Music director goes public with a secret stash of private instruments
National Symphony Orchestra Music Director Gianandrea Noseda is reshaping the ensemble's sound with the help of 17th and 18th century instruments he purchased secretly.
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Jazz trumpeter Terence Blanchard's unexpected path into the opera house
The five-time Grammy winner has mounted two operas at the Metropolitan Opera, which until 2021 had never staged a work by a Black composer. Hear him discuss the future of opera with Lara Downes.
Friday Favorites: Guest host Bill Morelock, Suppe’s 'Queen of Spades' and Dvorak’s 'New World'
On this episode of Friday Favorites, for April 14, 2023, guest host Bill Morelock kicks off the weekend with a request for Franz von Suppe’s ‘Queen of Spades Overture.’ Also, Leann celebrates a new job with an overture by Richard Wagner, and Cole gets his request for Antonin Dvorak’s ‘New World Symphony.’
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Eric Whitacre wants you to feel at 'Home'
In this week’s New Classical Tracks, Eric Whitacre collaborates with British vocal ensemble Voces8 on his latest album, ‘Home.’
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Watch: Voces8 Scholars perform Minnesota composer Shruthi Rajasekar's 'Sat on the Shore'
During the Voces8 Scholars’ recent recording residency with YourClassical MPR, the young singers enjoyed the privilege of working with Minnesota composer Shruthi Rajasekar. Watch and listen now as they perform the Midwestern premiere of her vibrant new piece ‘Sat on the Shore,’ which urges listeners to ‘put away your mobile devices’ and enjoy the beauty of the world around you.
'Champion' is not your grandmother's Metropolitan Opera
Terence Blanchard made history last season when his opera Fire Shut Up in My Bones was the first work by a Black composer staged by the Metropolitan Opera. And the Met has asked for more.
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Listen: St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and the Singers perform Handel's 'Messiah' for Easter
On Easter, YourClassical MPR broadcasted the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra’s performance of George Frideric Handel’s ‘Messiah.’ Guest conductor Paul McCreesh and the orchestra were joined by a roster of vocal soloists and vocal ensemble the Singers. Listen to the on-demand audio now!
Epics, Biblical and Otherwise
On the April 8, 2023, episode of Saturday Cinema, host Lynne Warfel explores scores from epic movies, biblical and otherwise — including the music from ‘Ben-Hur,’ ‘Cleopatra,’ ‘The Ten Commandments’ and ‘The Bridge on the River Kwai.’ Listen now.
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Friday Favorites: NDSU's 'Messiah,' a Mozart aria and Project DJ co-host Jacob Barsness
On this episode of Friday Favorites, for April 7, 2023, host Steve Staruch plays North Dakota State University’s recording of Handel’s Messiah, and Les in Golden Valley gets his request for a Mozart aria. And choral teacher Jacob Barsness joins as Project DJ co-host Jacob Barsness.
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From Daft Punk to ballet: Thomas Bangalter makes full swing to classical
Thomas Bangalter, formerly of French electronic music duo Daft Punk, has released a classical music album: the score to a ballet titled ‘Mythologies’ that draws on American minimalism and Baroque works.
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