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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!


Provided

Listen: St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and the Singers perform Handel's 'Messiah' for Easter

Lynne Warfel explores scores from epic movies, biblical and otherwise — including the music from Ben-Hur, Cleopatra, The Ten Commandments and The Bridge on the River Kwai. Listen now.

Epic, Biblical and Otherwise

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 8, 2023, episode of Saturday Cinema, host Lynne Warfel explores scores from epic movies, biblical and otherwise — including the music from ‘Ben-Hur,’ ‘Cleopatra,’ ‘The Ten Commandments’ and ‘The Bridge on the River Kwai.’ Listen now.


Epics, Biblical and Otherwise

Friday Favorites - 04072023

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

On this episode of Friday Favorites, for April 7, 2023, host Steve Staruch plays North Dakota State University’s recording of Handel’s Messiah, and Les in Golden Valley gets his request for a Mozart aria. And choral teacher Jacob Barsness joins as Project DJ co-host Jacob Barsness.


James Napoli/APM

Friday Favorites: NDSU's 'Messiah,' a Mozart aria and Project DJ co-host Jacob Barsness

Olivia Hampton

Barry Gordemer

Thomas Bangalter, formerly of French electronic music duo Daft Punk, has released a classical music album: the score to a ballet titled ‘Mythologies’ that draws on American minimalism and Baroque works.


Jean-Claude Carbonne/Biz 3

From Daft Punk to ballet: Thomas Bangalter makes full swing to classical

Song of Joy: The Mendelssohns

John Birge has been hosting, producing and performing classical music for more than 25 years. Since 1997, he has been hosting on Minnesota Public Radio's Classical Music Service. He played French horn for the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestra and performed with them on their centennial tour of Europe in 1995. He was trained at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Eastman School of Music and Interlochen Arts Academy.


John Birge

Join John Birge in this joyful hour of music for chorus and orchestra that captures the spirit of Easter and the rebirth of spring. ‘Song of Joy: The Mendelssohns’ features choral settings by siblings Fanny and Felix Mendelssohn, showcasing their enormous talent and culminating with a festive ‘Hymn of Praise’ based on Psalms and other biblical texts.


Bettmann

New Classical Tracks (Extended) - Karlos Rodriguez 

New Classical Tracks - Karlos Rodriguez

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 Catalyst Quartet delves into rarely recorded music by composers Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, William Grant Still and George Walker. 


Catalyst Quartet uncovers more musical gems in latest 'Uncovered' release

Jon Hamilton

Art can make the brain's wiring stronger, more flexible and ready to learn, say the authors of a new book, Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us.


DrAfter123/Getty Images

Building a better brain through music, dance and poetry

Celebrating the films and folks who make us laugh for April fools' Day 2023.

Playing the Fool

Enjoy a celebration of films and the folks in them who make us laugh. Great screen comedies and their music include Some Like It Hot, Chaplin, Jack Lemmon films, Dr. Strangelove, The Pink Panther, It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World  and a lot more. Lynne Warfel hosts.


Friday Favorites - 03312023

On this episode of Friday Favorites, for March 31, 2023, guest host Steve Seel plays a dedication to Minneapolis organist Daniel Chorzempa. Kathy in Cottage Grove requests a family favorite by Rossini, and Theresa gets her request for a tasty polka. 


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