Remembering Yuri Grigorovich, a visionary leader of Russian ballet

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Charles Maynes

Russians remember Yuri Grigorovich, a choreographer who was artistic director of the Bolshoi Ballet for three decades. He died May 19 aged 98.


Yuri Kadobnov/AFP

A new opera in Omaha uses technology to give voice to two non-verbal actors

Jeff Lunden

Two non-verbal actors have been case in a new opera, opening this week in Omaha. The production has worked for five years to develop technology to give them voice.


Common Sense Festival

Friday Favorites - May 23, 2025

Tom Crann is the host of All Things Considered for MPR News. He's been in the host chair since 2005. He has interviewed a wide range of public figures, including Minnesota's members of congress, politicians, experts, writers, and artists. He anchored Minnesota Public Radio's award-winning live coverage of the 35W bridge collapse. He has hosted other special coverage for MPR News, including live coverage of election nights since 2012.  He has been a host, producer, and interviewer for Minnesota Public Radio since 1995. 

His work on MPR News has been recognized with an Eric Severeid award, a regional Edward R. Murrow award, and a National Headliner award. He has also hosted the international cultural broadcasts "Sounds Irish" and "The Last Night of the Proms," a co-production with the BBC. 

In addition to his work in news, Crann has spent over 20 years hosting and producing classical music and cultural programs at public radio stations around the U.S, and for RTE/Lyric FM in Ireland, where he is still a contributor.


Tom Crann

On the latest episode of ‘Friday Favorites,’ Tom Crann plays listeners’ requests for their favorite classical music. Listen now! 


Chris McDuffie/MPR News

Friday Favorites: Listener requests with Tom Crann

Revisiting a music tribute to George Floyd

Olivia Hampton

Adolphus Hailstork's 2022 requiem cantata "A Knee on the Neck" pays tribute to George Floyd. NPR speaks with librettist Herbert Martin, who initiated the work, five years after police killed Floyd in Minneapolis.


Stanford Orchestras

George Floyd musical tribute poet warns of 'worse' racial tensions five years after the murder

Where we turn up the voices of Black artists in the world of classical music, with host Vernon Neal.

Rhapsody in Black - Julius Eastman

Vernon Neal is the host of the podcast ‘Rhapsody in Black,’ where we turn up the voices of Black artists in the world of classical music.


Host/Producer

Vernon Neal

Composer and pianist Julius Eastman’s personal philosophy was ‘to be what I am to the fullest.’ A graduate of the Curtis Institute, his music was highly acclaimed and challenged racist and homophobic stereotypes. Find out more in the ‘Rhapsody in Black’ podcast.


Ron Hammond

Julius Eastman composed music that challenged oppressive stereotypes

Extra Eclectic - May 21, 2025

Composers from Southeast Asia and Oceania (and those influenced by their music) are the focus on this week’s episode of ‘Extra Eclectic.’ Steve Seel plays Eunike Tanzil’s ‘Serenade’ and Su Lian Tan‘s ‘Legend of Kintamani,’ as well as works by Lou Harrison and Colin McPhee. Listen now!


Elaine Tantra

Sounds from Southeast Asia and Oceania

New Classical Tracks (Extended Interview) - Michael Daugherty

New Classical Tracks - Michael Daugherty

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

On the latest episode of ‘New Classical Tracks,’ Grammy-winning composer Michael Daugherty talks about his latest album, ‘Blue Electra,’ which explores the triumphs and tragedies of flight, and features violinist Anne Akiko Meyers. Listen now with host Julie Amacher!


Ayaka Sano

Anne Akiko Meyer presents Michael Daugherty's 'Blue Electra'

Saturday Cinema - May 17, 2025

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 on ‘Saturday Cinema,’ join host Lynne Warfel for a show dedicated to horses in films. Selections include music from ‘Black Beauty,’ ‘Seabiscuit,’ ‘The Mask of Zorro’ and more. Listen now!


Saddle Up the Horses, Kid

Friday Favorites - May 16, 2025

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

Steve Staruch is joined by Tom Crann on the latest episode of ‘Friday Favorites,’ playing listeners’ requests for their favorite classical music. Listen now! 


James Napoli/APM

Friday Favorites: Listener requests with Steve Staruch and Tom Crann

Charles Strouse, Broadway composer of 'Annie' and 'Bye Bye Birdie,' has died at 96

The Broadway composer of Annie and Bye Bye Birdie died Thursday at 96.


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