Poster Oscars statuette image
In this handout photo provided by A.M.P.A.S. Oscars statuettes are on display backstage during the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre on February 9, 2020 in Hollywood, California.
A.M.P.A.S. via Getty Images
Birge's Picks

An orchestral carnival

This may be the week of Mardi Gras, but compared with Fat Tuesday, this weekend is stuffed with great live orchestral music across the state.

The Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra gets into the Oscar spirit with “A Night at the Oscars,” featuring Oscar-winning soundtracks live on stage, with movie clips on the screen.

The Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra gets in the mood with a tribute to John Williams.

Among the most cinematic symphonies is the Shostakovich Leningrad Symphony, evoking the heroic struggle against Nazi Germany’s 872-day siege of Leningrad. Performed one night only in Sioux Falls by the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra.

It’s a world premiere at the Rochester Symphony for Jennifer Higdon’s Cold Mountain Suite, based on the opera by this Pulitzer Prize-winning composer.

And if you’re a Leonard Bernstein fan, you’ll have to make room for two great offerings. The St. Cloud Symphony has highlights from Chichester Psalms alongside Mendelssohn’s Reformation Symphony, while the Minnesota Orchestra pairs Bernstein’s Serenade with William Dawson’s Negro Folk Symphony.  You can hear that program broadcast live from Orchestra Hall this Friday night on YourClassical Minnesota Public Radio.

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Latest Birge's Picks Episodes

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Latest Birge's Picks Episodes

Grammy triple-whammy

Grammy triple-whammy

Looking to learn more about this year’s Grammy nominees? Look no further as Leonidas Kavakos performs Bach in St. Paul, Michelle Cann performs Price and Gershwin in Lacrosse, and Víkingur Ólafsson performs Bach in a video highlight for YourClassical. Find out more!

Young and younger

Young and younger

This week on Birge’s Picks, Duluth’s Matinee Musicale brings cellist Ifetayo Ali-Landing, former Performance Today Young Artist in Residence, to northern Minnesota, and the Vienna Boys Choir brings exciting performances to cities across the state. Find out more!

Anything you can sing

Anything you can sing

This week on Birge’s Picks, the LOON (Lyric Opera of the North) and the Minnesota Opera prepare exciting operas by Mozart, Hilliard and Gounod, featuring stories that range from comedies to tragedies. Find out more!

A time to sing

A time to sing

This week on Birge’s Picks, two excellent Minnesotan choral groups celebrate season openers. VocalEssence opens its 56th season in Arden Hills, and Choral Arts Ensemble celebrates its 40th anniversary in Rochester. Find out more!

New season, new perspectives

New season, new perspectives

This week on Birge’s Picks, ensembles across Minnesota and beyond begin exciting new seasons featuring music from Italy, the United States and elsewhere. Find out more!

Old friends and new seasons

Old friends and new seasons

This week on Birge’s Picks, old friends return to the Twin Cities for exciting performances, including violist Tabea Zimmermann and soprano Frederica von Stade. Find out more!

Sensible persons conversing

Sensible persons conversing

This week on Birge’s Picks, concerts featuring string quartets take place around Minnesota. Listen to performances from the Stringwood Chamber Music Festival, the Lakes Area Music Festival and the Duluth Chamber Music Festival. Find out more!

The best of all possible worlds

The best of all possible worlds

This week on Birge’s Picks, Minnesota is among the best of all possible worlds to be in for summer music festivals, with upcoming concerts by the Northern Lights Music Festival, the Minnesota Beethoven Festival and the Madeline Island Chamber Music Series. Find out more!

Puccini double play includes Out of the Box treat

Puccini double play includes Out of the Box treat

This week on Birge’s Picks, you can enjoy two of the three one-act operas from Giacomo Puccini’s ‘Il Trittico’ (‘The Triptych’) in exciting and innovative productions taking place in Minneapolis. Plus listen to a studio session with Out of the Box Opera. Find out more!

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Daddy’s Day edition

Daddy’s Day edition

This week on Birge’s Picks, Theater Latte Da presents its new adaptation of Giacomo Puccini’s ‘Gianni Schicchi’ and the Lyric Opera of the North presents its first production of ‘La Boheme’ in Duluth. Find out more!

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This activity is made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment‘s Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.