The unrivaled brilliance of Gustav Holst’s Jupiter from The Planets sets the stage for the 2024 Lakes Area Music Festival’s closing ceremony. As the U.S. premiere of Lil Lacy’s Aurora honors new beginnings and the opportunities of a new day, Richard Strauss’ Ein Heldenleben (A Hero’s Life) tells the ultimate story of adventure and accomplishment. There is no greater conclusion to our own grand adventure than the recognition that a hero’s journey is much bigger than the hero alone.
Scroll down to explore the music and discover opportunities to enhance your experience.
Featured Artists
Explore the Music
GUSTAV HOLST: “Jupiter, Bringer of Jollity”. (8 minutes) READ – WATCH
- British composer Gustav wrote 7 movements in the work “The Planets”, named after the planets in the solar system and its astrological sign.
- A British composer, Holst included a patriotic hymn in the middle of this movement – “I Vow to Thee My Country” – which was performed at Princess Diana's funeral.
- Parts of The Planets may sound familiar — the suite provided inspiration to composer John Williams when composing the music for Star Wars.
LIL LACY: Aurora. (11 minutes) READ
- Aurōra is the Roman Goddess of dawn and announced the arrival of the sun every morning. She symbolizes new beginnings and the opportunities that the new day offers.
- Lil is a Danish composer. She wrote this piece for the Gävle Symphony Orchestra in Sweden and Christian Reif (our music director and music director of the Gävle Symphony) conducted the premiere there.
RICHARD STRAUSS: Ein Heldenleben (A Hero's Life). (48 minutes) READ – WATCH
- This music calls for a huge orchestra– with 97 musicians, this will be the largest ensemble on the LAMF stage!
- German composer Richard Strauss worked on this piece while staying in a Bavarian mountain resort in July 1898.
- The piece features many solos for the concertmaster of the orchestra (the first chair violinist who plays an important role in helping lead the orchestra). Thomas Reif from the Bavarian Radio Symphony in Germany will play there– he's Christian Reif's brother!
Enhance Your Experience
Enjoy these opportunities to connect with the music and LAMF musicians featured on this concert. No charge and no tickets required. More information coming this summer.
- Thursday, August 15, beg. 2:15 p.m.: Attend an Open Rehearsal. Meet a musician and watch the first rehearsal
- Thursday, August 15, 7-9 p.m.: Musicians Night Out. Socialize with musicians at Jack Pine Brewery
- Saturday, August 17, 6:30 p.m.: Pre-Concert Talk with Christian Reif in the Gichi-ziibi Concert Hall.
- Saturday, August 17, post-concert: Afterglow Hang at the Northern Pacific Center
- Sunday, August 18, 2 p.m.: Pre-Concert Talk with Christian Reif in the Gichi-ziibi Concert Hall
This performance is sponsored in part by Bercher Design & Construction and Cragun's. All LAMF activities are made possible by the voters of Minnesota through grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board and Five Wings Arts Council, thank to a legislative appropriation from the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.
