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

Rhapsody in Black - Andre Watts

Pianist André Watts made his debut at 16 when he was featured in a Young People’s Concert, with Leonard Bernstein conducting. Bernstein was blown away by the performance. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.


Pianist André Watts, a performer we all learned from

Triking with a tuba in tow, from delta to headwaters

Anyone in marching band who carried a tuba around had a more physically demanding job than most. Now, imagine pulling a tuba behind you while traveling the length of the Mississippi River — by tricycle. Jon Hodkin is a tuba player from Scotland and he’s in Minnesota nearing the end of just such a journey. He joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about why.


Courtesy of Jon Hodkin

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

Thursday night was the the super blue moon, and Extra Eclectic host Steve Seel continued his visits to the 2023 BBC Proms festival. Listen now.


Chuttersnap/Unsplash  

In space, no one can hear you — sing?

New Classical Tracks (Extended Interview) - Andre Dowell, Sphinx Virtuosi

New Classical Tracks - Andre Dowell Sphinx

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 Sphinx Virtuosi ensemble presents its debut album, ‘Songs for Our Times,’ featuring Black and Latin American composers, present and past.


Courtesy of the artist

Sphinx Virtuosi ensemble uplifts Black and Latin American composers on 'Songs for Our Times'

Watch as Minnesota Opera baritone Andrew Wilkowske takes us for a ride on the Great Big Wheel at the Minnesota State Fair! Opera's in the air, with ‘Deh, Vieni Alla Finestra’ from Mozart's ‘Don Giovanni.’


Seiji Cataldo/MPR

Opera's in the air at the Minnesota State Fair

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Tom Huizenga

Absent from the recording studio for more than a decade, the restless musician has commissioned six composers for his new album. 


Rob Davidson

Rob Davidson/Courtesy of the artist

After 12 years, pianist Awadagin Pratt rediscovers his sweet spot

March on Washington's 60th Anniversary - Steve Staruch and G. Phillip Shoultz III

The 60th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom is Monday, Aug. 28. Commemorations include a 6:30 p.m. concert at Northrop Auditorium at the University of Minnesota with a number of local artists and the Twin Cities Choral Consortium, led by G. Phillip Shoultz III. Steve Staruch spoke with him about the event. Listen now.


Agence France Presse/Getty Images

Minnesota concert celebrates 60th anniversary of the March on Washington

This week on SymphonyCast, host Steve Seel takes us once again to the BBC Proms, where award-winning pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason makes her solo debut. Plus principal conductor Ryan Bancroft and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales return with Tchaikovsky’s powerful Symphony No. 5. 


BBC Proms No. 22

Saturday Cinema - August 26, 2023

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

On this episode of Saturday Cinema, for Aug. 26, host Lynne Warfel plays listener requests for their favorite film scores.


Listener requests, Part 2

Lloyd Schwartz

Verdi imagined each of his operas painted with a different tincture. Conductor Riccardo Chailly puts together an exciting new album of Verdi's choruses, from his best known to his most obscure.


Listen

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