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Friday Favorites - Nov. 10, 2023

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

On the Nov. 10 episode of ‘Friday Favorites,’ guest host Steve Seel fills in for Steve Staruch as he plays listeners' requests for their favorite classical music. Listen now!


Friday Favorites

Steve Seel guest-hosts 

Listen to the Story

Karen Zamora

Tinbete Ermyas

Juana Summers

NPR's Juana Summers speaks with violinist Davyd Booth, who was part of the Philadelphia Orchestra's historic 1973 tour of China.


Nass, Daniel

The Philadelphia Orchestra returns to China for anniversary of historic 1973 trip

New Classical Tracks (Extended Interview) - Shai Wosner

New Classical Tracks - Shai Wosner

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 episode of New Classical Tracks, pianist Shai Wosner presents his latest recording, featuring Ludwig van Beethoven’s ‘Diabelli Variations.’ Find out more!


Diabelli Variations, Op. 120: Var. 1, Alla marcia maestoso

New Classical Tracks® 

Marco Borggreve

Pianist Shai Wosner explores Beethoven's 'Diabelli Variations' on new recording

Alan Goffinski

Luray caverns in Virginia have been a natural landmark for 50 years. They also hold the world's largest musical instrument, a Stalacpipe organ.


The world's largest musical instrument is in the mountains of Virginia 

Tom Huizenga

In one of its very final performances ever, the durable and beloved string quartet says farewell with music by Beethoven, Walker and Ravel.


Emerson String Quartet: Tiny Desk Concert

YouTube

Emerson String Quartet performs a farewell Tiny Desk Concert

Anastasia Tsioulcas

An opera about civil rights leader Malcolm X opens Friday — nearly 40 years after X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X premiered. The creative team says its message feels more relevant than ever.


X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X: “You want the story, but you don’t want to know”

X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X: Malcolm and Elijah Duet

X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X: Louise’s Aria

Zenith Richards/Courtesy of the Metropolitan Opera

Malcolm X arrives — finally — at New York's Metropolitan Opera

Where we turn up the voices of Black artists in the world of classical music, with host Vernon Neal.

Rhapsody in Black - Jonathan Bailey

Vernon Neal is the host of the podcast ‘Rhapsody in Black,’ where we turn up the voices of Black artists in the world of classical music.


Host/Producer

Vernon Neal

Composer and educator Jonathan Bailey Holland’s mission is to reshape the way music history is taught and understood, and to help every student feel like they’re part of the conversation. Find out more in the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.


Rhapsody in Black - Jonathon Bailey

Forged Sanctuaries: String Quartet No. 2 by Jonathan Bailey Holland

Rhapsody in Black

Provided

Composer Jonathan Bailey Holland aims to reshape how music is taught and understood

Extra Eclectic - Nov. 01, 2023

Hannah Kendall's ‘The Spark Catchers’ is an evocative interpretation of a poem about women who worked in match factories in the 1800s, tasked with dousing stray sparks that might accidentally ignite an inferno. Listen as Steve Seel plays that works and more on the latest episode of ‘Extra Eclectic.’


Extra Eclectic

Hannah Kendall's 'Spark Catchers' describes fire

New Classical Tracks (Extended Interview) - James Newton Howard

New Classical Tracks - James Newton Howard

On this week’s episode of New Classical Tracks, composer James Newton Howard reimagines the music from director M. Night Shyamalan’s movies on ‘Night After Night,’ an album featuring Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Hilary Hahn and Maya Beiser. Find out more!


James Newton Howard – Night After Night: Music from the movies of M. Night Shyamalan [Album Trailer]

James Newton Howard reimagines music from M. Night Shyamalan's movies on 'Night After Night'

YourClassical Storytime - Something from Nothing: The Story of Fry Bread

Fry bread takes only a few ingredients to make, and it brings a lot of people together. Find out why it has special meaning for Native Americans in ‘Something From Nothing: The Story of Fry Bread,’ the latest episode of YourClassical Storytime — featuring narration and music by composer Connor Chee, and illustrations by Raul Villanueva.


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