Extra Eclectic - August 09, 2023

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

This week on Extra Eclectic, host Steve Seel features Missy Mazzoli’s terrific piece ‘Sinfonia (for Orbiting Spheres).’ It's part of a full slate of music by awesome women, including Anna Clyne, Errollyn Wallen and Judith Weir.

 


Caroline Tompkins

Missy Mazzoli is on a celestial wavelength

New Classical Tracks (Extended Interview) - August  9, 2023

New Classical Tracks (Extended Interview) - Gabriel Olafs

New Classical Tracks - Gabriel Olafs

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 this week’s New Classical Tracks, pianist Gabríel Ólafs presents his latest project in collaboration with cellist Steiney Sigurðardóttir, a collection of lullabies inspired by Icelandic folk melodies. Find out more.


Provided

Pianist Gabríel Ólafs explores the nostalgia of Icelandic lullabies

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Tom Huizenga

With plenty of humor, composer Joan Tower talks about her far-reaching career — including why she fled the modernist school of composers — and some mysterious visitations from her dead heroes. Find out more.


Lauren Lancaster

Composer Joan Tower is finally going easy on herself

Clara Osowski Interview - Source Song Festival

Mezzo-soprano Clara Osowski is the founder and the artistic director of the Source Song Festival, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this summer. The festival runs through Aug. 11 at Westminster Hall in Minneapolis. Osowski joins Steve Staruch to talk about the founding of the festival and the plans she has for this year.


Martin Walz

Mezzo-soprano Clara Osowski celebrates the Source Song Festival's 10th anniversary

Saturday Cinema - August 5, 2023

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

On the latest episode of ‘Saturday Cinema,’ host Lynne Warfel plays music from the films of famous people born in August, including Maureen O'Hara, Robert DeNiro and Angela Bassett. Listen now.


August birthdays

Friday Favorites - August 04, 2023

Steve Staruch can be heard on Classical Minnesota Public Radio from 3 to 7 p.m. weekdays, including hosting Music with Minnesotans, Regional Spotlight and Friday Favorites. Prior to joining the staff of MPR in 2004, Steve presented a variety of radio programs on WCAL in Northfield, Minn., where he created an immensely popular call-in program, and on WXXI in Rochester, N.Y. Outside radio, Steve also enjoys work as a freelance tenor and violist. Steve and his wife, Naomi, enjoy traveling, gardening and hosting dinner parties.


Steve Staruch

Enjoy listener requests with host Steve Staruch on Friday Favorites for Aug. 4, 2023. Joining him for Project DJ is Luke Baker-Trinity from Shoreview.


James Napoli/APM

Friday Favorites for Aug. 4, plus Project DJ co-host Luke Baker-Trinity

Cynthia Dickison

So you’ve invited some folks for dinner. The table is set, the food is prepped — now, what about music? Here’s a course-by-course playlist to fit the menu.


Spencer Davis/Unsplash

Liven up your dinner party with this classical playlist

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

Rhapsody in Black - Awadagin Pratt

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

Pianist Awadagin Pratt is a world-class pianist who has earned awards, international competitions and an Avery Fisher Career Grant. He has never shied away from talking about his experiences as a Black man in the predominantly white world of classical music and has worked hard to help others following the same path. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast. 


Rob Davidson

World-class pianist Awadagin Pratt is not afraid to talk about the Black experience

This week, ‘Extra Eclectic’ begins its weekly visits to the biggest classical music celebration in the world, the BBC Proms — with highlights from the British summertime festival's rich offerings of contemporary music performances. Listen with host Steve Seel as he shares music from Swedish composer Andrea Tarrodi and John Adams.


We're off to the Proms!

It’s road trip season, and you might be headed to one of America’s awe-inspiring national parks. It’s no surprise that they’ve also been an inspiration for composers who captured the grandeur and beauty of these natural wonders during their own travels (actual or imaginary). Here’s some music for the journey.


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