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An ecstatic exploration of classical music that’s aesthetically and uncompromisingly Black.

Rhapsody in Black - Syndey Guillaume

Composer Sydney Guillaume came to the United States at 11 from Haiti. While he calls America home, his compositions pay homage to his ancestors and their fight for independence. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast. 


Rhapsody in Black - Syndey Guiilaume

Rhapsody in Black

Courtesy of the artist

Composer Sydney Guillaume honors his ancestors' fight for independence

Tom Huizenga

New to the music of Steve Reich? His latest recording, featuring the Los Angeles Philharmonic, may be his most approachable.


Runner: I. Sixteenths

Jeffrey Herman

WPA Pool/Getty Images

Steve Reich releases his 26th album, 'Runner'

John Birge: Together in Hope, with Kim Andre Arnesen

In 2018, the Together in Hope Choir traveled from its home in Minnesota to sing at the Vatican, where it performed a commissioned piece by Kim Andre Arnesen. On Oct. 15 and 16, the choir returns to St. Paul to perform a new piece by the same composer. 


John Birge: Together in Hope

Provided

Together in Hope Choir performs Kim Andre Arnesen's works in St. Paul

New Classical Tracks - The Knights (Extended)

New Classical Tracks - The Knights

Valerie Kahler grew up in a musical family and started playing cello and piano in 3rd grade.  She began her radio career in 1989 as a volunteer at KNAU (now Arizona Public Radio) in Flagstaff, Arizona.  She worked there as a classical host and music director for more than a decade before moving to Minnesota to work for MPR.   In addition to classical music, other passions include sewing, singing and cooking.  She shares her life with her partner, John, an artist.


Valerie Kahler

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

In this week’s New Classical Tracks, the Knights, conducted by Eric Jacobsen, explore Leo Tolstoy’s reaction to Beethoven’s ‘Kreutzer Sonata’ with fantastic music on its latest album, ‘The Kreutzer Project.’ 


The Knights - Janáček (orch. M. Atkinson) - "Kreutzer Sonata" Mvt. I

New Classical Tracks® 

Courtesy of artist

The Knights reimagine the ideas of Beethoven and Tolstoy 

Minnesota Opera presents ‘The Anonymous Lover,’ an opera written in 1780 by the groundbreaking Black composer Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges. Listen to our encore broadcast of this concert now.


Listen: Minnesota Opera performs Bologne's 'The Anonymous Lover'

Listen to the Show

This special episode is dedicated to the 25th Anniversary of the Sphinx Organization. Featuring musical excerpts from a live performance by critically-acclaimed chamber orchestra, the Sphinx Virtuosi, and stories told by the musicians, leaders, and educators whose lives have been changed by Sphinx.  It also explores the pivotal role Sphinx has played in expanding diversity in the arts.


The Sphinx Virtuosi stand for applause while on tour.

Scott Jackson

From the Top celebrates the Sphinx

Famous folks born in October.  Kate Winslet, Charlton Heston, Carrie Fisher, Julie Andrews.

October Birthdays

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

This week’s episode of Saturday Cinema, with host Lynne Warfel, celebrates famous folks’ birthdays in the month of October including Charlton Heston, Julie Andrews and Carrie Fisher. Listen now!


Saturday Cinema

Staff

Jeff Lunden

In 2014, a study found that only 1.4% of orchestra musicians were Black. In 2022, it's hard to know if that number is better or worse.


Jessica Rinaldi/Boston Globe/Getty Images

Where are the Black musicians in the country's largest orchestras?

Rhapsody in Black - Jimi Hendrix

Guitar virtuoso Jimi Hendrix has many similarities to violin virtuoso Niccolò Paganini. Both were charismatic, had international success and both had a love for classical music. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast. 


Rhapsody in Black - Hendrix

The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Child (Slight Return) (Live In Maui, 1970)

The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Purple Haze - LIVE (1967)

Nigel Kennedy plays a barnstorming version of Jimi Hendrix’s “Purple Haze”

Evening Standard/Getty Images

Guitar virtuoso Jimi Hendrix had a love for classical music

Jeffrey Yelverton is a digital producer of classical music for Minnesota Public Radio and American Public Media. He supports the digital portfolio of MPR/APM by creating original content and providing production support for YourClassical Storytime, New Classical Tracks and various seasonal events.


Digital Producer, Classical

Jeffrey Yelverton

Halloween is steeped in superstition. From the eerie, the strange and even the paranormal, the season can leave some people on edge. This Halloween, enjoy six spooky classical works from or inspired by scary Hollywood classics. 


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