Friday favorites - 05122023

On this episode of Friday Favorites, for May 12, 2023, with host Steve Staruch, Michael in Eagan requests ‘Amazing Grace’ played by Lara Downes. Daniel in Northfield hears his request for Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 2. Also, Project DJ co-host Adeline Smidt talks about her love of traveling, languages and tutoring.


Friday Favorites: Amazing Grace, Shostakovich and Project DJ co-host Adeline Smidt

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

Rhapsody in Black - Aaron Dworkin

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

American violinist and music educator Aaron Dworkin saw a need to diversify classical music and made it his life’s work. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast. 


Courtesy of the artist

Aaron Dworkin has cultivated a community through music

Listen to the Story

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Anastasia Tsioulcas

In 2022, composers Rhiannon Giddens and Michael Abels brought a true story to the opera stage: the life of Omar Ibn Said, a Senegalese Muslim scholar who was enslaved and brought to the Carolinas. This week, it won the 2023 Pulitzer Prize in Music.


Leigh Webber/Courtesy of Spoleto Festival USA

Thoroughly American opera 'Omar' wins Pulitzer Prize

New Classical Tracks - Nicholas Cords (Extended)

New Classical Tracks - Nicholas Cords

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, Brooklyn Rider violist Nicholas Cords discusses the themes and opportunities involved in the group’s latest album, ‘The Wanderer.’ 


Erin Baiano

Brooklyn Rider creates music out of opportunity

Brandon Gates

The celebrated singer, who led an illustrious, jet-setting  career, broke the color barrier as the first Black artist to perform at Germany's Bayreuth Festival.


Erich Auerbach/Getty Images

Trailblazing opera star Grace Bumbry dies at age 86

Celebrating Cinco de Mayo

Ines Guanchez is an assistant digital producer for classical. An accomplished pianist, she founded Dúo Ávila with fellow Venezuelan violinist Sofia Schutte. The ensemble focuses on music by composers outside of the classical canon and has performed in venues in Minnesota and Costa Rica. She graduated from the University of Minnesota with master’s degrees in mass communications and piano performance. She previously interned for Minnesota Public Radio in 2018.


Ines Guanchez

Explore the historical and cultural roots of Cinco de Mayo as we celebrate Mexican and Chicano heritage through music in the American Public Media special ‘Celebrating Cinco de Mayo,’ with host Ines Guanchez.


Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Celebrating Cinco de Mayo: A celebration of Mexican and Chicano heritage

Saturday Cinema- Mother's Day

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

This week’s episode of Saturday Cinema, with host Lynne Warfel, features music to celebrate Mother’s Day from films such as Brave, The Sound of Music and Alien. Listen now!


Mother's Day

Rhapsody in Black - Edmond Dede

Composer Edmond Dédé is a free Creole of color conductor and violinist from New Orleans. His music took him to Mexico, Algiers and France. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast. 


The Historic New Orleans Collection

Edmond Dédé is the first published Creole composer of color

Olivia Hampton

A Jean-Philippe Rameau opera, left unfinished at time of his death and recently completed by a musicologist, gets its premiere 280 years later, with extravagant costumes.


Keren Carrión/NPR

A forgotten opera by Jean-Philippe Rameau premieres 280 years late

New Classical Tracks - JoAnn Falletta (Extended)

New Classical Tracks - JoAnn Falletta

In this week’s New Classical Tracks, conductor JoAnn Falletta features the work of American composers Danny Elfman and Adolphus Hailstork on her latest recording. 


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