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

This week on ‘SymphonyCast’ with host Steve Seel, Fabio Luisi leads the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra in a program of the familiar and the novel, including pianist Evgeny Kissin’s performance of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23. Listen now!


Stefan Hoderath

Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

Saturday Cinema - Jan. 27, 2024

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

As the first month of 2024 comes to an end, join Lynne Warfel in the latest episode of ‘Saturday Cinema’ for two hours of listeners' requests for their favorite film music, including selections by Erich Korngold, Leonard Bernstein and Max Steiner. Listen now!


January listener requests

Listen to the Story

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Scott Simon

NPR's Scott Simon asks mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade about her career and commitment to arts education. She has been inducted into the Opera Hall of Fame.


Photo courtesy of the Schubert Club

Frederica von Stade on being inducted into the Opera Hall of Fame

Anastasia Tsioulcas

H. Sinno, former lead singer of the pioneering Lebanese rock band Mashrou' Leila, pairs their own history with that of the Metropolitan Museum's Temple of Dendur in their new opera.


Derrick Kakembo /The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Derrick Kakembo        /The Metropolitan Museum of Art

An ancient Egyptian temple in New York inspires a Lebanese American musician

Friday Favorites - Jan. 26, 2024

Steve Staruch can be heard on Classical Minnesota Public Radio from 3 to 7 p.m. weekdays, including hosting Music with Minnesotans, Regional Spotlight and Friday Favorites. Prior to joining the staff of MPR in 2004, Steve presented a variety of radio programs on WCAL in Northfield, Minn., where he created an immensely popular call-in program, and on WXXI in Rochester, N.Y. Outside radio, Steve also enjoys work as a freelance tenor and violist. Steve and his wife, Naomi, enjoy traveling, gardening and hosting dinner parties.


Steve Staruch

Steve Staruch plays listener requests on the latest episode of ‘Friday Favorites,’ including Project DJ. This week’s guest co-host is violinist and entrepreneur Addison Nichols. Listen now!


Provided

Friday Favorites: Listener requests and Project DJ co-host Addison Nichols

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

Rhapsody in Black - Sheku Kenneh-Mason

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

At 19, Sheku Kanneh-Mason became the first Black musician to win BBC Young Musician of the Year. He continues to focus on what is most important to him: the music, the cello and music education. Find out more in the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.


Courtesy Decca Classics

Cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason is a young and promising classical music superstar 

MN Opera Daughter of the Regiment

MN Opera Daughter of the Regiment Performance Feature

The Minnesota Opera presents a laugh-out-loud hit, Donizetti’s ‘The Daughter of the Regiment.’ The romantic comedy includes the Duchess of Krakenthorp, a cameo role that has a storied history of portrayal by actors and public figures — played here by ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ winner Monét X Change. Listen to the performance now!


Minnesota Opera

Listen: Minnesota Opera presents Donizetti’s romantic comedy ‘The Daughter of the Regiment’ 

Extra Eclectic - Jan. 24, 2024

Is it real or in your mind? This week ‘Extra Eclectic’ explores the blurred lines between imagination and reality, with works from Nico Muhly, Paul Matthusen and Shulamit Ran. Listen now!


Gabler, Jay

Memory, Reality and Illusion

YourClassical MPR host Lynne Warfel and composer Peter Schickele (aka P.D.Q. Bach) host a live New Year's Eve radio party on Dec. 31, 1993. 

A Classic New Year's Eve Party - 1993

Randy Salas is the senior digital producer of classical music for Minnesota Public Radio and American Public Media. He oversees all classical digital content, including the website, social media, videos, e-newsletters and podcasts.


Senior Digital Producer, Classical

Randy Salas

Composer Peter Schickele, aka P.D.Q. Bach, died Jan. 16 at 88, leaving behind a legacy of musical brilliance, ingenuity and hilarity. He was a fixture at Minnesota Public Radio over the years, including co-hosting a fun 1993 New Year’s Eve radio party with Lynne Warfel. Listen now!


Listen to composer Peter Schickele's New Year's Eve radio party with Lynne Warfel

Kaddish: Reflections on the Holocaust in Music and Words

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

Jan. 27 marks International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Classical music host Mindy Ratner has gathered a collection of conversations with some of those touched directly by the Holocaust. Listen now to 'Kaddish: Reflections on the Holocaust in Music and Words.'


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