Extra Eclectic - Oct. 11, 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

Fall is slowly creeping in, and host Steve Seel brings us some modern classical works in an autumnal mode on the latest episode of ‘Extra Eclectic.’

 


Dan Freeman/Unsplash 

Autumn landscapes 

New Classical Tracks (Extended Interview) - October 11, 2023

New Classical Tracks (Extended Interview) - Simone Menezes

New Classical Tracks - Simone Menezes

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 episode of New Classical Tracks, conductor Simone Menezes collaborates with soprano Camila Provenzale and the Philharmonic Zurich on ‘Amazonia,’ a new album honoring the Amazon rainforest. Find out more!


Provided

Simone Menezes honors the Amazon rainforest on her new collaborative album

Saturday Cinema - Oct. 07, 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

Join Lynne Warfel for two full hours of your favorite film music on the latest episode of 'Saturday Cinema,' in which we celebrate October birthdays with music from the films of Julie Andrews, Walter Matthau, Stanley Holloway, Charlton Heston, Ethel Waters, Angela Lansbury and more. Listen now.


October birthdays 

Friday Favorites - Oct. 06, 2023

Sweet memories of Octobers past turn the latest episode of 'Friday Favorites' into a pumpkin spice party! Listen now with host Steve Staruch as he plays listener requests.


James Napoli/APM

It's a pumpkin spice party 

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

Rhapsody in Black - Paul Robeson

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

Columbia University graduate and polyglot Paul Robeson was a bass-baritone who advocated for the performance of African American spirituals in classical spaces. Considered a ‘darling of the entertainment industry,’ he was almost erased from history for his outspoken activism. Find out more in the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.


Paul Robeson was a brilliant star who was almost erased

Autumn is here! We've put together a playlist of classical music to accompany the cooler weather and turning leaves. Listen now, and enjoy the sounds of a colorful season.


Justin Cron/Unsplash

Celebrate autumn with our specially curated classical music playlist

Extra Eclectic - October 4, 2023

For host Bonnie North, classical music is more than just a genre — it's a way of life. She stumbled into the world of radio after responding to a newspaper ad for Vermont Public Radio seeking a classical music DJ for its Sunday afternoon show. Despite having no previous radio experience, she was confident in her knowledge of classical music and took a chance. She created an audition tape, and the rest is history. Her favorite composer depends on her mood. Sometimes she seeks the meditative sounds of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, while other times she craves the angular compositions of Igor Stravinsky. Of course, she also loves the classics by composers who include Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel. But she is always looking for contemporary composers and is eager to discover new musical talents. Outside of work, she loves to attend live music events. She also enjoys traveling and having friends and family scattered throughout the United States and Europe. But her love for animals is just as strong, and she often volunteers at animal shelters. She is an avid duathlon participant, combining her love for running and biking in one exciting event.


Bonnie North

As our celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month continues, this edition of ‘Extra Eclectic’ showcases contemporary classical works from South America. We hear music by Venezuelan composer Gabriela Montero, Argentine composer Osvaldo Golijov, Brazilian composer Marcelo Zarvos and Gabriela Lena Frank. Listen now with guest host Bonnie North.


Anders Brogaard

A South American showcase

New Classical Tracks (Extended Interview) - Ronn McFarlane and Carolyn Surrick

New Classical Tracks - Carolyn Surrick & Ronn McFarlane

On this week’s New Classical Tracks, the lute and viola da gamba duo Carolyn Surrick and Ronn McFarlane share the music of their lives on their latest album, 'And So Flows the River.'


Carolyn Surrick and Ronn McFarlane share a part of their lives in 'And So Flows the River'

On ‘SymphonyCast’ with host Steve Seel, Joshua Bell joins the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra to perform Bruch’s ever-popular Violin Concerto No. 1. Bell also leads the SPCO in two more time-tested favorites: Mozart’s Symphony No. 25 and Bizet’s Symphony No. 1. Listen now. 


St. Paul Chamber Orchestra

YourClassical Storytime - The Little Man From Uxmal

What happens when a little man from the Maya city of Uxmal plays the instrument that activates an ancient prophecy? Find out in the latest episode of YourClassical Storytime, ‘The Little Man From Uxmal,’ featuring narration by Inés Guanchez and Ada Tzab, illustrations by Raul Villanueva and music by Silvestre Revueltas.


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