Vanska To Return For MN Orchestra Farewell Concerts

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Former Minnesota Orchestra conductor Osmo Vanska is returning to the stage to lead his former musicians in what amounts to three farewell concerts.

Vanska quit his post earlier this week over the extended lockout that has idled the orchestra for more than a year.

He'll be back to conduct concerts Friday and Saturday at Ted Mann Concert Hall at the University of Minnesota. Musicians said in a prepared statement that the concerts will be Vanska's thank-you and farewell to orchestra fans.

High demand led to an additional concert being scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday. Tickets for that concert go on sale at 8 a.m. Friday.

The orchestra board has asked musicians to take pay cuts of as much as 25 percent.

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