2011 & 2012 Home Season

Free Season Opener: Land of Three Faiths

September 2011

The result of years of intensive research and training, “Land of Three Faiths” is at once sacred, secular, folk, and classical, embarking on a fascinating exploration of language, spirituality, and cultural exchange. Laments of the Sephardic Jews mingle with Arab-Andalusian dances and Spanish court songs, while rhythmic cantigas, Hebrew cantillation, and Gregorian chant meet the mystical world of Sufi poetry. Featuring instruments and musical ideas that blur the lines between Arabic and European, this entertaining and enlightening program is steeped in the rich history of the Abrahamic faiths, achieving a perfect balance of edgy improvisation, exotic vocal styles and ancient traditions. More >

Il Poverello

October 2011

Medieval bagpipe and percussion virtuoso from Milan, Isacco Colombo, joins The Rose Ensemble in this heartfelt and humorous look at the life, times, and legacy of Saint Francis and his followers. Drawing upon over 400 years of Italian song and dance, this joyful program features Florentine spiritual chant, densely textured Renaissance choral music, and lusty Tuscan and Umbrian folk music for drums, hurdy-gurdy, harp, and a wide variety of early wind instruments. More >

Songs of Temperance and Temptation

November 2011

Prohibition leaps onto the musical stage in this delightful look at the history and humor behind Minnesota’s long-standing love/hate relationship with the saloon. Semi-staged and fully costumed, this research-rich yet light-hearted performance features the songs and stories of Carrie Nation and 19th-century Temperance Union meetings, balanced by a full cup of good ol’ anti-Prohibition songs. Projections of historical photos and narration from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby complement the show, as our performers skip and prance to Victorian waltzes, croon 1920s jazz, launch into Irish reels, ragtime, and gospel, and belt out some of Irving Berlin’s best show-stoppers! Whether your preference is lager or lemonade, you’ll learn about important events that shaped our region’s history. With entertainment that could make even the Purity Squad merry, this home-grown program features old-time songs like Sweet By and By and Brighten the Corner, with plenty of sing-a-longs! More >

Slavic Wonders

December 2011

This holiday season, we invite you to visit these ancient places, where mysterious chants, joyful hymns, and magnificent choral works are mingled with legends of folk heroes and the Christmas story. Spanning eight centuries, “Slavic Wonders” includes stunning, 12-part Russian Orthodox motets written for Peter the Great’s Imperial Court Chapel Choir, powerful double-choir works from the Polish Renaissance, Czech-language medieval hymns, and a wonderful collection of Ukrainian Christmas carols. With repertoire and a stage presence hailed by audiences as ethereal and captivating, and a vocal blend and range called “supernatural” by critics, The Rose Ensemble has presented this award-winning program to capacity crowds across the U.S. and Europe. This year's program has been revamped to include several additional Czech and Ukranian-language pieces; a fresh take on this musical feast for everyone to enjoy! More >

Gothic Grandeur (Candlelight Concert)

February 2012

in association with the J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles Escape to a time when artists were heroes and the decorative masterpieces they created embodied the pride and ambition of a city’s inhabitants; a time when church-building architecture was as ornate and elaborate as the very music it housed, and composers were paid better than politicians. Join us for an illuminating concert of chant and polyphony by candlelight, performed in some of our own local architectural wonders! More >

Spain in the New World

April 2012

Following the Spanish conquest of the New World, the creation of new music flourished in both urban centers and rustic villages. Old world Iberian musical culture, dominated by the Catholic Church, met burgeoning indigenous practice within the new territories, giving rise to both cross-cultural struggles and collaborative musical expression. A rare opportunity to hear the combined forces of The Rose Ensemble with Renaissance wind instruments, this enlightening program of villancicos, motets, songs and dances unveils a world of culturally intertwined societies and musical traditions of the pious and the populace throughout Mexico, Guatemala, Bolivia, and Peru. More >

Coming Up

Complete Calendar >


Thu February 16	Gothic Grandeur (Candlelight Concert) Duluth \| Buy Tickets
Fri February 17	Gothic Grandeur (Candlelight Concert) Wayzata \| Buy Tickets
Sat February 18	Gothic Grandeur (Candlelight Concert) Minneapolis \| Buy Tickets
Sun February 19	Gothic Grandeur (Candlelight Concert) St. Paul \| Buy Tickets
Fri April 20	Spain in the New World St. Paul \| Buy Tickets
Sat April 21	Spain in the New World Minneapolis \| Buy Tickets