ST. PAUL, MN (May 12, 2013) – The Schubert Club announces a new series of concerts titled “Schubert Club Mix” starting January 2014. These concerts will feature a range of classical music artists in a new, contemporary presentation format. The tagline for this new series is “A new generation of classical music.” These concerts will be presented at Aria in Minneapolis, the former home of Theater de la Jeune Lune. Traditionally, a St. Paul based music organization primarily known for its International Artist Series at the Ordway, this venture marks The Schubert Club’s first series in Minneapolis.
The Schubert Club will present three Mix concerts next season, some of which will be in partnership with The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra’s Liquid Music Series and the American Composer’s Forum. The lineup of performers in these concerts will be announced in late May 2013 to coordinate with the other presenting partners.
Barry Kempton, Artistic & Executive Director of The Schubert Club said, “I believe there are music-lovers in our community for whom the formality and rituals of a traditional classical music performance in a traditional concert venue are something of a deterrent to attending. Our idea behind Schubert Club Mix is to relax our presentation style and the ambiance of the venue without at all compromising the quality of the music-making. The opportunity to develop this new approach to classical music presenting in partnership with like-minded musical collaborators is a positive benefit to all parties, including the audience.”
Peter Remes, founder of Aria and President of First & First said: “I am delighted to welcome The Schubert Club and its partners to present concerts at Aria. It has been our vision to develop this unique building as a destination for arts and culture and we look forward to having Schubert Club Mix musicians performing in this venue as part of this vision.”
The three partner organizations share the goal of engaging new audiences and encouraging exploration in classical music. Kate Nordstrom, curator of the SPCO’s Liquid Music Series talks about this shared goal: “It only makes sense to work together on – and celebrate – programming that lives within our overlapping missions and visions. What makes this partnership stronger is the unique perspective that each of us bring to the co-presentations. This is a tremendous resource to artists and audiences – and is something I’m very proud to be a part of.”
John Nuechterlein, President and CEO of the American Composers Forum says he is thrilled to be partnering with The Schubert Club and the Liquid Music Series. “This collaboration gives us a unique opportunity to engage audiences in the work of living composers, and supports our common interest in a vibrant community for high quality new music.”
The combination of the stylish warehouse architecture of Aria, informal seating and a contemporary presentation style by guest artists will give Schubert Club Mix presentations a relaxed and unconventional ambiance. Twin Cities audiences remember Theater de la Jeune Lune’s performances with warmth, and Schubert Club Mix intends to recreate the sense of adventure and discovery in its concert presentations at Aria. Refreshments will be available to enjoy during the performances and a variety of seating/standing options will be available for ticket-buyers.
During its recent strategic planning process, The Schubert Club Board of Directors amended its mission statement recognizing the need to adapt to 21st century expectations while still celebrating the history and traditions of a 130 year old arts organization. One of the key goals identified during this planning process was to broaden the audience age range by diversifying music programming to appeal to younger generations of audiences.
Ticket & Concert Information
Click here for more information about the Mix series.
Tickets can be purchased online at by clicking here, or by calling the Schubert Club Ticket Office: (651) 292-3268
For photos and press downloads please visit schubert.org/news
For more information on The Schubert Club and its programs please visit schubert.org
About The Schubert Club:
The Schubert Club is an internationally renowned performing arts organization dedicated to expanding the enjoyment of music through world-class recitals, premier educational programs and rare collections of musical treasures.
Founded in 1882, The Schubert Club maintains a highly regarded national and international reputation among leading classical music performers. Its International Artists Series has brought Jascha Heifetz, Arthur Rubinstein, Cecilia Bartoli, Alfred Brendel, Reneé Fleming and Yo-Yo Ma, among many others, to the Twin Cities to perform in recital for sold-out audiences. Following decades of musical collaboration, Music in the Park Series is now part of The Schubert Club. Founded over 30 years ago, Music in the Park Series engages outstanding artists and chamber ensembles to present concerts in St. Anthony Park’s United Church of Christ.
The Schubert Club is a member of the Arts Partnership, programming a vibrant future for the performing arts in downtown St. Paul together with The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, the Minnesota Opera and The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra.
The organization’s website is schubert.org
About Aria
Aria is considered to be one of the contributing structures to the Minneapolis Warehouse Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was originally known as the Realty Warehouse Company building, and was designed by noted architect Cass Gilbert, who designed the state Capitol.
A fire in 1899 resulted in the need for additional work with the building, which continued for a decade. In 1991, the warehouse was converted into a theater. From 1992 to 2008, the building was home to the Theatre de la Jeune Lune, the celebrated company known for its rich and innovative style of theatre.
After the theater closed in 2008, the four story building remained vacant until 2010 when it was acquired by First & First LLC, a creative real estate company. First & First restored Aria to its historic glory, adding chic modern touches along the way. Aria reopened as an event venue, hosting galas, corporate events, weddings, conferences, and other social gatherings in addition to producing original programming.