It doesn’t take long for visitors to realize that Austin, Minnesota, and Hormel Foods go together well. But there’s another link between the founding Hormel family, its well-endowed foundation and the city: music.


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Beyond Spam: Hormel family's musical legacy thrives to this day

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Nottage, the only woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama twice, has a new play on Broadway, an opera at Lincoln Center and a Michael Jackson musical opening soon.


Jenny Anderson/Getty Images for CAA

Two-time Pulitzer winner Lynn Nottage turns a triple play in New York City

What is it about opera that makes us believe or feel it’s not accessible or enjoyable for us all? Writer Rebecca Garrett got a surprising reaction when she sang an aria at a recent karaoke night.  


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Why are people frightened by opera?

Saxophonist Tony Malaby, unlucky at the beginning of the pandemic after catching a very early case of the virus — the subsequent isolation imposed on his playing led him to a unique solution.


Randy Thaler

Saxophonist Tony Malaby's unlikely pandemic practice space: the New Jersey Turnpike

Classical Kids Storytime - 'El Violín de Ada'

Classical Kids Storytime - 'Ada's Violin'

Ada Ríos soñaba con tocar el violín. Sin embargo, ella creció con poco dinero en un pequeño pueblo de Paraguay construido sobre un vertedero. ¿Cómo pudo cumplir su sueño? Disfruta de la historia verdadera de la Orquesta Reciclada de Cateura, Paraguay, una orquesta compuesta por niños que tocan instrumentos construidos con basura reciclada, en el episodio más reciente de YourClassical Storytime, “El Violín de Ada,” narrado por Inés Guanchez en español e inglés.


YourClassical Storytime

Simon & Schuster 

'El Violín de Ada'

Share the joys of the music you love with young listeners through YourClassical Storytime — classic stories with a classical twist!


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Pablo de Sarasate - Airs Ecossais

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Violinist Daniel Hope embarks on his most creative project to date

Clarinetist Anthony McGill and pianist Gloria Chien are 'Here With You'

Pianist Víkingur Ólafsson wants to change how we think about Mozart 

New Classical Tracks: Most coveted releases of 2021

Lute and Viola Da Gamba Duo Ronn McFarlane and Carolyn Surrick Celebrate the Holidays

The Knights celebrate the holiday season with a Christmas album

Pianist Emanuel Ax makes music with lifelong friend Yo-Yo Ma

Conductor John Jeter continues to celebrate the works of Florence Price

Musical siblings Sheku and Isata Kanneh-Mason debut their first duo album

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Classic Piano Puzzler - January 19, 2022

Here is the classic Piano Puzzler, an exclusive bonus for subscribers to the Piano Puzzler newsletter from Performance Today.


Classic Piano Puzzler for Jan. 19, 2022

Things heat up this week on Birge’s Picks with performances around Minnesota that are sure to keep you warm during the cold winter months.


Wikipedia

Romance is in the air

Minnesota Orchestra - January 14, 2022

Minnesota Orchestra - January  7, 2022

The Minnesota Orchestra wrapped up its Sibelius Festival last weekend with two more symphonies and the revised 1905 version of Jean Sibelius’ Violin Concerto, featuring violinist Elina Vähälä. Listen to the concert now.


Courtesy the Artist

Listen: Elina Vähälä performs Sibelius' Violin Concerto

Are you a young performer, 14 to 24, who would like to co-host Friday Favorites with Steve Staruch? Apply now to be considered for YourClassical MPR's Project DJ!


James Napoli/MPR

Apply now to appear on YourClassical MPR's Project DJ

South West German Radio Vocal Ensemble; Marcus Creed, conductor

Richard Strauss - Two Songs: Der Abend

Welcome to the Choral Stream Download, a handpicked, free, downloadable piece of choral music available every week for subscribers to the Choral Stream newsletter. This week, get a free MP3 of Richard Strauss - Two Songs: Der Abend.


Naxos

Choral Stream Download

YourClassical Adventures: Episode 68 - Xuefei Yang

Xuefei Yang: Romance de Amor

Xuefei Yang: Shuo Chang

Xuefei Yang: Flower Drum

A pioneer is someone who begins or creates something new and prepares the way for others to follow. In this week’s episode of YourClassical Adventures, we talk about guitar pioneer Xuefei Yang.


Episode 68 - Xuefei Yang

NPR's Scott Simon speaks to Tamara Rojo, the new artistic director of the San Francisco Ballet, about her vision for the role.


Beyond Spam: Hormel family's musical legacy thrives to this day

Pablo de Sarasate - Airs Ecossais

Pablo de Sarasate - Airs Ecossais

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