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Minnesota Opera's cast talks about Giacomo Puccini's 'Edgar'

MN Opera - Giacomo Puccini's 'Edgar' Interview

Steve Staruch can be heard on Classical Minnesota Public Radio on Monday mornings and at other times during the week. 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, New York. 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

Host Steve Staruch speaks with cast members Karin Wolverton, Diego Torre and Kara Morgan, as well as Head of Music Mario Antonio Marra, in preparation for the Minnesota Opera’s opening night of Puccini's 'Edgar,' taking place this Friday, April 17. Listen now!


“Orgia, chimera dall’occhio vitreo/Edgar, sulla tua fronte” performed by Diego Torre and Kara Morgan

“Addio, mio dolce amor!” performed by Karin Wolverton

Minnesota Opera

Minnesota Opera presents Puccini's 'Edgar'

Minnesota Opera - 'The Snowy Day': Leah Hawkins Interview

Minnesota Opera - 'The Snowy Day': Raven McMillon Interview

Minnesota Opera presents ‘The Snowy Day,’ the story of a young boy who finds joy and wonder in the first snowfall of winter. Enjoy behind the scene conversations with members of the cast — then enjoy on-demand audio of the concert!


Minnesota Opera 'Snowy Day' - Creating snowballs!

Listen: Minnesota Opera presents 'The Snowy Day'

Minnesota Opera: 'My Name is Florence' interview

On Jan. 31, the Minnesota Opera presented the world premiere of ‘My Name is Florence.’ Listen as host Steve Staruch speaks to members of the cast — then enjoy on-demand audio of the concert!


Listen: Minnesota Opera presents 'My Name is Florence'

Minnesota Opera - Romeo and Juliet

Minnesota Opera presents Gounod’s ‘Romeo and Juliet,’ a story about timeless love and family feuds. Listen to the concert now!


MN Opera's Romeo and Juliet: “Amour, ranime mon courage”

Listen: Minnesota Opera presents 'Romeo and Juliet'

Interview: Minnesota Opera presents 'Così fan tutte'

Host Steve Staruch speaks with cast members Kylie Kreucher, Ángel Vargas and Lindsay Ohse, as well as director Doug Scholz-Carlson, in preparation for the Minnesota Opera’s opening night of Mozart’s ‘Così fan tutte,’ taking place this Saturday, Nov. 1. Listen now!


Interview: Minnesota Opera presents 'Cosi Fan Tutte'

Four drawn characters match up amongst each other MN Opera Cosi Fan Tutte

"Fra gli amplessi" - performed by Kylie Kreucher and Ángel Vargas

"In uomini" - performed by Lindsay Ohse

Relationships are difficult! The Minnesota Opera prepares for Mozart’s 'Cosi fan tutte'

Melinda Whittington and Joo Won Kang speak to host Bonnie North about the Minnesota Opera's latest production, 'La Bohème.'

Minnesota Opera - 'La Bohème' cast interview

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

Minnesota Opera presents Pucchini’s ‘La Bohème,’ the story of a group of friends and lovers in Paris who find love amid the hardship of a life in pursuit of art. Listen to the concert now!


La Bohème: Act II Chorus

La Bohème | Minnesota Opera

Listen: Minnesota Opera presents 'La Bohème'

Join YourClassical MPR as we present an encore broadcast of Minnesota Opera’s Glam Jam, a concert featuring some of the most captivating performers from the Minnesota Opera stage. Listen now!


Listen: Minnesota Opera presents Glam Jam

Minnesota Opera stage director Daniel Ellis and principal conductor Christopher Franklin speak to host Bonnie North about the  latest production, 'The Elixir of Love'

Minnesota Opera - The Elixir of Love Conductor/Director Interview

Vanessa Becerra and Andrew Stenson speak to host Bonnie North about the Minnesota Opera's latest production, 'The Elixir of Love'

Minnesota Opera - The Elixir of Love Cast Interview

Join YourClassical MPR as we present an encore broadcast of Minnesota Opera’s production of ‘The Elixir of Love.’ As a bonus, host Bonnie North speaks to members of the cast and crew about Gaetano Donizetti’s much-loved opera. Listen now!


Listen: Minnesota Opera presents Donizetti's 'The Elixir of Love'

In the Minnesota Opera’s season finale, ‘La Boheme,’ a group of friends and lovers in Paris find love and joy amid the hardship and struggle of a life in pursuit of art. Listen as host Bonnie North speaks to members of the cast about this exciting production!


Melinda Whittington and Joo Won Kang speak to host Bonnie North about the Minnesota Opera's latest production, 'La Bohème'

Minnesota Opera - La Bohème Cast Interview

Explore Minnesota Opera's 'La Boheme' with its cast

Longtime music host and performer Andrea Blain presents classical music programming including national specials, opera and other live broadcasts and holiday programs. She also is part of a team that works on content and scripting for ‘Rhapsody in Black’ and has voiced several episodes of YourClassical Storytime.


Andrea Blain

The Minnesota Opera presents Mozart’s ‘Don Giovanni,’ the story of an egotistical and infamous womanizer, brazen in his shameless seductions. Listen now as Andrea Blain hosts the live broadcast from April 25 on YourClassical MPR.
