English conductor leads Minnesota Orchestra tradition

Christopher Warren-Green
Conductor Christopher Warren-Green says Handel's "Messiah" is one of the greatest pieces of music ever written.
Photo by Clive Barda

Since Orchestra Hall opened in 1974, the Minnesota Orchestra has celebrated each Christmas with Handel's "Messiah." This year the orchestra invited English conductor Christopher Warren-Green back to the podium to lead performances of the work. He was last here in 2002.

Warren-Green started out as a violinist and was still a teenager when he joined the renowned Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields. Today he's the music director of the London Chamber Orchestra and principal conductor of the Athens Camerata.

In a conversation with Minnesota Public Radio's Steve Staruch he talks about Handel's enduring oratorio and trading the violin for the baton.

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