Classical Music Features from Minnesota Public Radio

New Classical Tracks: Young performers revive youthful works by Mendelssohn, Haydn

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:38:01 -0500

According to violinist Gil Shaham, performing Mendelssohn's Octet with the skilled musicians of Sejong Soloists is "like playing basketball with seven Michael Jordans." Gil Shaham recently released a new recording with the New York-based Sejong Soloists, a conductor-less string orchestra.

Minnesota Orchestra plays at the Proms

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 17:39:39 -0500

The Minnesota Orchestra has just finished a big concert. They just played a huge symphony, Bruckner's 4th, in a huge hall at what might be the most famous festival in the world -- the BBC Proms. Classical MPR host Brian Newhouse tells us what it was like.

Regional Spotlight: Brooklyn Rider

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 10:39:32 -0500

Genre-defying string quartet Brooklyn Rider returns for the 5th annual Stillwater Music Festival as well as a gig at the MPR booth at the State Fair. They'll also join Alison Young to co-host Regional Spotlight Thursday at 3:15 on Classical MPR. Listen on-line now to Dvorak, Gomidas and an original composition.

New Classical Tracks: In Memory of a Friend

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 08:51:47 -0500

Jon Lord, of Deep Purple fame, is also an orchestral composer. His newest disk is dedicated to a late friend: the lawyer and author Sir John Mortimer.

Music@Menlo free downloads

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Music@Menlo's first-ever free downloads! Check out music from three of seven concerts we'll be bringing you, with music ranging from Antonio Vivaldi to Johannes Brahms to Arnold Schoenberg. More audio arrives in September.

New Classical Tracks: Finding the Soul of the Fiddle... or Is It a Violin?

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 10:27:44 -0500

Classical violin playing and Irish fiddling come together in this new CD from Kevin Burke, whose credentials include training in both styles.

Metropolitan Ballet dances Carmen and celebrates life of Nijinsky

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 05:08:31 -0500

The Metropolitan Ballet opens the season this Sunday with a performance of Carmen and a new work to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Ballets Russes.

Regional Spotlight: From Age to Age

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 11:32:44 -0500

From Age to Age is a vocal ensemble from Northern Minnesota that attains to change the world one concert at a time. You'll feel changed listening to their spiritually uplifting concert recording online.

New Classical Tracks: Cathedral of Sound: Angele Dubeau plays Arvo Part

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 08:53:05 -0500

"Arvo Part: Portrait" is Angele Dubeau's newest CD with her ensemble La Pieta.

Regional Spotlight: Yefim Bronfman

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 11:40:01 -0500

Yefim Bronfman gives a sparkling performance of Tchaikovsky's Piano Sonata from a Schubert Club recital earlier this year. Listen online.

New Classical Tracks: A Jazzy Take on Gershwin

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 14:02:29 -0500

Jean-Yves Thibaudet's new CD presents classic Gershwin pieces in their rarely heard jazz-band arrangements. The result is a disc of effervescent summer listening.

Regional Spotlight: Susan Graham

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500

If you're looking for a gorgeous and relaxing soundtrack for a beautiful mid-summer day, look no further - listen online to "America's favorite mezzo-soprano" Susan Graham sing French chanson.

New Classical Tracks: Cello Concertos, Classic and Contemporary

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:31:31 -0500

On a new disc, Antonio Meneses offers the two cello concertos by Haydn, along with a new work: a "little concerto" with a distinctive Brazilian flavor.

Music that brings out the dramatic

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Guthrie Theater Artistic Director Joe Dowling co-hosts this Saturday sharing the classical music that has ties to plays he's directed as well as a few favorites that live on his iPod perpetually. You can listen to him share his favorite tunes online.

Regional Spotlight: Imogen Cooper

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:23:35 -0500

Listen on-line to a deeply emotional performance of Bach by one of England's best pianists.