Science and music combine in Gustav Holst’s ‘The Planets’
MINOT, N.D. – The Minot Symphony Orchestra’s 97th season ends with Space: The Final Frontier on Saturday, April 29 at 7 p.m. in Ann Nicole Nelson Hall, located inside Old Main on the campus of Minot State University.
The Minot Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Efraín Amaya, along with Minot High School Women’s Ensemble, directed by Lindsay Kerzmann, will present Gustav Holst’s groundbreaking masterpiece “The Planets,” accompanied by a spectacular film produced by Emmy-nominated astronomer and visual artist José Francisco Salgado, KV 265 executive director. This film with live music is the first of its kind in North Dakota.
On April 29, science and music will beautifully combine in Holst’s magnificent score accompanied by a spectacular large projection film featuring visuals from NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA), as well as historical illustrations.
The film takes the audience in a journey through outer space examining seven planets: Mars, Venus, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, along with the sun and beyond. This “Science & Symphony” film is renowned for its finely tuned choreography with the music, creating an overall stunning artistic experience.
“The film is not intended to be seen as a documentary but rather as an art piece that aims to inspire audiences and encourage them to learn more about our solar system and the universe,” said Salgado. “It serves as a synthesis of what humans have achieved as solar system explorers.”
The concert will also feature Haydn’s “Overture to The World on the Moon,” Amaya’s “Polaris,” “Star Trek® Through the Years” by Jerry Goldsmith and arranged by Calvin Custer, and “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” by John Williams.
The evening will start at 6 p.m. with a 30-minute pre-concert talk as Erik Anderson and Salgado discuss the music and the science behind the film. The talk is included in your concert ticket.
Tickets start at $30 for adults with senior, military, and student discounts available. Live and livestream tickets are available at www.minotsymphony.com or through the box office at 701-858-4228. Patrons are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance.
The Minot Symphony Orchestra is a unique blend of student, community, and professional musicians from the Minot area. The symphony is directed by Maestro Efraín Amaya, associate professor of music at Minot State University.
This project is supported in part by a grant from the North Dakota Council on the Arts, which receives funding from the state legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts and the Minot Area Council of the Arts with funding by the National Endowment for the Arts.
About Minot State University
Minot State University is a public university dedicated to excellence in education, scholarship, and community engagement achieved through
rigorous academic experiences, active learning environments, commitment to public service, and a vibrant campus life.
Published: 04/13/23
