“What happens when you take classical music out of its comfort zones of concert hall, opera house and recital platform?” writes Terry Blain in Sunday’s (10/13) Star Tribune (Minneapolis). “At the Hook and Ladder Theater in south Minneapolis on Saturday evening, we got an interesting answer in an event curated by Outpost, a group dedicated to deformalizing classical music.” Outpost was founded last year by Minnesota Orchestra violist Sam Bergman, together with soprano Carrie Henneman Shaw. “A group of classical musicians and spoken word artists were mashing up a 90-minute sequence of poetry, stand-up comedy and storytelling with contemporary music…. British composer Sally Beamish’s … Fanfare for Solo Trumpet was a stirring call to attention as Minnesota Orchestra trumpeter Douglas Carlsen opened the evening. A Pixies’ song (‘Wave of Mutilation’) was the starting point for the Sarabande by composer Michael Kurth that followed…. [Bergman and Shaw’s] vision for provocatively mixing words and music brought comedian Ali Sultan, broadcaster and Lyft driver Bob Collins, and poet Sagirah Shahid to the microphone between sets of music.” Other featured composers and performers included composers Reinaldo Moya and Jessie Montgomery; soprano Liz Pearse; and Minnesota Orchestra violinist Susie Park.
Posted October 18, 2019
