An ecstatic exploration of classical music that’s aesthetically and uncompromisingly Black.

Rhapsody in Black - Lamothe

Haitian composer and pianist Ludovic Lamothe was known by the problematic nickname ‘The Black Chopin’ during his life. Now he is receiving the recognition he deserves. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast. 


Wikipedia

Composer Ludovic Lamothe is finally receiving the recognition he deserves

YourClassical Storytime - 'Bells in the Night'

How does a sleepless king deal with clock towers that simply won’t chime together in his kingdom? Find out in the timely tale “Bells in the Night,” the latest episode of YourClassical Storytime – with storytelling by Valerie Kahler and Michael Barone, music by Leopold and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and illustrations by EJ Thompson.


EJ Thompson for MPR

'Bells in the Night'

New Classical Tracks - Janoska Ensemble (Extended)

New Classical Tracks - Janoska Ensemble

Julie Amacher's desire to introduce others to great music is what led her to radio. She began her professional broadcast career at a station in Sun Prairie, Wis. She went from rock 'n' roll to the Rocky Mountains, where she found her niche in public radio at KUNC in Greeley, Colo. Julie spent 13 years at KUNC, where she managed the announcers and their eclectic music format. During that time, she earned four national awards for best announcer. She joined Minnesota Public Radio in 1997 as an on-air host and also produces New Classical Tracks, a weekly podcast sharing behind-the-scenes stories about a new release each week. It airs locally at 7:15 a.m. and 5 p.m. Wednesdays and at 9 a.m. on Saturdays.


Julie Amacher

In this week’s New Classical Tracks, double bassist Julius Darvas of the Janoska Ensemble talks about performing works by Bach, Beethoven, Brahms and others in the group’s latest album, ‘The Big B’s.’ 


Julia Wesely

Double bassist Julius Darvas of the Janoska Ensemble talks about the big B's

YourClassical Story: Fred Labour

Fred LaBour describes how his annual childhood trips to see the World Youth Orchestra inspired him to pursue a career in music. 


Gary Meulemans/Unsplash

Fred LaBour finds the 'New World' in a Michigan forest 

Listener Requests!

Lynne has been at this radio thing since 1984 when she fell into an historic job at KFAC AM and FM, the commercial classical station in Los Angeles.  She was the first woman staff announcer in the station's history, and it was such big news back then, it made the LA newspapers and national radio publications.  She is thrilled women in radio is no longer newsworthy.


Lynne Warfel

This week’s episode of Saturday Cinema, with host Lynne Warfel, features listener’s favorite tracks from ‘Steel Magnolias,’ ‘Rocky’ and ‘The Cider House Rules.’ Listen now!





August Listener Requests

Steve Seel is the host of YourClassical’s weekly SymphonyCast and the trailblazing music show Extra Eclectic. He possesses a broad knowledge of many musical genres, having hosted radio programs ranging from classical to jazz and even avant-garde music at radio stations around the country. Steve began his love affair with public radio at 24 working whatever shifts he could at his hometown station of WUSF-FM in Tampa, Florida, and from there worked his way to snowy Buffalo, New York, and its renowned classical station WNED-FM, where he hosted middays and the weekly experimental-music show Present Tense.  In 2005, Steve became one of the founding voices on Minnesota Public Radio's eclectic station, the Current. While there, he hosted afternoons and mornings, and conducted in-depth interviews with pop music luminaries ranging from Brian Eno to David Byrne to Tori Amos. Steve is a basement composer obsessed with all things both minimalist and slow, and might actually be incapable of writing anything that exceeds 75 beats-per-minute.


Steve Seel

Theremin virtuoso Carolina Eyck plays Kalevi Aho’s Theremin Concerto at the BBC Proms on the latest episode of Extra Eclectic, hosted by Steve Seel.


Christian Huller

Carolina Eyck takes the theremin into the future

New Classical Tracks - Itamar Zorman (Extended)

New Classical Tracks - Itamar Zorman

In this week’s New Classical Tracks, violinist Itamar Zorman found creative ways to continue performing during the pandemic. One of those became the inspiration for his latest album, ‘Violin Odyssey.’ 


Courtesy of artist

Violinist Itamar Zorman turned an idea into an odyssey

Listen to the Story

{"type":"doc","content":[{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"","type":"text"}]}]}

Scott Simon

NPR's Scott Simon reflects on bogus buskers who fake violin virtuosity with recorded music tracks and ask for money to help with rent or medical bills.


Tom Driggers/Flickr

Opinion: That unbelievable street violinist could just be a 'finger-syncer'

Celebrating the rare, but fabulous films scores of Leonard Bernstein.

Bernstein Birthday Bash

This week’s episode of Saturday Cinema, with host Lynne Warfel, celebrates Leonard Bernstein with some of his rare film scores with music from ‘On the Town,’ ‘On the Waterfront’ and of course, ‘West Side Story.’ Listen now!


Penguin Random House

Rachel Treisman

The ensemble of top Ukrainian musicians, including recent refugees, is wrapping up a whirlwind tour with performances in New York City and Washington, D.C. 


Listen

Stories