Explore new recordings with top performers and host Julie Amacher
The power of the arts lies in the imagination of artists like Osvaldo Golijov and cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Their creative minds -- combined with those in the Brooklyn-based ensemble, The Knights -- helped to create the wonder and the beauty found on a new recording named for Golijov's transcendent piece, 'Azul.'
Conductor Semyon Bychkov is currently on tour celebrating the music of Peter Tchaikovsky. Bychkov recently released the first in a new series of recordings entitled 'The Tchaikovsky Project.'
Howard Shore has recorded and composed music for about 80 films, including for the massive trilogy, 'The Lord of the Rings.' These days, Shore is writing more concert music. Shore's new recording features two of them, including a piano concerto on which Lang Lang is the soloist.
One of the greatest violinists of our time, Anne-Sophie Mutter, is celebrating her 40th anniversary as a performer. Much of the repertoire she has performed over the past 20 years or so appears on a new two-CD compilation titled 'Mutterissimo'. It's on New Classical Tracks for April 19, 2017.
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the landslide disaster in Aberfan, Wales, that claimed the lives of 116 children and 28 adults, composer Karl Jenkins was commissioned to create the 'Cantata Memoria.' The work is written in two parts: the first tells the story of the tragedy itself, and the second is a journey from darkness to light.
Canadian pianist Jan Lisiecki recently released his fifth recording, which features some rarely heard works for piano and orchestra by Chopin.
This week on New Classical Tracks, Bela Fleck reflects on his second banjo concerto, which he named for his son, Juno. Fleck recorded the work with the Colorado Symphony, led by conductor Jose Luis Gomez. Hear more about the new recording and enter for a chance to win a copy of the CD.
Pianist Piotr Anderszewski took a sabbatical to find that inspiration, spending his days walking around Warsaw with a camera. Ultimately, the time off inspired Anderszewski's latest recording, 'Fantaisies.' Hear about the new album and enter for a chance to win a copy of the CD.
The Minnesota Orchestra, led by Osmo Vanska, have released a recording of the Kullervo Symphony, composed by Vanska's fellow countryman, Jean Sibelius. It's one of three works on a new live recording featuring all Finnish composers. Learn more about the new recording, and enter for a chance to win a copy of the CD.
Last spring, the Cypress String Quartet capped off their 20-year career by inviting a few friends and fans to join them at this legendary studio for the making of their live, farewell recording of Johannes Brahms String Sextets.
Host Julie Amacher provides an in-depth exploration of a new classical music release each week.
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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.
