Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Schumann's Symphony No. 2 has moments of such gorgeous song -- though no words -- that the strings of the orchestra can feel for a moment like the world's greatest opera stars. Heart-melting music from Amsterdam.
Steve Seel
MPR
SymphonyCast®
With Steve Seel
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
The Dutch artist Janine Janson wins new fans whenever she puts her fiddle under her chin to play. She does it night after night in music capitols all over the world -- but the results are especially magical when she's back on home turf and playing with one of the world's greatest orchestras.
Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra
Jeremy Denk, one of the finest pianists on the stage today, is also a riot. His fascinating blog "Think Denk" provides an entertaining, alternative view of what many people think the life of a classical musician is all about.
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Though critics initally called it a fight between the violin and the orchestra, Brahms' Violin Concerto has proven to be one of the most beautiful - if challenging - works in the violinist's repertoire.
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
From the ominous opening solo trumpet call to the triumphant whirlwind of the final pages, Mahler's Fifth is a brilliant journey through the human experience, from loss to blazing light.
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
A rare beauty from the Czech master Martinu, and Brahms summing up his art in his final symphony -- performed by one of the world's great orchestras.
Los Angeles Philharmonic
The midwinter air takes a bright new light with the incandescent colors of Stravinsky's Firebird Suite in this performance from Los Angeles.
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
No piano concerto starts with an air of such hushed anticipation as Prokofiev's 2nd. A hot young talent at the piano, Alexander Gavrylyuk, makes this a very special concert.
Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra
A superstar violinist stretches his conducting wings...
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Johannes Moser may not be a household name yet, but the fact that this German artist is going to play Shostakovich's First Cello Concerto -- written for no one less than Rostropovich -- with arguably the world's greatest orchestra says it all.
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.