 offers recommendations for Minnesota concerts, events and more. 

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


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. 


MPR photo/Chris Roberts

A week filled with brilliant things

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

‘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.  


Provided

'The United Symphonies of America'

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


Warner Bros.

Open(ing) Season!

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.


Courtesy of Nina Totenberg

The Totenberg Stradivarius holds (supreme) court

YourClassical MPR host John Birge offers a fall season filled with live in-person classical concerts.


Nass, Daniel

It begins, again!

Birge's Picks: State Fair Playlist

YourClassical MPR host John Birge offers some fairly great classical tracks to put you in the mood for the Minnesota State Fair, which starts Thursday and runs through Sept. 6.


Minnesota State Fair

Birge's Picks: A State Fair playlist

Check out host John Birge's picks from the annual Stringwood Festival in Lanesboro, BBC Proms and Switzerland’s highly prestigious Verbier Festival. Find out how COVID has changed our summer classical music festivals this year. 


Oli Scarff/Getty Images

Birge's Picks: Stay in your Lane(sboro)

Check out host John Birge's picks from Wes Anderson’s favorite composer, Benjamin Britten. Explore how this filmmaker has woven Britten into his cinematic universe. 


Denis De Marney/Getty Images

Birge's Picks: The young person’s guide to Wes Anderson

Who’s the greatest Minnesotan? Judy Garland? F. Scott Fitzgerald? Kirby Puckett? Hubert Humphrey? All worthy. But ask any trumpet player, and they’ll tell you it’s Adolph “Bud” Herseth. Find out why in this week’s picks from John Birge.


File

Birge's Picks: A centennial or two

From the Metropolitan Opera’s music director to Bill Murray, there are a wide variety of classical music-adjacent documentaries being released. Learn more in this week’s picks from host John Birge.
