Poster Steve Seel
Steve Seel
MPR

SymphonyCast®

With Steve Seel

Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra

Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra

Violinist Frank-Peter Zimmermann joins the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra and conductor Jakub Hrusa for a program of Czech works, including the Rhapsody No. 1 by Bela Bartok.

Minnesota Orchestra

Minnesota Orchestra

Pianist Orion Weiss joins the Minnesota Orchestra and conductor Osmo Vanska to play Frederic Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2. Also, two contrasting classical era symphonies by Haydn and Saint-Georges.

Buffalo Philharmonic

Buffalo Philharmonic

JoAnn Falletta leads the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra in a concert featuring legendary composer Danny Elfman's brand-new violin concerto.

Oregon Symphony

Oregon Symphony

Spanish guitarist Pablo Sainz Villegas joins the Oregon Symphony to perform a romantic guitar concerto based on piano pieces by the Spanish composer Isaac Albeniz.

Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra

Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra

The humor and fervor of Beethoven's eighth symphony follows two emotional works by contemporary composers Missy Mazzoli and Jimmy Lopez--all played by the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra.

Argovia Philharmonic

Argovia Philharmonic

Pianist Jan Lisiecki plays Grieg's Piano Concerto for conductor Rune Bergmann's inaugural concert with the Argovia Philharmonic. And, music for the birds! The Cantus Articus – Concerto for Birds and Orchestra – by Einojuhani Rautavaara.

Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra

Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra

Beethoven’s third piano concerto inspires a response from composer Caroline Shaw - Watermark. Hear both concertos performed by Jonathan Biss with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra.

Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra

Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra

Conductor JoAnn Falletta leads the Buffalo Philharmonic and violinists Tessa Lark and Nikki Chooi in two show-stoppers for violin: Vivaldi's The Four Seasons and Piazzolla's The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires.

Houston Symphony Orchestra

Houston Symphony Orchestra

The Houston Symphony presents a concert featuring fantastic film scores and Tchaikovsky’s demanding Violin Concerto.

Geneva Chamber Orchestra

Geneva Chamber Orchestra

In her debut with the Geneva Chamber Orchestra, conductor Marzena Diakun leads the group in a quartet of pieces that explore a wide range of emotions and technical expertise. And, cellist Gautier Capucon plays two cello favorites.

About SymphonyCast®

The Show

SymphonyCast®, with host Steve Seel, is a two-hour weekly radio program featuring a full-length concert by a major orchestra. Material is drawn from Europe’s premier symphony orchestras, along with U.S. orchestras such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Nashville Symphony and the Cleveland Orchestra.

Our Host

Steve Seel

Steve Seel possesses a broad knowledge of many musical genres, having hosted radio programs ranging from classical to jazz and even avant-garde music at radio stations around the country. Steve began his love affair with public radio at 24 working whatever shifts he could at his hometown station of WUSF-FM in Tampa, Florida, and from there worked his way to snowy Buffalo, New York, and its renowned classical station WNED-FM, where he hosted middays and the weekly experimental-music show Present Tense. In 2005, Steve became one of the founding voices on Minnesota Public Radio's eclectic station, the Current. While there, he hosted afternoons and mornings, and conducted in-depth interviews with pop music luminaries ranging from Brian Eno to David Byrne to Tori Amos. Steve is a basement composer obsessed with all things both minimalist and slow, and might actually be incapable of writing anything that exceeds 75 beats-per-minute.

The Team

Daniel Nass, Producer

Daniel Nass is the producer of SymphonyCast®. He is responsible for creating the sound of the show, including choosing music programming and conducting artist interviews. In his nonproducer life, he is an avid runner and an award-winning composer.

Michael Osborne, Technical Director

Michael "Ozzie" Osborne is the Technical Director for SymphonyCast®. He masters the live and recorded music recordings that are programmed for each SymphonyCast® show. He also enjoys photography, listening to music and bicycling.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the name of the composer, performer or piece I heard on the show?

Complete playlist information is available for each show. Click on a specific episode to access a detailed playlist.

What is the theme music at the beginning of every SymphonyCast® episode?

It’s the opening trumpet fanfare from Steve Heitzeg’s Nobel Symphony.

Can I buy a recording of music I heard on your show?

It’s possible, but not likely. Many of the performances that you hear on SymphonyCast® are not available for purchase because they were played at a live concert. In some cases, the musicians have recorded that same music for a commercial CD. If so, album title and recording label information will be available in the episode playlist.

How do I leave a comment?

Use our contact form to send us your thoughts.