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Autumn is here! We've put together a playlist of classical music to accompany the cooler weather and turning leaves. Listen now, and enjoy the sounds of a colorful season.


Autumn: Seasonal classical music perfect for fall - YourClassical MPR Playlist

Relax

Justin Cron/Unsplash

Celebrate autumn with our specially curated classical music playlist

For host Bonnie North, classical music is more than just a genre — it's a way of life. She stumbled into the world of radio after responding to a newspaper ad for Vermont Public Radio seeking a classical music DJ for its Sunday afternoon show. Despite having no previous radio experience, she was confident in her knowledge of classical music and took a chance. She created an audition tape, and the rest is history. Her favorite composer depends on her mood. Sometimes she seeks the meditative sounds of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, while other times she craves the angular compositions of Igor Stravinsky. Of course, she also loves the classics by composers who include Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel. But she is always looking for contemporary composers and is eager to discover new musical talents. Outside of work, she loves to attend live music events. She also enjoys traveling and having friends and family scattered throughout the United States and Europe. But her love for animals is just as strong, and she often volunteers at animal shelters. She is an avid duathlon participant, combining her love for running and biking in one exciting event.


Bonnie North

As our celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month continues, this edition of ‘Extra Eclectic’ showcases contemporary classical works from South America. We hear music by Venezuelan composer Gabriela Montero, Argentine composer Osvaldo Golijov, Brazilian composer Marcelo Zarvos and Gabriela Lena Frank. Listen now with guest host Bonnie North.


Extra Eclectic - October 4, 2023

Extra Eclectic

Anders Brogaard

A South American showcase

Julie Amacher's desire to introduce others to great music is what led her to radio. She began her professional broadcast career at a station in Sun Prairie, Wis. She went from rock 'n' roll to the Rocky Mountains, where she found her niche in public radio at KUNC in Greeley, Colo. Julie spent 13 years at KUNC, where she managed the announcers and their eclectic music format. During that time, she earned four national awards for best announcer. She joined Minnesota Public Radio in 1997 as an on-air host and also produces New Classical Tracks, a weekly podcast critiquing a new release each week. It airs locally at 7:15 a.m. Wednesdays and 5:15 p.m. Fridays.


Julie Amacher

On this week’s New Classical Tracks, the lute and viola da gamba duo Carolyn Surrick and Ronn McFarlane share the music of their lives on their latest album, 'And So Flows the River.'


New Classical Tracks (Extended Interview) - Ronn McFarlane and Carolyn Surrick

New Classical Tracks - Carolyn Surrick & Ronn McFarlane

W. Lee's Reel

New Classical Tracks® 

Provided

Carolyn Surrick and Ronn McFarlane share a part of their lives in 'And So Flows the River'

On ‘SymphonyCast’ with host Steve Seel, Joshua Bell joins the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra to perform Bruch’s ever-popular Violin Concerto No. 1. Bell also leads the SPCO in two more time-tested favorites: Mozart’s Symphony No. 25 and Bizet’s Symphony No. 1. Listen now. 


SymphonyCast® 

St. Paul Chamber Orchestra

What happens when a little man from the Maya city of Uxmal plays the instrument that activates an ancient prophecy? Find out in the latest episode of YourClassical Storytime, ‘The Little Man From Uxmal,’ featuring narration by Inés Guanchez and Ada Tzab, illustrations by Raul Villanueva and music by Silvestre Revueltas.


YourClassical Storytime - The Little Man From Uxmal

YourClassical Storytime: Little Man From Uxmal

YourClassical Storytime

Raul Villanueva for MPR

'The Little Man From Uxmal'

Mindy Ratner is a host and producer on the Classical Music Service of Minnesota Public Radio, where she is heard on weekends. She began her career in public broadcasting following her graduation from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, working first for the local public television station and then for Wisconsin Public Radio. She moved on to stations in Cincinnati and Philadelphia before joining Minnesota Public Radio in 1983. In 1998 and '99, Ratner took a leave of absence to work as a music host and producer for China Radio International in Beijing. Her spare time is devoted to international travel; folk, ballroom and contradancing; singing in the Minnesota Chorale; her two cats, and trying to stay ahead of the weeds in her garden.


Mindy Ratner

At this time of year, Jews around the world gather together to celebrate new beginnings. Listen as host Mindy Ratner guides us in a musical observance of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, in 'Music for the Days of Awe: An Observance of the Jewish High Holidays.’


Classical Feature - Music for the Days of Awe: An Observance of the Jewish High Holidays 2023

Music for the Days of Awe: An Observance of the Jewish High Holidays

Holiday

Sonya Rapport

Listen: 'Music for the Days of Awe: An Observance of the Jewish High Holidays'

Steve Seel is the host of YourClassical’s weekly SymphonyCast and the trailblazing music show Extra Eclectic. He possesses a broad knowledge of many musical genres, having hosted radio programs ranging from classical to jazz and even avant-garde music at radio stations around the country. Steve began his love affair with public radio at 24 working whatever shifts he could at his hometown station of WUSF-FM in Tampa, Florida, and from there worked his way to snowy Buffalo, New York, and its renowned classical station WNED-FM, where he hosted middays and the weekly experimental-music show Present Tense.  In 2005, Steve became one of the founding voices on Minnesota Public Radio's eclectic station, the Current. While there, he hosted afternoons and mornings, and conducted in-depth interviews with pop music luminaries ranging from Brian Eno to David Byrne to Tori Amos. Steve is a basement composer obsessed with all things both minimalist and slow, and might actually be incapable of writing anything that exceeds 75 beats-per-minute.


Steve Seel

Steve Seel is the guest host for the latest episode of ‘Friday Favorites,’ featuring listener requests for the music of composers Alexander Glazunov and Max Bruch, and pianist Vladimir Horowitz. Listen now.


Friday Favorites- Sept. 29, 2023

Project DJ - Sept. 29, 2023

Friday Favorites

Listener requests include Glazunov, Bruch and Horowitz

Lynne has been at this radio thing since 1984 when she fell into an historic job at KFAC AM and FM, the commercial classical station in Los Angeles.  She was the first woman staff announcer in the station's history, and it was such big news back then, it made the LA newspapers and national radio publications.  She is thrilled women in radio is no longer newsworthy.


Lynne Warfel

Michael Giacchino not only is a film composer but also a filmmaker. He shares his experience directing and composing music for Marvel’s ‘Werewolf by Night,’ which will be screened with a live performance of his score by the Minnesota Orchestra on Wednesday, Oct. 4, at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis.


'Werewolf by Night' Interview: Michael Giacchino

'Werewolf by Night' Main Title - Michael Giacchino

Marvel Studios’ Special Presentation: Werewolf By Night | Official Trailer | Disney+

Saturday Cinema

Disney

'Werewolf by Night' director and composer Michael Giacchino enjoys the best of both worlds

This week on ‘Extra Eclectic,’ host Steve Seel features a concerto for orchestra, but not Bela Bartok’s famous example, which features each section of the orchestra. Instead, we hear acclaimed American composer Jennifer Higdon’s Concerto for Orchestra. 


Extra Eclectic - Sept. 27, 2023

A different Concerto for Orchestra 

On this week’s episode of New Classical Tracks, vocal ensemble Conspirare, led by music director Craig Hella Johnson, collaborate with the Miró Quartet in their debut joint album, ‘House of Belonging.’ Find out more!


New Classical Tracks (Extended Interview) - Craig Hella Johnson

New Classical Tracks - September 27, 2023

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