Check out photos from Bring the Sing in Moorhead on April 27

From the first performance of ‘Porgy and Bess,’ George Gershwin stipulated the opera had to feature an all-Black cast, not white performers in blackface. This benefitted Black opera singers, but their fear was being typecast. Find out more in the ‘Rhapsody in Black’ podcast.

This week on ‘Extra Eclectic,’ we kick off Women’s History Month with a celebration of how women composers are at the forefront of the present in classical music. Steve Seel brings us two hours of music from Missy Mazzoli, Anna Thorvaldsdottir, Tania Leon and more. Listen now!

A century after its premiere, Howell’s 'Lamia’ receives its first performance by the Minnesota Orchestra in a program featuring music by Mahler and Britten, as well as soprano Julia Bullock. Listen to the live broadcast with host Melissa Ousley at 8 p.m. Friday, March 7, on YourClassical MPR.

On the latest episode of ‘New Classical Tracks,’ with host Julie Amacher, pianist Simone Dinnerstein combines Charles Ives’ ‘Concord Sonata’ with her father’s most famous painting to create her latest recording, ‘The Eye Is the First Circle.’ Listen now!

Three Class Notes Artists — Paper Clips, Steam Machine and Wood N’ Wind — will perform in free concerts across Minnesota this spring. These public events will take place in Grand Rapids, Luverne, Granite Falls and Ely starting March 7.

This week on Birge’s Picks, choose from a wide offering of vocal performances as the Bach Society of Minnesota, the Choral Arts Ensemble, soprano Julia Bullock and more present exciting concerts across the state. Find out more!

This week on ‘Saturday Cinema,’ host Lynne Warfel hightlights Welsh actors, filmmakers and more in celebration of St. David’s Day. Also, hear a special tribute to Gene Hackman in the second hour of the show. Listen now!

The Project DJ co-host this week is Ben Shermock. He took his first voice lesson two years ago, and it changed the trajectory of his life. Hear Ben’s story — and your requests, too — on this week’s episode of ‘Friday Favorites.’ Listen now with host Steve Staruch!

When William Dawson was 12, he ran away from home to study music at the Tuskeegee Institute. In 1930, he returned to his roots as director of the Tuskeegee School of Music, a post he held for 25 years. Find out more in the ‘Rhapsody in Black’ podcast.

This week’s episode of ‘Extra Eclectic’ showcases a host of modern classical works featuring instruments picked, plucked and strummed — including the guitar, harp, theorbo (a kind of giant bass lute) and more. Listen now with host Steve Seel!