This summer, the Lakes Area Music Festival will fill central Minnesota with MYTHS AND MAGIC. As hundreds of artists from around the globe return to their summer home for music-making, we’ll be reminded of the enchanting experiences that bring them back year after year: sharing laughter, reuniting with friends, and—of course—creating unforgettable music.

Fairy tales like Hänsel & Gretel and The Nightingale will whisk us away to enchanted worlds, while sagas like The Lord of the Rings and Wagner’s epic Ring Cycle will leave us in awe of music’s transcendent, supernatural power. In our seventeenth season, we’re also celebrating the meteoric rise of the nation’s fastest-growing classical music organization and the magic of collaboration, creativity, and imagination that makes it all possible.

Don’t miss what promises to be an exhilarating season—join us and experience the magic for yourself!

Schedule of the Event:

July 25, 2025

Gala: Spellbound - 6:00pm

Broadway sensations Meghan Picerno and Andrea Ross will leave you Spellbound, performing with Christian Reif and the Lakes Area Music Festival symphony in the gala kick off to the season. Our largest fundraiser of the year, Spellbound includes pre-concert dinner packages, a live auction, and opportunities to support the world class professional musicians who bring their talents to the Lakes Area and spark connections through music.

Two ways to enjoy the evening:

Program: Concert & Auction – 8:00 PM
Dinner & Concert Program – Dinner at 6:00 PM, Concert at 8:00 PM

Tickets available now—don’t miss out!

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July 27, 2025

Symphonie Fantastique - 3:00pm

Program:

MYKOLA LYSENKO:Overture to Taras Bulba
JONATHAN CZINER:North Long Lake, MN [world premiere]
MEL BONIS:Femmes de légende (Legendary Women), II. Salomé
PAUL DUKAS:The Sorcerer's Apprentice
HECTOR BERLIOZ:Symphonie fantastique

An impassioned artist, legendary women, and a wizard in training. 

Rich with magical characters and riveting storytelling, our season opens with two of the most spellbinding orchestral works of all time. Enchanted broomsticks spiral into chaos in The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, bringing whimsical mischief to life. Hector Berlioz’ Symphonie fantastique sweeps us into a vivid opium-fueled hallucination, journeying from the heights of unrequited love to the depths of a fiery inferno. Let your imagination run wild as our all-star orchestra conjures its musical sorcery.

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July 30, 2025

The Nightingale - 7:30pm

Program:

CAMILLE SAINT-SAËNS:“Aviary” from Carnival of the Animals
OLIVIER MESSIAEN:Le Merle noir (The Blackbird)
KEVIN LAU:The Nightingale
ERNEST CHAUSSON:Concerto for Violin, Piano, and String Quartet

Take flight in a musical fairy tale.

This enchanting chamber music concert celebrates the elegance and charm of our feathered friends. Loki Karuna brings Hans Christian Andersen’s The Nightingale to life with a newly composed musical narration. Camille Saint-Saëns and Olivier Messiaen capture the magic of birdsong, while Ernest Chausson’s groundbreaking Concerto for Violin, Piano, and String Quartet unveils graceful, soaring soundscapes.

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August 1, 2025

A Night at the Opera - 7:30pm

Program:

Opera arias and ensembles featuring our 2025 Opera Resident Artists with the LAMF Symphony

Witness the fusion of music and drama.

Perfect for opera fans of all ages, this concert showcases the stars of tomorrow and the LAMF Symphony Orchestra in excerpts from opera’s most famous and fascinating stories.

The LAMF Resident Artist Program provides singers early in their careers with mentorship and performance opportunities. These artists work one-on-one with our team of directors and coaches to hone their craft while participating in productions and performances alongside our world-renowned roster of singers.

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August 3, 2025

Magical Keys - 1:00pm

Program:

MAURICE RAVEL:Piano Concerto in G, mvmt. III
FRANCIS POULENC:Piano Concerto in C#, mvmt. II
TAKASHI YOSHIMATSU:Piano Concerto, Op. 67, mvmt. III
GRA?YNA BACEWICZ:Piano Concerto, mvmt. III
SERGEI RACHMANINOFF:Paganini Rhapsody, adagio
GEORGE GERSHWIN:Piano Concerto in F, mvmt. III

Presto chango!

Prepare to be amazed as music and magic come together with award-winning pianist and master illusionist Igor Lipinski. The entire family will marvel by dazzling sleight-of-hand, suspenseful storytelling, and breathtaking piano virtuosity. From the brilliance of Sergei Rachmaninov’s radiant rhapsody to the sparkle of George Gershwin’s gleaming concerto, the magic of music shines through in this transformational program for kids of all ages.

“Igor Lipinski holds a special card in his hands. His performances are magical. Literally.”

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August 6, 2025

Block Party - 7:30pm

Familiar hits at the river’s edge.

Join LAMF for an outdoor celebration at the picturesque Mississippi Landing Amphitheater in downtown Brainerd. Enjoy a perfect blend of pop hits and classical favorites, all set against a beautiful summer backdrop. With food trucks, a beer tent, and a lively atmosphere, it’s the ideal way to spend a summer evening. Bring a lawn chair, a friend, and your love for music!

Free concert; no tickets required.

Location: Lyman P. White Amphitheater, 484 E. River Road, Brainerd, MN 56401

August 9, 2025

Hänsel and Gretel - 7:30pm

Program:

Music by Englebert Humperdinck
Libretto by Adelheid Wette
Based on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale
Sung in German with English captions

A classic tale set in Minnesota’s North Woods.

Get lost in the pines and lady slippers as we follow Hänsel and Gretel on their magical journey, with a luscious score by Engelbert Humperdinck and a world premiere production. Described as “a standout” by Opera News, Ariana Wehr makes her festival debut as Gretel alongside the Joy in Singing Foundation’s “Debut Artist of the Year,” Abi Levis, as Hänsel. Children from the Northfield Youth Choirs and Brainerd’s Legacy Youth Chorale complete this heartwarming, family-friendly musical fairy tale.

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August 10, 2025

Hänsel and Gretel - 3:00pm

Program:

Music by Englebert Humperdinck
Libretto by Adelheid Wette
Based on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale
Sung in German with English captions

A classic tale set in Minnesota’s North Woods.

Get lost in the pines and lady slippers as we follow Hänsel and Gretel on their magical journey, with a luscious score by Engelbert Humperdinck and a world premiere production. Described as “a standout” by Opera News, Ariana Wehr makes her festival debut as Gretel alongside the Joy in Singing Foundation’s “Debut Artist of the Year,” Abi Levis, as Hänsel. Children from the Northfield Youth Choirs and Brainerd’s Legacy Youth Chorale complete this heartwarming, family-friendly musical fairy tale.

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August 13, 2025

Haydn and Shostakovich - 7:30pm

Program:

ISIDORA ZEBELJAN:The Horses of Saint Mark
FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN:Symphony No. 96, “Miracle”
DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH:Symphony No. 9

A galloping evening of music to keep you on your toes.

Did a chandelier really fall from the ceiling during the premiere of Haydn’s symphony? What ancient secrets lie behind the iconic bronze Horses of Venice’s St. Mark’s Cathedral? Join us for a lively evening where comedy, boldness, and historical intrigue converge. Haydn and Shostakovich deliver symphonies filled with humor and daring, while Serbian composer Isidora Zebeljan takes us on a vibrant journey into the myths of ancient Greece.

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August 16, 2025

Wagner’s Ring - 7:30pm

Program:

CAMILLE PÉPIN:Aux confins de l'orage (At the edge of the storm)
HOWARD SHORE:Music from The Lord of the Rings
RICHARD WAGNER:Ring Without Words

Three powerful scores, two mythic rings, and one concert to rule them all.

Join us for an unforgettable evening of epic music, featuring Howard Shore’s Oscar-winning score from The Lord of the Rings alongside Wagner’s orchestral Ring Without Words. A striking new work by Camille Pépin opens our season finale, which features the largest orchestra ever to appear on the Gichi-ziibi stage.

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August 17, 2025

Wagner’s Ring - 3:00pm

Program:

CAMILLE PÉPIN:Aux confins de l'orage (At the edge of the storm)
HOWARD SHORE:Music from The Lord of the Rings
RICHARD WAGNER:Ring Without Words

Three powerful scores, two mythic rings, and one concert to rule them all.

Join us for an unforgettable evening of epic music, featuring Howard Shore’s Oscar-winning score from The Lord of the Rings alongside Wagner’s orchestral Ring Without Words. A striking new work by Camille Pépin opens our season finale, which features the largest orchestra ever to appear on the Gichi-ziibi stage.

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Date: July 25 - August 17, 2025

Location:
Gichi-ziibi Center for the Arts, 702 S 5th St, Brainerd, MN 56401
Lyman P. White Amphitheater, 484 E. River Road, Brainerd, MN 56401

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