The SPCO

Listen to Classical MPR on April 3 at 10 a.m. for a Good Friday special: Belgian conductor Philippe Herreweghe leads a performance of Bach's St. Matthew Passion. Alison Young hosts the broadcast.

This week, the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra inaugurates a new chapter in its history. The SPCO stays at the Ordway in downtown St. Paul, but now they'll be playing in the brand-new Concert Hall -- a visually and acoustically striking space, specially designed to complement the sound and intimacy of a chamber orchestra. On Morning Glories, we'll join in the celebration with five SPCO performances, in recordings from the archive of Classical Minnesota Public Radio.

Join host Alison Young for a live broadcast on Saturday, Feb. 14, at 8 p.m., as the SPCO Chorale and Dale Warland return with a cast of talented soloists to present a program of works composed for orchestra and voice, including Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. Andrew Manze conducts.

The custom-designed, 1,100-seat hall will formally open Feb. 28. Until then, the orchestra will hold rehearsals and practice concerts so its acoustician can fine-tune the sound of the space.

Classical MPR Music Director Rex Levang takes a thoughtful look back at what transpired in the world of classical music during the year 2014.

While orchestras nationwide experienced a decline in ticket sales of more than 20 percent in the last decade, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra audience has increased by more than 40 percent.

Celebrate the holidays with one of classical music's most cherished works. Handel's "Messiah" continues to captivate generations of music lovers with iconic refrains from "Comfort ye, my people" to the "Hallelujah Chorus." The Basilica of Saint Mary provides the perfect setting to enjoy these sublime performances led by conductor Paul Agnew.

Acclaimed Moldovan violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja is known for looking for something new in compositions. MPR News Arts Reporter Euan Kerr spoke with Kopatchinskaja as she prepares to make her debut this weekend as an artistic partner with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra.

As the musicians came onto stage, I got to experience my kids' joy as they said, "Dad, there's a cello!" or, "Dad, I see a trombone!"

The Minnesota Orchestra's Norbert Nielubowski shares an up-close-and-personal look at the bassoon to help us better understand what some may consider an orchestral oddball. For starters, it's not an oboe.