Program Order

Domenico Scarlatti: Sinfonia No. 3 (3 min)
- Allegrissimo
- Grave
- Presto
- Allegrissimo
Domenico Scarlatti: Sinfonia No. 7 (4 min)
- Presto
- Andante
- Allegrissimo
Francesco Geminiani: Sonata, Opus 4, No. 9 (arr. by Posthuma, ed. by Copes) (11 min)
- Andante
- Allegro
- Andante
- Allegro
Arcangelo Corelli: Concerto Grosso, Opus 6, No. 10 (14 min)
- Preludio
- Allemanda
- Adagio
- Corrente
- Allegro
- Minuetto
Johann Sebastian Bach: Orchestral Suite No. 2 (23 min)
- Ouverture
- Rondeau
- Sarabande
- Bourrée I and II
- Polonaise and Double
- Menuet
- Badinerie

SPCO in 2026

Embark on a journey with us this February. From orchestral music by Bach and Beethoven to world premiere performances of new works for baritone, cello and cedar flute, there’s something for everyone. We’re excited to collaborate with new and returning guest artists, including conductor Mei-Ann Chen, baritone Mark Billy, cellist and composer Kiegan Ryan, as well as the return of SPCO Artistic Partner Richard Egarr. ⁠

🎵 Frank’s Andean Elegy ⁠
Jan 30–Feb 1 | Saint Paul ⁠⁠

🎵 EXPRESS CONCERT: Bach’s Second Orchestral Suite ⁠
Feb 6–8 | Eden Prairie, Mahtomedi, Saint Paul ⁠

🎵 EXPRESS CONCERT: Debussy, Ryan and Shadle ⁠
Feb 12–13 | Apple Valley, Minneapolis ⁠

⁠🎵 Beethoven’s Fourth Symphony with Richard Egarr
Feb 20–22 | Minneapolis, Saint Paul ⁠

Express Concerts are performed without intermission. thespco.org/express ⁠

The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra hit the road to perform one of their Express Concerts at Saint Paul’s United Church of Christ. The alternate venue provided excellent acoustics and delighted the nearly full house. As one might expect, the Express Concert is a shorter program than the typical show and does not have an intermission. What makes it even more fun is that most of the musicians stand while they play. It was so entertaining to watch the musicians dance to the music even more than they usually do while sitting.

The night kicked off with two of Domenico Scarlatti’s Sinfonias – No. 3 and No 7. These bite-sized symphonies, each under five minutes long, featured beautiful harmonies. The orchestra was clearly having fun with the two pieces, as evidenced by the smile on one of the violin players’ faces and the jolly and skilled playing of the harpsichord by David Belkovski.

A highlight of the night was the world premiere of Jonathan Posthuma’s arrangement, edited by Steven Copes, of Francesco Geminiani’s Sonata Opus 4, No. 9. The violin sonata solo was masterfully played by Steven Copes, who delighted the audience with his passionate playing. In accompanying Copes, the orchestra musicians frequently made eye contact to communicate and stay in tight sync, performing without a conductor, a hallmark of the SPCO. The audience was so caught up in the music that they couldn’t help but clap after the second of four movements. The lovely arrangement passed the melody and counter melody around the orchestra, with each instrument group having the opportunity to shine.

The orchestra was stellar all evening, but they really hit their stride in Arcangelo Corelli’s Concerto Grosso. While there may have only been one musician smiling during Scarlatti, several musicians were showing how much fun they were having during this piece. The tempo was zippy, and it was like the different sections of the orchestra were playing a game with each other while they were sharing the melody – except in this game, everyone was a winner.

Closing out the evening was Bach’s second orchestral suite featuring flute player, Alicia McQuerrey. It was truly astounding to watch McQuerrey perform the ultimate act of flute endurance. The SPCO usually takes a faster tempo for most pieces, and this 23-minute suite was no exception. McQuerrey’s fingers flew at lightning speed, and on several occasions, she inhaled through her nose while holding her embouchure, as there was no time to remove the instrument, breathe, and return. The performance ended with an eruption of applause, hoots, and hollers, directed at the orchestra and, most of all, McQuerrey’s remarkable playing.

Following this event, SPCO has performed three of Bach’s four orchestral suites this season. The fourth will be performed alongside Beethoven’s fourth symphony under the direction of the wonderful and energetic Richard Egarr on February 20-22,2026.