New Classical Tracks (Extended Interview) - Lara Downes

New Classical Tracks - Lara Downes

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 Lara Downes delves into her new release, ‘Love at Last,’ an album featuring music of healing and hope. 


Max Barrett

Lara Downes releases 'Love at Last,' an album of healing and hope

‘Carnegie Hall Live’ returns to YourClassical MPR for another season of stellar performances by major artists such as Sphinx Virtuosi and the Los Angeles Philharmonic with Gustavo Dudamel. Listen to classical music's most esteemed artists captured live at New York City's world-famous concert hall at 7 p.m. central Tuesdays through Aug. 29.


Provided

Listen to 'Carnegie Hall Live' at 7 p.m. Tuesdays on YourClassical MPR

Saturday Cinema - Waltz Time at the Movies

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 this episode of Saturday Cinema, host Lynne Warfel celebrates waltz music in movies as part of a theme request from an anonymous friend of the show. Listen now to the program, which includes selections from ‘Up,’ ‘Lady and the Tramp’ and ‘Murder on the Orient Express.’


Waltz Time at the Movies

Listen to the Story

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Jeff Lunden

Producers have been saying for years that large Broadway orchestras are not financially feasible. In fact, the issue led to a strike 20 years ago. So why are some shows bringing them back?


Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman/Sweeney Todd

After years of ever-shrinking orchestras, some Broadway musicals are going big

Tom Huizenga

Saariaho, who battled a male-dominated educational system in her native Finland, forged a strong and singular voice in contemporary music. 


Raphael Gaillarde/Getty Images

Kaija Saariaho, the composer who explored color and light, has died at 70

Olivia Hampton

Teens in jail in Virginia collaborate with musicians to compose songs, write poetry and find their voices after run-ins with the law.


Shuran Huang For NPR

Incarcerated teens find escape in music and poems composed with artists

Friday Favorites - 06022023

On this episode of Friday Favorites, for June 2, 2023, with host Steve Staruch, Elaine celebrates the summer with a Beatles favorite, and Livi tells her YourClassical story. Also, Project DJ co-host Brian Johnson talks about playing the viola and attending the Roundtop Music Festival.


Friday Favorites: Celebrating summer, a YourClassical story and Project DJ co-host Brian Johnson

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 remembers one of the most important avant-garde composers of the 20th century, György Ligeti, including his haunting ‘Atmosphères,’ which was used in the film '2001: A Space Odyssey.‘ Other featured works include those by Steve Reich, David Lang and Marc Mellits. 


A Ligeti centenary

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

Rhapsody in Black - Gil Scott-Heron

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

Gil Scott-Heron, the self-proclaimed "bluesologist," emerged as a courageous musical figure during the 1970s and ‘80s, skillfully blending social commentary with musical artistry. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast. 


Gil Scott-Heron is a self-described 'bluesologist'

YourClassical Storytime - Goose, Goose, Baby Goose

Bruce the goose always swims his morning laps alone, until his life changes forever on one fateful summer day. Find out what happens in ‘Goose, Goose, Baby Goose!’ – the new episode of YourClassical Storytime. [Support for this program is provided by Minnesota Waldorf School. Support for Pride Month programming is provided by At Sara’s Table/Chester Creek Cafe and Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church.]


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