Minnesota Orchestra / Orchestra Hall

The Minnesota Orchestra performs in Orchestra Hall on Nicollet Mall, a concert hall from 1974 with a distinctive acoustic ceiling of the "acoustic clouds" type — suspended fibreglass panels that distribute sound through the hall. The orchestra is considered one of the top five in the United States, with a reputation built partly on its commitment to new music and Scandinavian repertoire reflecting the region's heritage.

The season runs from September through June, with an outdoor Sommerfest series at Orchestra Hall in late July and early August. Ticket prices are reasonable compared to equivalent-quality orchestras in larger cities; weekday evening concerts are well within the price range of budget-conscious visitors. Standing room is available at many performances.

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A story
The Minnesota Orchestra was founded in 1903 by a group of Minneapolis businessmen who hired Emil Oberhoffer from St. Paul as conductor and agreed to pay his initial salary out of their own pockets. The orchestra's 2012-2014 lockout — the longest in American orchestra history — nearly destroyed a 110-year-old institution before musicians and management reached a settlement. The first concert back, in February 2014, was conducted by Osmo Vänskä, who had resigned in protest during the lockout and returned to lead the reconciliation concert.

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