11/24/2025
Secrets from a Forest
The award-winning Bell Museum original planetarium returns November 28, 2025.
Witness the inspiring story of the intimate relationship between artistic expression and the natural world.
“Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could transport the musicians’ performance from the Minnesota Orchestra back to the incredible forest where the wood came from—the Paneveggio Forest in Northern Italy?” – Jim Brandenburg
Experience the innovative planetarium show Secrets from a Forest. Led by the artistic vision of award-winning nature photographer Jim Brandenburg, award-winning director Neil Lucas, and featuring members of the Minnesota Orchestra, the production tells the story of the relationship between nature and art through the exquisite and rare Stradivarius violin.
During this feature-length planetarium show, explore the Paneveggio Forest in Northern Italy throughout the seasons and observe the role of smaller life forms that shape the growth of Paneveggio’s towering trees. For centuries, Paneveggio has been home to the “singing” spruce, the source of wood for the Stradivarius violin.
Then be transported to a violin maker’s studio, for an intimate and first-hand look at the creation of this exquisite instrument. The final minutes of this emotionally engaging sequence will take place in a concert hall, to hear the violin—the thrilling and powerful result of this delicate dance between human beings and nature.
Click here for showtimes
https://www.bellmuseum.umn.edu/planetariumshows/
