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Ahmad Jamal was a pianist, composer and bandleader. His influence and admirers spread far and wide in jazz. In 1994, he was awarded a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master Fellowship.


Provided

Measured maestro of the jazz piano, Ahmad Jamal, dies at 92

Classical Programs - Saturday Cinema 5,6,7,8

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 the April 15, 2023, episode of ‘Saturday Cinema,’ host Lynne Warfel explores scores from movie musicals — including music from ‘The King and I,’ ‘Sound of Music,’ ‘West Side Story,’ ‘Showboat,’ ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ ‘Singin' in the Rain’ and ‘The Bandwagon.’ Listen now.


5, 6, 7, 8 — a celebration of movie musicals

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Jeff Lunden

On Sunday night the curtain will fall on the longest-running show in Broadway history: Andrew Lloyd Webber's mega hit ran for more than 35 years. "I got the gig of a lifetime," says one cast member.


Avery Brunkus

'Phantom of the Opera' takes a final Broadway bow after 13,981 performances

Olivia Hampton

Barry Gordemer

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. 


Keren Carrión/NPR

Music director goes public with a secret stash of private instruments

Lara Downes

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. 


Jazz trumpeter Terence Blanchard's unexpected path into the opera house 

Friday Favorites - 04142023

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.’


Friday Favorites: Guest host Bill Morelock, Suppe’s 'Queen of Spades' and Dvorak’s 'New World'

New Classical Tracks - Eric Whitacre (Extended)

New Classical Tracks - Eric Whitacre

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, Eric Whitacre collaborates with British vocal ensemble Voces8 on his latest album, ‘Home.’ 


Mark Royce/Courtesy of the Colburn School

Eric Whitacre wants you to feel at 'Home'

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

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. 


Evan Clark/MPR

Watch: Voces8 Scholars perform Minnesota composer Shruthi Rajasekar's 'Sat on the Shore'

Tom Vitale

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. 


Zenith Richards/Met Opera

'Champion' is not your grandmother's Metropolitan Opera

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!


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