The Classical Influence: The French Court

Join hosts Molly Sonsteng and Bill Summerville as they take us into the world of the French aristocracy in the years just before the revolution: the history and politics of the day, along with its art, fashion, inventions, and other details of everyday life. Bill will pour wines from the court and share the stories behind them, and Molly will share an opera from the period. We'll listen and sip together, then talk about what we heard and tasted and discuss where this music shows up today.

This evening is analog by design: sitting together, listening closely, drinking wine, and spending time with something you may or may not know much about. You can simply enjoy the experience, or leave with something that makes you want to keep digging.

Tickets include wine and light snacks.

About your hosts

Molly Sonsteng is a trained opera singer with a background at Carnegie Hall and the Manhattan School of Music. She has been hosting intimate listening salons in her home, sharing the music she loves alongside the history and culture surrounding it.

Bill Summerville has been an influential force in the Twin Cities restaurant scene, bringing his trademark charm and brashness to restaurants from La Belle Vie to Spoon and Stable. Wine travel across Europe, including a year on the Tuscan coast, shaped his Euro-centric palate.