic Ring Cycle will leave us in awe of music’s transcendent, supernatural power. In our seventeenth season, we’re also celebrating the meteoric rise of the nation’s fastest-growing classical music organization and the magic of collaboration, creativity, and imagination that makes it all possible.
Don’t miss what promises to be an exhilarating season—join us and experience the magic for yourself!
Broadway sensations Meghan Picerno and Andrea Ross will leave you Spellbound, performing with Christian Reif and the Lakes Area Music Festival symphony in the gala kick off to the season. Our largest fundraiser of the year, Spellbound includes pre-concert dinner packages, a live auction, and opportunities to support the world class professional musicians who bring …
An impassioned artist, legendary women, and a wizard in training. Rich with magical characters and riveting storytelling, our season opens with two of the most spellbinding orchestral works of all time. Enchanted broomsticks spiral into chaos in The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, bringing whimsical mischief to life. Hector Berlioz’ Symphonie fantastique sweeps us into a vivid opium-fueled hallucination, …
Take flight in a musical fairy tale. This enchanting chamber music concert celebrates the elegance and charm of our feathered friends. Loki Karuna brings Hans Christian Andersen’s The Nightingale to life with a newly composed musical narration. Camille Saint-Saëns and Olivier Messiaen capture the magic of birdsong, while Ernest Chausson’s groundbreaking Concerto for Violin, Piano, and …
Witness the fusion of music and drama. Perfect for opera fans of all ages, this concert showcases the stars of tomorrow and the LAMF Symphony Orchestra in excerpts from opera’s most famous and fascinating stories. The LAMF Resident Artist Program provides singers early in their careers with mentorship and performance opportunities. These artists work one-on-one with our …
Presto chango! Prepare to be amazed as music and magic come together with award-winning pianist and master illusionist Igor Lipinski. The entire family will marvel by dazzling sleight-of-hand, suspenseful storytelling, and breathtaking piano virtuosity. From the brilliance of Sergei Rachmaninov’s radiant rhapsody to the sparkle of George Gershwin’s gleaming concerto, the magic of music shines through …
Familiar hits at the river’s edge. Join LAMF for an outdoor celebration at the picturesque Mississippi Landing Amphitheater in downtown Brainerd. Enjoy a perfect blend of pop hits and classical favorites, all set against a beautiful summer backdrop. With food trucks, a beer tent, and a lively atmosphere, it’s the ideal way to spend a …
A classic tale set in Minnesota’s North Woods. Get lost in the pines and lady slippers as we follow Hänsel and Gretel on their magical journey, with a luscious score by Engelbert Humperdinck and a world premiere production. Described as “a standout” by Opera News, Ariana Wehr makes her festival debut as Gretel alongside the …
A galloping evening of music to keep you on your toes. Did a chandelier really fall from the ceiling during the premiere of Haydn’s symphony? What ancient secrets lie behind the iconic bronze Horses of Venice’s St. Mark’s Cathedral? Join us for a lively evening where comedy, boldness, and historical intrigue converge. Haydn and Shostakovich deliver …
Three powerful scores, two mythic rings, and one concert to rule them all. Join us for an unforgettable evening of epic music, featuring Howard Shore’s Oscar-winning score from The Lord of the Rings alongside Wagner’s orchestral Ring Without Words. A striking new work by Camille Pépin opens our season finale, which features the largest orchestra …
2025 PROGRAM AT A GLANCE
GALA: SPELLBOUND
Friday, July 25, 8 p.m.
Christian Reif, conductor
Meghan Picerno, voice
Andrea Ross, voice
SYMPHONIE FANTASTIQUE
Sunday, July 27 3 p.m.
Christian Reif, conductor
- PAUL DUKAS: The Sorcerer's Apprentice
- MEL BONIS: Femmes de légende (Legendary Women)
- HECTOR BERLIOZ: Symphonie fantastique
THE NIGHTINGALE
Wednesday, July 30, 7:30 p.m.
Loki Karuna, artistic advisor
Grace Park, violin
Adam Golka, piano
- CAMILLE SAINT-SAËNS: “Aviary” from Carnival of the Animals
- OLIVIER MESSIAEN: Le Merle noir (The Blackbird)
- KEVIN LAU: The Nightingale
- ERNEST CHAUSSON: Concerto for Violin, Piano, and String Quartet
A NIGHT AT THE OPERA
Friday, August 1, 7:30 p.m.
Members of the Lakes Area Music Festival Resident Artist program
Christian Reif, conductor
José Luis Gutiérrez, conductor
- Variety of familiar arias and ensembles from the opera repertoire
FAMILY CONCERT: MAGICAL KEYS
Sunday, August 3, 1 p.m.
Igor Lipinski, pianist and magician
Christian Reif, conductor
DOWNTOWN BRAINERD BLOCK PARTY
Wednesday, August 6, 7:30 p.m.
HÄNSEL & GRETEL
Saturday, August 9, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, August 10, 3 p.m.
Justin Lucero, stage director
Christian Reif, conductor
Ariana Wehr, Gretel
Abigail Levis, Hänsel
Sara Couden, Witch
John Taylor Ward, Father
- ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK: Hänsel and Gretel
HAYDN & SHOSTAKOVICH
Wednesday, August 13, 7:30 p.m.
Christian Reif, conductor
- ISIDORA ZEBELJAN: The Horses of Saint Mark
- FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN: Symphony No. 96, “Miracle”
- DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 9
WAGNER'S RING
Saturday, August 16, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, August 17, 3 p.m.
Christian Reif, conductor
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- CAMILLE PÉPIN: Aux confins de l'orage (At the edge of the storm)
- HOWARD SHORE: Music from The Lord of the Rings
- RICHARD WAGNER: Ring Without Words