Poster Dirk Meyer
Dirk Meyer is the music director and conductor of the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra.
Brian Rauvola
Birge's Picks

Across the centuries, across the sea, across the galaxy

Three great events kick off a new fall season in Minnesota:

  • The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra welcomes the return of Baroque master Richard Egarr, who sets his sights not only on Vivaldi but further back in time to 16th-century Venice with Giovanni Gabrieli, ahead to 19th-century Vienna with Ludwig van Beethoven, and a modern cross-current on Italian Baroque with Michael Tippett. Catch our live broadcast Saturday night on YourClassical MPR.

  • The Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra opens its season with “Across the Modern Sea,” including a delightful trip to Scotland by Anna Clyne and Amy Beach’s Gaelic Symphony. Conductor Dirk Meyer celebrates his 10th anniversary with the orchestra exactly the way he began, with Orion Weiss performing Edvard Grieg’s Piano Concerto.

  • This last one is sold out, but if you’re lucky enough to get a turned-in ticket, George Takei speaks at the House of Hope Sunday Series in St. Paul. The Star Trek actor, composer and activist shares the story of his family’s forced internment as Japanese Americans during World War II.

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Latest Birge's Picks Episodes

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Latest Birge's Picks Episodes

Defying gravity and defying the odds

Defying gravity and defying the odds

This week on Birge’s Picks, watch recent films and documentaries about some of the figures who have defied the odds in classical music, both at home and in the cinema. Find out more!

Small is beautiful

Small is beautiful

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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!

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Anything you can sing

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A time to sing

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New season, new perspectives

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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!

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