The Havana Quartet is an ensemble that proudly represents the richness and diversity of Cuban culture. Made up of Hansel Pérez Carrero, Ana Caridad Frómeta, Amaya Fuentes Sarria and Denise Hernández Rabeiro, the group immigrated to the Twin Cities in 2023 and has since called Minnesota home.

The quartet joins host Vernon Neal in the Maud Moon Weyerhaeuser Studio at Minnesota Public Radio’s headquarters in St. Paul to talk about its origins in Cuba, its journey to Minnesota, and how the musicians’ Cuban roots show up in their lives as performers and teachers.

Watch the group’s performance of Cuban composer Miguel Matamoros’ Lágrimas Negras (Black Tears), arranged by Cuban composer Jenny Peña.

Video Segments:
00:00 Introduction
00:40 ‘Textura Vitral’ by Wilma Alba Cal
04:48 Interview with host Vernon Neal, part 1
10:39 ‘A Bayamo en Coche’ by Adalberto Álvarez arr. Jenny Peña
14:35 Interview with host Vernon Neal, part 2
29:12 ‘Lágrimas Negras’ by Miguel Matamoros, arr. Jenny Peña

Musicians:
Hansel Pérez Carrero – violin
Ana Caridad Frómeta – violin
Amaya Fuentes Sarria – viola
Denise Hernández Rabeiro – cello

Credits:
Guests – Hansel Pérez Carrero, Ana Caridad Frómeta, Amaya Fuentes Sarria, Denise Hernández Rabeiro
Host – Vernon Neal
Video Producer – Ines Guanchez
Video Editor – Evan Clark
Camera Operator – Evan Clark
Audio Engineer – Craig Thorson
Digital Producers – Ines Guanchez, Jenny Cvek-Walmsley

The Havana Quartet is an ensemble that proudly represents the richness and diversity of Cuban culture. Made up of Hansel Pérez Carrero, Ana Caridad Frómeta, Amaya Fuentes Sarria and Denise Hernández Rabeiro, the group immigrated to the Twin Cities in 2023 and has since called Minnesota home.

The quartet joins host Vernon Neal in the Maud Moon Weyerhaeuser Studio at Minnesota Public Radio’s headquarters in St. Paul to talk about its origins in Cuba, its journey to Minnesota, and how the musicians’ Cuban roots show up in their lives as performers and teachers.

Watch the group's performance of Cuban composer Wilma Alba Cal’s Textura Vitral (Stained Glass Texture).

Video Segments:
00:00 Introduction
00:40 ‘Textura Vitral’ by Wilma Alba Cal
04:48 Interview with host Vernon Neal, part 1
10:39 ‘A Bayamo en Coche’ by Adalberto Álvarez arr. Jenny Peña
14:35 Interview with host Vernon Neal, part 2
29:12 ‘Lágrimas Negras’ by Miguel Matamoros, arr. Jenny Peña

Musicians:
Hansel Pérez Carrero – violin
Ana Caridad Frómeta – violin
Amaya Fuentes Sarria – viola
Denise Hernández Rabeiro – cello

Credits:
Guests – Hansel Pérez Carrero, Ana Caridad Frómeta, Amaya Fuentes Sarria, Denise Hernández Rabeiro
Host – Vernon Neal
Video Producer – Ines Guanchez
Video Editor – Evan Clark
Camera Operator – Evan Clark
Audio Engineer – Craig Thorson
Digital Producers – Ines Guanchez, Jenny Cvek-Walmsley

The Havana Quartet is an ensemble that proudly represents the richness and diversity of Cuban culture. Made up of Hansel Pérez Carrero, Ana Caridad Frómeta, Amaya Fuentes Sarria and Denise Hernández Rabeiro, the group immigrated to the Twin Cities in 2023 and have since called it their home.

The quartet joins host Vernon Neal in the Maud Moon Weyerhaeuser Studio at Minnesota Public Radio’s headquarters in St. Paul to talk about their origins in Cuba, their journey to Minnesota, and how their Cuban roots show up in their lives as performers and teachers.

Video Segments:
00:00 Introduction
00:40 ‘Textura Vitral’ by Wilma Alba Cal
04:48 Interview with host Vernon Neal, part 1
10:39 ‘A Bayamo en Coche’ by Adalberto Álvarez arr. Jenny Peña
14:35 Interview with host Vernon Neal, part 2
29:12 ‘Lágrimas Negras’ by Miguel Matamoros, arr. Jenny Peña

Musicians:
Hansel Pérez Carrero – violin
Ana Caridad Frómeta – violin
Amaya Fuentes Sarria – viola
Denise Hernández Rabeiro – cello

Credits:
Guests – Hansel Pérez Carrero, Ana Caridad Frómeta, Amaya Fuentes Sarria, Denise Hernández Rabeiro
Host – Vernon Neal
Video Producer – Ines Guanchez
Video Editor – Evan Clark
Camera Operator – Evan Clark
Audio Engineer – Craig Thorson
Digital Producers – Ines Guanchez, Jenny Cvek-Walmsley

You voted for your favorite American composers as part of YourClassical’s American Composers Countdown. Now find out which ones our hosts love! Host Tom Crann’s favorite American composer is known for perfecting the sound of a wide open prairie, the wild west and even a country lane. Can you guess who it is?

In the newest episode of Classically Training, host Aerin O’Malley sits down with three composers to discuss how they write classical music. In this excerpt, she asks what they look like when they compose. To learn more, watch Classically Training, Episode 5 - “How do composers compose?”

In the newest episode of Classically Training, host Aerin O’Malley sits down with three composers to discuss how they write classical music. In this excerpt, she asks how they know their different parts will sound good together. To learn more, watch Classically Training, Episode 5 - “How do composers compose?”

All classical music started with a blank page. Before any piece is played or heard, someone has to create it. What does it take to organize all those notes into a final composition? In this episode, composers Shruthi Rajasekar, Janika Vandervelde, and Dan Nass take a seat at the Composers Roundtable to share how they turn their ideas into music.

‘Classically Training’ host Aerin O’Malley is back for Season 2, and she has some questions. First, how do composers write classical music? Stay tuned for a new episode of Classically Training on Monday, June 29.

Watch full episodes!

‘Classically Training’ host Aerin O’Malley asks three composers about the composers they like and admire the most. Learn more about how composers write classical music in a new full episode, coming soon on YouTube and YourClassical.org.

Watch full episodes!

‘Classically Training’ host Aerin O’Malley is back for Season 2, and she has some questions. First, how do composers write classical music? Stay tuned for a new episode of Classically Training on YouTube and YourClassical.org.

Watch full episodes!

“Classically Training” host Aerin O’Malley invites professional conductor Bill Eddins to play “Can You Conduct?” with her co-workers at Minnesota Public Radio. In this edition, our novice participants try to conduct Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Eine kleine Nachtmusik. To learn more about conducting, watch Classically Training, Episode 3: “What does the arm waving mean?”

Classically Training host Aerin O’Malley invites professional conductor Bill Eddins to play “Can You Conduct?” with her coworkers at Minnesota Public Radio. In this edition, our novice participants try to conduct an orchestral arrangement of “Happy Birthday.” To learn more about conducting, watch Classically Training, Episode 3: “What does the arm waving mean?”

Classically Training host Aerin O’Malley invites professional conductor Bill Eddins to play Can You Conduct? with her coworkers at Minnesota Public Radio. In this edition, our novice participants try to conduct the main theme from Star Wars, by John Williams. To learn more about conducting, watch Classically Training, Episode 3: “What does the arm waving mean?”

Classically Training host Aerin O’Malley invites professional conductor Bill Eddins to play “Can You Conduct?” with her coworkers at Minnesota Public Radio. In this edition, our novice participants try to conduct Antonio Vivaldi’s “Spring,” from The Four Seasons. To learn more about conducting, watch Classically Training, Episode 3: “What does the arm waving mean?”

Aerin O’Malley hosts a round of Is It Classical? with her coworkers at Minnesota Public Radio. In this episode, contestants decide whether Fats Waller’s “Ain’t Misbehavin’” is classical. To learn more about what classical music is (or isn’t), watch Classically Training, Episode 1 – “What is classical music?”

Aerin O’Malley hosts a round of Is It Classical? with members of the Class Notes Teen Council. In this episode, contestants decide whether Fats Waller’s “Ain’t Misbehavin’” is classical. To learn more about what classical music is (or isn’t), watch Classically Training, Episode 1 – “What is classical music?”

Soprano Amanda Batista (Nedda) performs “Stridono lassù” from Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci accompanied by Principal Coach & Chorus Director Celeste Marie Johnson on piano.

MN Opera’s Pagliacci takes the stage at the Ordway, May 9-17.

Learn more and get tickets!

Tenor Won Whi Choi (Canio) performs “Un tal gioco, credimi” from Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci accompanied by Principal Coach & Chorus Director Celeste Marie Johnson on piano.

MN Opera’s Pagliacci takes the stage at the Ordway, May 9-17.

Learn more and get tickets!

Aerin O’Malley hosts a round of Is It Classical? with her coworkers at Minnesota Public Radio. In this episode, contestants decide whether the overture to Rodgers & Hammerstein’s musical Cinderella is classical. To learn more about what classical music is (or isn’t), watch Classically Training, Episode 1 – “What is classical music?”

Aerin O’Malley hosts a round of Is It Classical? with members of the Class Notes Teen Council. In this episode, contestants decide whether the overture to Rodgers & Hammerstein’s musical “Cinderella” is classical. To learn more about what classical music is (or isn’t), watch Classically Training, Episode 1 – “What is classical music?”

Aerin O’Malley hosts a round of Is It Classical? with her coworkers at Minnesota Public Radio. In this episode, contestants decide whether the Vitamin String Quartet’s arrangement of Ariana Grande’s “thank u, next” is classical. To learn more about what classical music is (or isn’t), watch Classically Training, Episode 1 – “What is classical music?”

Aerin O’Malley hosts a round of Is It Classical? with members of the Class Notes Teen Council. In this episode, contestants decide whether the Vitamin String Quartet’s arrangement of Ariana Grande’s “thank u, next” is classical. To learn more about what classical music is (or isn’t), watch Classically Training, Episode 1 – “What is classical music?”

Cellist Matt Haimovitz says there’s “nothing greater than chamber music.” Currently a Professor of Cello at the University of Minnesota’s School of Music in Minneapolis, and he recently joined the Bakken Ensemble for the group’s celebration of 30 years of concerts in the Twin Cities.

The Bakken Ensemble calls itself a “consortium of musical friends,” and they welcomed Haimovitz as their newest musical friend for a unique String Quartet scored for two cellos by Anton Arensky.

Ahead of the concert, violinist Stephanie Arado and cellist Pitnarry Shin, both co-artistic directors of the ensemble, as well as violist Grace Takeda and Haimovtz, joined host Tom Crann in the Maud Moon Weyerhaeuser Studio for music and conversation. Arado, who has been with the ensemble since the early the beginning, told Crann how that “consortium of musical friends” works in practice. Listen to their conversation through the player above!

Find out more about the concert on the Bakken Ensemble’s official website.

Performed in this interview:

TJ COLE Fly Away Moon
ANTON ARRENSKY String Quartet No. 2: II Theme and Variations

Aerin O’Malley hosts a round of Is It Classical? with her coworkers at Minnesota Public Radio. In this episode, contestants decide whether the popular Christmas song “Carol of the Bells” is classical. To learn more about what classical music is (or isn’t), watch Classically Training, Episode 1 – “What is classical music?”

Tenor Diego Torre (Edgar) and mezzo-soprano Kara Morgan (Tigrana) perform “Orgia, chimera dall’occhio vitreo/Edgar, sulla tua fronte” from Act II of Puccini’s Edgar, accompanied by Head of Music Mario Antonio Marra on piano.

MN Opera’s Edgar in Concert will be on stage at the Ordway, April 17 and 19.

Learn more and get tickets!

Soprano Karin Wolverton (Fidelia) performs “Addio, mio dolce amor!” from Act III of Puccini’s Edgar, accompanied by Head of Music Mario Antonio Marra on piano.

MN Opera’s Edgar in Concert will be on stage at the Ordway, April 17 and 19.

Learn more and get tickets!

Aerin O’Malley hosts a round of “Is It Classical?” with members of the Class Notes Teen Council. In this episode, contestants decide whether the popular Christmas song “Carol of the Bells” is classical. To learn more about what classical music is (or isn’t), watch Classically Training, Episode 1 – “What is classical music?”

Aerin O’Malley hosts a round of “Is It Classical?” with her coworkers at Minnesota Public Radio. In this episode, contestants decide whether Harry’s Wondrous World by John Williams is classical. To learn more about what classical music is (or isn’t), watch Classically Training, Episode 1 – “What is classical music?”

Aerin O’Malley hosts a round of Is It Classical? with members of the Class Notes Teen Council. In this episode, contestants decide whether Harry’s Wondrous World by John Williams is classical. To learn more about what classical music is (or isn’t), watch Classically Training, Episode 1 – “What is classical music?”

On March 29, the Bach Society presented a concert featuring Antonio Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and his lesser-known Gloria RV 588. The program offered a captivating journey through the creative mind of the famous Red Priest and featured violinist Alan Choo, as well as the luminous voices of the women’s choir of the Bach Society. Listen to the concert now!

Find out more about the concert on the Bach Society’s official website.

Interviews

Listen below as host Tom Crann speaks to Artistic Director Matthias Maute and soloist Alan Choo about the performance.

Interview: Artistic Director Matthias Maute, conductor and recorder

Interview: Alan Choo, violin