Classical Minnesota Stories

Australian composer Rae Howell came to Minnesota to make some solo records but became fascinated by backyard beehives. Now she and local filmmaker Deacon Warner have combined her music and his film to create 'Bee-Sharp Honeybee,' a documentary and classical work based on the sounds of bees.

With his band Paris 1919, Twin Cities composer and music man Chris Strouth breaks new artistic territory with a 'middle-aged symphony to God' at this weekend's Art-A-Whirl celebrations in northeast Minneapolis. The unusual venue? The Church of St. Boniface.

The artists behind the Moving Company have been drawn to classical music for a while. That's no more evident than in 'Speechless,' their first production to rely solely on music and movement in place of words.

A young Leonard Bernstein seemed all set in 1940 to become the assistant conductor of the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, the forerunner of today's Minnesota Orchestra. But then he ran into insurmountable 'difficulties' with those plans.

'As a musician, you get very few opportunities,' composer Paul Cantrell says. That's why he emcees Composer Nights, a monthly gathering in St. Paul where Minnesota music makers can finally have their works heard.

The University of St. Thomas music department debuted its most recent commission, an epic operatic melodrama called 'Christina's Memory Garden.'

Composer Jeff Beal has written more than just the Emmy-winning score to Netflix's political drama "House of Cards." He recently finished a flute concerto which received its world premiere by soloist Sharon Bezaly, conductor Osmo Vanska, and the Minnesota Orchestra.

From China to St. Paul, pipa player Gao Hong recounts her journey to the United States and her creative process alongside oud player Issam Rafea in their new CD, 'Life as Is.'

Scottish hymn composer John Bell is coming to Minneapolis on Saturday, April 21, to lead a Big Sing in celebration of Earth Day. But the community musical event will have much more, including the Twin Cities-based Tiyumba African Drum and Dance Company (pictured) and 11-year-old hip-hop artist Priest Jones.

This weekend, organist Cameron Carpenter performs Rachmaninoff with the Minnesota Orchestra. Carpenter has a lot of opinions on organs, especially the digital one he conceived. Hear his performance live Friday night on Classical MPR.