Christ Church Lutheran setting is a marvel, in my judgment the most beautiful church in Minneapolis, because it is original rather than a copy of yesterday's architectural works. The acoustics are good, and again better than other churches', except under the dome of the St. Paul Cathedral. So one can sit near the back and hear the music fully while visually enjoying a marvelous church structure. Transfigured Night is in my opinion Schoenberg's most luminous work, and Accordo played it beautifully.

I am deputed to say my wife thought Souvenir de Florence was wonderfully vigorous; I found it dully and loudly ordinary after the Transfigured Night--which is why they make chocolate and vanilla.

Joseph Neumeier

I completely agree wth the 12:23 PM posting just before me: wonderful, playing, commentary, and program. The church is architecturally a delight; the sight lines are awful. But there's a lot of energy in the space and the audience. I already have my March and May tickets and will be back happily.

The complaints about speeches, sight lines, and seating seem downright petulant in light of the world-class chamber music performance we heard last night, in an attractive and welcoming venue, with on-street parking nearby, and for a remarkably low ticket price. Bravo to the members of Accordo, and to the organizers who brought them to us!

I do not think churches are appropriate spaces for concerts and last night's Accordo concert affirmed this belief. I don't appreciate the "festival" seating. If I pay for a ticket, I would like the option to choose my seat and have it reserved for me. Not all the seats in this church are equal--the sight lines range from excellent to completely blocked and the acoustics also change depending on where one can get a seat. The very early attendees "reserved" entire rows of the best pews with their coats and purses although the concert goers were nowhere to be seen.
Additionally, church concerts often are prefaced by long-winded announcements and welcomes and this again was the case last night. I can not imagine attending a concert at Orchestra Hall or the Ordway where I would have to be subjected to 10 minutes worth of speeches before I get to hear the music. The quality of this music was worthy of Orchestra Hall and the Ordway why do I have to be welcomed by multiple persons sharing information with me that I don't need to hear? Ushers are available to direct people to the bathroom, a friendly person welcomed me to the church at the door, and I can read in the program multiple times who the sponsors of this concert were.
When I buy a ticket to attend a concert I want to hear the music and see the players and last night I ultimately did get this experience but not without some level of frustration and irritation. I wish the highly professional music would have been mirrored by a professional concert venue.