 offers recommendations for Minnesota concerts, events and more. 

YourClassical MPR host John Birge offers recommendations for Minnesota concerts, events and more.


John Birge has been hosting, producing and performing classical music for more than 25 years. Since 1997, he has been hosting on Minnesota Public Radio's Classical Music Service. He played French horn for the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestra and performed with them on their centennial tour of Europe in 1995. He was trained at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Eastman School of Music and Interlochen Arts Academy.


John Birge

This week on Birge’s Picks, a ‘Downton Abbey’ themed concert at the Dunsmore Room in the Crooner’s Supper Club and a pair of memoirs released from actors in the series should bring joy to fans of the show . 


Carnival Film & Television 

'Downton Abbey' Crooners

This week on Birge’s Picks, the Lakes Area Music Festival returns in Brainerd and the Vintage Band Festival brings a variety of musical experiences to Northfield. 


The trombone is very popular in marching bands and parades.

Camilo Jimenez/Unsplash

Band in Northfield, Earthy in Bemidji

This week on Birge’s Picks, the Northern Lights Music Festival returns for another summer of chamber music and opera featuring a terrific cast of singers from around the world in a performance of Mozart’s ‘The Magic Flute.’


Provided

Opera’s 'Home on the (Iron) Range'

This week on John Birge’s Picks, YourClassical MPR celebrates Pride Month with ‘Proud to Be.’ Every morning this week at 9 a.m., we ask classical musicians in the LGBTQ community what Pride means to them.


Lacey Young/MPR

Pride of Place

This week on John Birge’s Picks, we bid farewell to Osmo Vänskä, who has led the Minnesota Orchestra as music director for 19 years.


Kaapo Kamu

Farewell to Osmo

This week on John Birge’s Picks, we explore Jessica Meyer’s ‘Where You Love From,' a piece commissioned through the Michael Steinberg & Jorja Fleezanis Fund, a project founded and led by the legendary violinist Jorja Fleezanis in honor of her late husband, Michael Steinberg.


Kimberly Hsu

Jorja on my mind — and Carmen, too

This week on John Birge’s Picks, a tribute to Leonard Bernstein is performed Tuesday at the Dakota in Minneapolis and a Fazioli grand piano is inaugurated in Austin, Minnesota by pianist Marc-André Hamelin. 


Thomas R. Seiler/Deutsche Grammophon

Lenny’s letters

This week on John Birge’s Picks, it’s a full week of live performances throughout Minnesota, including the Minnesota Orchestra playing live to a screening of ‘Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.’ Regardless of where you are in the state, you can find a concert relatively close by. 


Admiral Ackbar, voiced by Erik Bauersfeld

Lucasfilm

Minnesota Masterpieces

This week on John Birge’s Picks, it’s a great week for fans of classical music and classic movies, including a 100th-anniversary shout-out for Oscar-winning composer Elmer Bernstein.


 Chris Blumenshine/Getty Images

Variations on a Silver Screen

Birge's Picks - Gao Hong

This week on Birge’s Picks, extraordinary pipa player Gao Hong celebrates 50 years as a performer of the instrument with a concert at the Ordway in St. Paul. 
