Beethoven marathon
Thursday-Jan. 16: The Minnesota Orchestra launches this ambitious endeavor over New Year's, but concerts on Thursday and Friday are expected to sell out. So check for turnbacks and look ahead: On Jan. 8-10, Osmo Vänskä will conduct Beethoven's Seventh with pianist Yevgeny Sudbin performing Piano Concertos 1 and 2 (Fri.), and then the Third and Eighth with Concerto No. 3 (Sat. and Sun.). There will be preconcert previews of the work and a special nightcap concert Saturday with Vänskä on clarinet with six musicians in the Target Atrium. By the time the marathon concludes on Jan. 16, all nine symphonies and five piano concertos will be performed. (8 p.m. Jan. 8-9, 10:30 p.m. Jan. 9, 2 p.m. Jan. 10. $25-$96. Orchestra Hall, 11th and Nicollet Mall, Mpls. 612-371-5656, mnorch.org.)
Graydon Royce
