Poster The SPCO onstage at the Ordway's Concert Hall
The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra performs in the inaugural concert at the Ordway's new Concert Hall on March 5, 2015.
MPR photo/Nate Ryan
The SPCO

SPCO Spotlight returns for another great season, Fridays at 9 a.m.

Every Friday in the 9 a.m. hour with host John Birge, we present our SPCO Spotlight, showcasing performances by the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra at various venues as recorded by Classical MPR.

We also carry occasional live broadcasts of the SPCO, with expertly presented audio from Classical MPR, at 8 p.m. Saturday (as scheduled).

Here are the amazing performances you'll hear in this season's SPCO Spotlight:

Oct. 2, 2020

Haydn: Oboe Concerto in C
Led by Francois Leleux
Francois Leleux, oboe soloist

(rec. Nov. 22, 2019, Ordway Concert Hall)


Oct. 9, 2020

Franz Schubert: Symphony No. 2
Led by Jeremy Denk

(rec. Sept. 15, 2019, Ordway Concert Hall)


Oct. 16, 2020

Ferenc Farkas: Serenade for Wind Quintet
Led by SPCO musicians
Soloists: Alicia McQuerrey, flute; Barbara Bishop, oboe; Rena Kraut, clarinet; Carole Mason Smith, bassoon; James Ferree, horn

(rec. Jan. 18, 2020, St. Paul's United Church of Christ, St. Paul)


Oct. 23, 2020

Franz Joseph Haydn: Cello Concerto in C
Led by SPCO musicians
Soloist: Julie Albers, cello

(rec. Dec. 7, 2019, Ordway Concert Hall)


Oct. 30, 2020

John Corigliano: Voyage for Flute and Strings
Led by Chia-Hsuan Lin
Soloist: Alicia McQuerrey, flute

(rec. Dec. 1, 2019, Ordway Concert Hall)


Nov. 6, 2020

Franz Schubert: Overture in the Italian Style
Led by Francois Leleux

(rec. Nov. 22, 2019, Ordway Concert Hall)


Nov. 13, 2020

JS Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 2
Led by SPCO musicians
Soloists: Lynn Erickson, trumpet; Alicia McQuerrey, flute; Cassie Pilgrim, oboe; Eunice Kim, violin

(rec. Dec. 14, 2019, Ordway Concert Hall)


Nov. 20, 2020

Anatol Liadov: Eight Russian Folk Songs for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Horn, and Bassoon, Op 58
Led by SPCO musicians
Soloists: Alicia McQuerrey, flute; Barbara Bishop, oboe; Rena Kraut, clarinet; Carole Mason Smith, bassoon; James Ferree, horn

(rec. Jan. 18, 2020, St. Paul's United Church of Christ, Saint Paul)


Nov. 27, 2020

Stephen Prutsman: Color Preludes for String Orchestra
Led by Chia-Hsuan Lin, conductor

(rec. Dec. 1, 2019, Ordway Concert Hall)


Dec. 4, 2020

Georg Muffat: Sonata No. 5 from Armonico tributo
Led by Richard Egarr, conductor

(rec. Feb. 1, 2020, St. Paul's United Church of Christ, Saint Paul)


Dec. 11, 2020

Bela Bartok: Romanian Folk Dances
Led by SPCO musicians

(rec. Feb. 15, 2020, Ordway Concert Hall)


Dec. 18, 2020

Antonio Vivaldi: Four Seasons: Winter
Led by Richard Egarr, conductor
Soloist: Steven Copes, violin

(rec. Feb. 1, 2020, St. Paul's United Church of Christ, Saint Paul)


Jan. 1, 2021

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Symphony No. 29
Led by SPCO musicians

(rec. Feb. 15, 2020, Ordway Concert Hall)


Jan. 8, 2021

Dobrinka Tabakova: Such Different Paths
Led by SPCO musicians
Soloists: Kyu-Young Kim, violin; Eunice Kim, violin; Hyobi Sim, viola; Deanna Badizadegan, viola; Richard Belcher, cello; Sarah Lewis, cello; Zachary Cohen, double bass

(rec. Feb. 28, 2020, Ordway Concert Hall)


Jan. 15, 2021

Georges Enesco: Octet
Led by SPCO musicians

(rec. Feb. 15, 2020, Ordway Concert Hall)


Jan. 22, 2021

Antonio Vivaldi: Concerto for Violin and Three Violins in Echo, RV 552
Led by SPCO musicians
Soloists: Nina Tso-Ning Fan, violin; Maureen Nelson, violin; Daria T. Adams, violin; Rolf Haas, violin

(rec. Feb. 28, 2020, Ordway Concert Hall)


Jan. 29, 2021

Franz Joseph Haydn: Symphony No. 80
Led by SPCO musicians

(rec. Feb. 28, 2020, Ordway Concert Hall)

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Latest The SPCO Episodes

VIEW ALL EPISODES

Latest The SPCO Episodes

St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and the Singers perform Handel's 'Messiah'

St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and the Singers perform Handel's 'Messiah'

Join the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, guest conductor Patrick Dupré Quigley, vocal ensemble the Singers and an all-star roster of vocal soloists for the ensemble’s annual performance of George Frideric Handel’s Messiah. Listen to the live broadcast with host Steve Seel at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22, on YourClassical MPR.

Listen: Gabor Takacs-Nagy leads the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra season finale
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Listen: SPCO performs Handel's 'Messiah' with the Singers and all-star vocal roster
2:01:48
Listen: Takács-Nagy leads the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra in its season finale
1:55:04
Listen: St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and the Singers perform Handel's 'Messiah' for Easter
Listen: Violinist Joshua Bell and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra perform Bruch
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Listen: Conductor and violinist Pekka Kuusisto returns to lead the SPCO
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Conductor Richard Egarr returns to lead the SPCO

Conductor Richard Egarr returns to lead the SPCO

Richard Egarr returns to lead the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra in a delightful program of works from London, including pieces by Henry Purcell, William Lawes and Franz Joseph Haydn. Join host Steve Seel for YourClassical MPR’s live broadcast of the concert at 8 p.m. Saturday.

Listen: Xavier Foley brings 'For Justice and Peace' to the SPCO

Listen: Xavier Foley brings 'For Justice and Peace' to the SPCO

Composer and bassist Xavier Foley made his SPCO debut with a program that included his work ‘For Justice and Peace,’ a double concerto for violin and bass that marks 400 years since the arrival of the White Lion, the first ship that brought enslaved Africans to Virginia. Listen now.

1:19:16
Listen: Jeremy Denk joins the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra

Listen: Jeremy Denk joins the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra

Listen to YourClassical MPR’s broadcast of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra’s Oct. 30 concert, featuring pianist Jeremy Denk. The program included pieces by Mozart and a fiendishly difficult and zany string quartet by Sky Macklay.

1:24:25
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