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Boyz II MN Orchestra? 2016-17 season features some surprise guests

by Jay Gabler

March 25, 2016

That's right, '90s R&B stars Boyz II Men are coming to town — specifically, to Orchestra Hall. The trio will join the Minnesota Orchestra for a propitiously timed performance on Feb. 11, 2017.

The performance was just announced today as part of the Minnesota Orchestra's 2016-17 season. For classical music fans, the big news is the return of former conductors Neville Marriner, Edo de Waart, and Stanislaw Skrowaczewski — but wait, there's more!

Three local artists familiar to listeners of The Current, Local Current, and Rock the Cradle will be hitting the recently revamped Orchestra Hall next year. Dessa will be joining the orchestra next April 15 "for an evening of familiar songs and brand new compositions." The Grammy-winning Okee Dokee Brothers will take the stage with the orchestra for a family concert on the afternoon of March 19. Trumpeter Charles Lazarus will get the holiday season started on Dec. 2.

R&B fans will welcome Ellis Hall's Ray Charles tribute on Oct. 8. For jazz fans, there's Money Jungle on Feb. 17 and Johnny Carson sidekick Doc Severinsen — the orchestra's pops conductor laureate — on Dec. 16 and 17. "Rural folk pianist" George Winston will return on Dec. 23.

Movie screenings with the scores performed live by the orchestra have been hits in recent years — among the films presented in this manner have been FantasiaThe Nightmare Before Christmas, and Home Alone complete with a dummy Kevin McAllister zip-lining through the lobby.

It's recently been announced that Jurassic Park and Harry Potter will be getting the live-with-orchestra treatment, but they aren't scheduled to hit Minneapolis just yet. Instead, next year will see live performances of the scores to E.T. the Extra-TerrestrialRatatouilleIt's a Wonderful Life, and the first film in the recent Star Trek series reboot.

Season packages go on sale April 4, with ticket sales for individual events opening to the public July 29.

Clean Water Land & Legacy Amendment
This activity is made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment’s Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.