Poster Steve Seel
Steve Seel
MPR

SymphonyCast®

With Steve Seel

BBC Proms No. 6

BBC Proms No. 6

This week on SymphonyCast with host Steve Seel, the BBC Proms returns with the BBC Philharmonic and conductor Mark Wigglesworth performing music by Sergei Rachmaninoff and Gustav Mahler.

First night of the Proms (Prom No. 1)

First night of the Proms (Prom No. 1)

On SymphonyCast this week, the 2023 BBC Proms kicks off with a series of Nordic delights from Sibelius and Grieg. Also later in the program, we hear Britten’s ‘The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra’ and a world premiere from Ukrainian composer Bohdana Frolyak. Listen now with host Steve Seel.

Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra

Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra

On SymphonyCast with host Steve Seel, the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra brings us a remarkable combination of Czech and Russian music. The orchestra also is joined by pianist Martin Kasik, a regular guest performer.  

St. Paul Chamber Orchestra

St. Paul Chamber Orchestra

On SymphonyCast this week, violist Tabea Zimmermann leads the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. Listen with host Steve Seel to hear performances of music by Fanny and Felix Mendelssohn, and Johann Nepomuk Hummel.

BBC Philharmonic

BBC Philharmonic

On this week’s episode of SymphonyCast with host Steve Seel, conductor Nicholas Collon leads the BBC Philharmonic on an epic mountain journey in Richard Strauss’ ‘An Alpine Symphony.’ Also featured is a world premiere by Tom Coult and Alban Berg’s ‘Seven Early Songs,’ featuring soprano Francesca Chiejina.

Minnesota Orchestra

Minnesota Orchestra

This week on SymphonyCast, Gabriela Montero makes her Minnesota Orchestra debut, performing her own ‘Latin Piano Concerto,’ in a program featuring repertoire inspired by Spanish and Latin American musical traditions. Listen now with host Steve Seel.  

Nashville Symphony

Nashville Symphony

On this week’s episode of SymphonyCast with host Steve Seel, Grammy-nominated guest pianist Joyce Yang joins the Nashville Symphony for Grieg’s Piano Concerto. We also hear Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5 and Mussorgsky’s ‘A Night on Bald Mountain.’

NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra

NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra

This week on SymphonyCast, host Steve Seel presents the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra. Conductor Jukka-Pekka Saraste opens the concert with Esa-Pekka Salonen’s Baroque-inspired piece, ‘Fog.’ Later we’ll hear a piece that was a milestone in Nordic symphonic music, Jean Sibelius’ beloved Symphony No. 2.

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

This week on SymphonyCast, host Steve Seel features the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra as it welcomes violinist Leila Josefiwicz to the stage for the world premiere of Matthias Pintscher’s ‘Assonanza.’ Later, the orchestra shares a perennial favorite — Sergei Rachmaninoff’s ‘Symphonic Dances.’

Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra

Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra

This week on SymphonyCast, the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra is back with principal guest conductor Karina Canellakis leading the orchestra, with violinist Nicola Benedetti. Listen with host Steve Seel to the enthusiastic program, which features resurfaced favorites from Stravinsky and Scriabin.

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.

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