New Classical Tracks - Marc-André Hamelin (Extended)

New Classical Tracks - Marc-André Hamelin

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, pianist Marc-André Hamelin performs rags composed by William Bolcom in his new album. Enter for a chance to win the CD!


Courtesy of the artist

Marc-André Hamelin explores William Bolcom's piano rags in his new album

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Lloyd Schwartz

Though he never became a household name, many music lovers regard Szigeti, who died in 1973, as the greatest classical violinist in living memory. This new collection captures his early recordings.


Provided

New releases help cement the legacy of Hungarian violinist Joseph Szigeti 

Michel Martin

Cat Sposato

The pandemic placed competitive flamenco dancing on pause in Madrid. Now the passion and the intimacy of the artform are back on stage.


Olmo Calvo for NPR

At Madrid's Amor de Dios flamenco center, dancers are finding their rhythm again

Films with memorable July 4th scenes or summer memories.

THE Fourth of July.

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 flicks that have 4th of July scenes, or just give you that 4th of July feeling including ‘The Music Man,’ ‘1776’ and more. Listen now!


Unsplash/Ray Hennessey

The Fourth (of July)

Kevin Whitehead

Though he's been a New Yorker for over a decade, David Virelles remains preoccupied with the rich, rhythmically charged music of his native Cuba. His new album shows where he's been — and where he's going.


Courtesy of the Artist

Pianist David Virelles shows off the depth and breadth of what he can do on 'Nuna'

Tom Huizenga

Watch a world premiere performance of choral songs built on texts from important Washington women, from Kamala Harris and Condoleezza Rice to Eleanor Roosevelt, Elena Kagan and Abigail Adams. 


Bob Boilen/NPR

Essential Voices USA celebrates July Fourth with their Tiny Desk Concert

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

Rhapsody in Black - Lizzo

Singer, rapper and flutist Lizzo was introduced to music from an early age through church and marching band. Her love that the community marching band gave to her while growing up continually influences her music. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.


Singer, rapper and flutist Lizzo continues to shatter classical music stereotypes 

The Middle East and more

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

Composers from Turkey, Lebanon, Iran, and Syria.


June 29th Beethoven Festival Ray Chen Concert

Longtime music host and performer Andrea Blain presents classical music programming including national specials, opera and other live broadcasts and holiday programs. She also is part of a team that works on content and scripting for ‘Rhapsody in Black’ and has voiced several episodes of YourClassical Storytime.


Andrea Blain

Violinist Ray Chen and pianist Julio Elizalde came together to perform an exciting program at the Minnesota Beethoven Festival on Wednesday, June 29. Listen to the concert now on YourClassical MPR to enjoy works by Ludwig van Beethoven, Johannes Brahms, Pablo de Sarasate and more.


Photo: John Mac

Listen: Violinist Ray Chen, pianist Julio Elizalde perform at the Minnesota Beethoven Festival

Neda Ulaby

Vijay Gupta was a 19-year-old violin prodigy when he joined the LA Philharmonic. Now he runs Street Symphony, an organization bringing music to clinics, jails and homeless shelters on Skid Row.


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