Birge's Picks

This week John Birge looks back on the life of legendary composer Stephen Sondheim and the great productions he put on in Minnesota.

This week on Birge’s Picks, the Thanksgiving holiday is filled with all-American performances throughout Minnesota.

This week on Birge’s Picks, HBO celebrates the legacy of Minnesota photographer and musician Gordon Parks with a documentary chronicling his work, ‘A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks.’

This week on Birge’s Picks, alums and faculty from the famous Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia perform throughout Minnesota this weekend.

This week on Birge’s Picks, Ludwig van Beethoven and Igor Stravinsky are showcased around Minnesota stages.

This week on Birge’s Picks, William Shakespeare makes a triumphant return to the international stage.

Could you name a hundred things that make life wonderful? A thousand? How about a million? Host John Birge gives his list of wonderful things in classical music this week in Birge’s Picks.

‘The United Symphonies of America’? Just ask the Mankato Symphony. That’s the title of a new online documentary that looks at the United States through its orchestras, and it focuses on Mankato this week.  

YourClassical MPR host John Birge welcomes the opening seasons of the Minnesota Opera and Orchestra, but neither can eclipse Minnesota’s duck hunting opener.

YourClassical MPR host John Birge offers some reflection of the great late classical violinist Roman Totenberg. His spirit and violin live on in a recital by Nathan Melzer on Sept. 20 at the University of Minnesota School of Music.