Poster Strings for Peace
Sharon Isbin's latest release, 'Strings for Peace,' is a foray into Indian Classical music.
Zoho Music
Birge's Picks

World music and a world of music!

Gustav Mahler said, “A symphony must be like the world. It must contain everything.”  This weekend you can enter the world of Mahler’s Fifth Symphony with the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra.

You can experience other parts of the world with other orchestras this weekend. The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra performs Mendelssohn’s Scottish Symphony, the La Crosse Symphony Mendelssohn’s Italian and the Duluth-Superior Symphony takes you to the world of Porgy and Bess in Gershwin’s Catfish Row.

If you prefer something out of this world, there’s the South Dakota Symphony’s Sci-Fi Spectacular, with music from Star Wars, Star Trek, and Holst’s The Planets. And while Mozart’s Jupiter is named for the Roman god rather than the planet, it’s still a jovial time when the Minnesota Orchestra plays Mozart’s final symphonic masterpiece this weekend, including a live broadcast Friday night on YourClassical MPR.

Finally, it’s wonderful to welcome Sharon Isbin back home to Minnesota for a meeting of two musical worlds. Isbin, among the greatest classical guitarists, continues collaborating with the famous Indian musician Amjad Ali Khan. Isbin described their joint recording, Strings for Peace, on our New Classical Tracks feature. The improvised quality of this collaboration is perfect for the Minneapolis jazz club The Dakota, and they’ll perform there Wednesday and Thursday this week.

Love the music?

Donate by phone
1-800-562-8440

Show your support by making a gift to YourClassical.

Each day, we’re here for you with thoughtful streams that set the tone for your day – not to mention the stories and programs that inspire you to new discovery and help you explore the music you love.

YourClassical is available for free, because we are listener-supported public media. Take a moment to make your gift today.

More Ways to Give

Your Donation

$5/month
$10/month
$15/month
$20/month
$

Latest Birge's Picks Episodes

VIEW ALL EPISODES

Latest Birge's Picks Episodes

Small is beautiful

Small is beautiful

John Birge encourages us to find beauty in the smaller classical ensembles with exciting concerts across the state by chamber groups, including members of the Winona Symphony, Artaria Quartet and ProMusica Minnesota. Find out more!

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!

13:17
VIEW ALL EPISODES

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