Music Director Thomas SÞndergÄrd leads the Minnesota Orchestra in a sensory-friendly concert of Hans Christian Andersen fairy tales, part of the Nordic Soundscapes Festival.
The Minnesota Orchestra brings The Musical Tales of Hans Christian Andersen to Orchestra Hall on Sunday, November 8, as part of the Nordic Soundscapes Festival. Music Director Thomas SÞndergÄrd leads the orchestra through a series of Andersen's classic fairy tales, told through orchestral soundscapes and narration. The whole thing runs about an hour, without intermission.
SÞndergÄrd is a Dane himself, and he's coming to this with a personal connection to Andersen's world. He began his fourth season leading the orchestra in September 2026, so this falls early in his new tenure. He's joined on stage by Deidre Cochran, a Minneapolis-based actor, educator, and director who's appeared locally in Shrek, Mary Poppins, and The Music Man. She'll serve as host and narrator, guiding the stories as the orchestra plays around them. TJ Yu is on xylophone, and Maria Camacho-Dively will be providing American Sign Language interpretation.
What sets this one apart is that it's a Relaxed Family & Sensory-Friendly experience. The orchestra has set up quiet spaces and noise-canceling headphones, and there are activities in the lobby, all designed to make the concert accessible for families and for audiences with autism or sensory sensitivities. It's a way to bring the orchestra to people who might find a traditional concert hall environment a bit much.
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It's one of the offerings in the Nordic Soundscapes Festival, so if you're following that series, this is a good one to slot in. The concert is at Orchestra Hall, 1111 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55403, on Sunday, November 8.
