Friday Favorites - Sept. 6, 2024

Steve Staruch can be heard on Classical Minnesota Public Radio on Monday mornings and at other times during the week. 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, New York. 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

It was a bit of everything (with a kitchen sink also thrown in) on the latest episode of ‘Friday Favorites.’ Listen now with host Steve Staruch!


James Napoli/APM

Friday Favorites: Listener requests for the beginning of September

Extra Eclectic - Sept. 4, 2024

On this episode of ‘Extra Eclectic,’ host Steve Seel has more from the 2024 BBC Proms festival, including ‘Stravaganza’ — a new work by Karl Jenkins written for saxophonist Jess Gillam — and an adventurous piece by Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho. Listen now!


Raphael Gaillarde/Getty Images

Modern music thrives at the Proms

New Classical Tracks (Extended Interview) - Jan Volger

New Classical Tracks - September  4, 2024

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 sharing behind-the-scenes stories about a new release each week. It airs locally at 7:15 a.m. and 5 p.m. Wednesdays and at 9 a.m. on Saturdays.


Julie Amacher

On this week’s episode of ‘New Classical Tracks,’ cellist Jan Vogler presents the world premiere recording of the Cello Concerto by Enrique Casals, as well as a more familiar one, on his latest album. Listen now!


Zayrha Rodriguez/NPR

Jan Vogler performs rare cello concerto on latest recording

YourClassical Storytime - Fall in Love With Your Brain

Let’s celebrate all the amazing things your brain does for you! See how well you and your brain work together in Minnesota Neuropsychology’s ‘Fall in Love With Your Brain’ — the latest episode of YourClassical Storytime, with narration by Valerie Kahler and music by Ludwig Thuille.


Minnesota Neuropsychology

‘Fall in Love With Your Brain’

Saturday Cinema - Aug. 31, 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

On this episode of ‘Saturday Cinema,’ guest host Scott Blankenship celebrates August birthdays in the world of film, including Jerome Moross, Peter O’Toole, Billie Burke, Alfred Hitchcock, Maureen O’Hara, Gene Kelly and more. 


Great actresses of the 30s, 40s and 50s with guest host Bonnie North

Friday Favorites - Aug. 30, 2024

Project DJ co-host Abby Bormann wowed the crowd at the State Fair presenting the best that ‘Friday Favorites’ had to offer! Listen now with host Steve Staruch!


Provided

Friday Favorites: Listener requests with Project DJ co-host Abby Bormann at the Minnesota State Fair

The music is exultant on this week’s show, as host Steve Seel brings us John Adams’ ‘Hallelujah Junction’ and we visit the 2024 BBC Proms Festival for a live recording of Wynton Marsalis’ ‘Herald, Holler and Hallelujah.’ Listen now!


Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images

Getting in the spirit

New Classical Tracks (extended interview) - Danish String Quartet

New Classical Tracks - Danish String Quartet

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 2025, she became the host of Performance Today, America’s most popular classical music radio program. In addition to classical music, other passions include sewing, singing and cooking.  She shares her life with her partner, John, an artist.


Valerie Kahler

On this week’s episode of ‘New Classical Tracks,’ the Danish String Quartet goes traditional with the acclaimed ensemble’s third collection of folk songs, ‘Keel Road.’ Listen now with guest host Valerie Kahler.


Caroline Bittencourt/ECM

Danish String Quartet serves up its third collection of folk songs with 'Keel Road'

Saturday Cinema - Aug. 24, 2024

August birthdays with guest host Scott Blankenship

Friday Favorites - Aug. 23, 2024

The Minnesota Winds is a new professional concert band. The founders, Meagan Bachmayer and Katherine Bergman, joined Steve Staruch to talk about their commitment and passion for the ensemble on the latest episode of ‘Friday Favorites.’  


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