Minnesota Opera

Vocalists and instrumentalists don't tend to hang out together - but if they did, what could the singers teach the players?

It's easy to think of pop music as the soundtrack for a single person's life. We can recall Rihanna's voice serenading us in our car as we drive to yet another date, looking for love in a hopeless place. Even Coldplay, with their cartoonish riffs, can comfort us — but pop music can't speak to the ambiguities of our emotions the way that classical music can.

During Stevie Wonder's recent concert at Target Center, he asked whether any members of his Minnesota string section wanted to take a solo. Violinist Jill Olson Moser raised her bow.

American composer Kevin Puts premiered his second opera with Minnesota Opera this past weekend. Hear Kevin talk about writing for orchestra and for voice on this week's Learning to Listen.

In the world premiere of Kevin Puts's new Cold War thriller, all that's missing is the popcorn.

Composer Kevin Puts's ties to Minnesota continue to grow. This weekend, his Minnesota Opera commission -- The Manchurian Candidate -- premieres in St. Paul. Puts recently spoke with Classical MPR's Emily Reese.

Get a sneak preview of the Minnesota Opera's production of 'The Manchurian Candidate' when John Birge meets with members of the cast and creative team.

Wednesday, Jan. 21, at 8 p.m., we'll air the Minnesota Opera's production of Mozart's 'The Magic Flute'. But what is 'The Magic Flute' all about? A new video from Classical MPR provides a plot summary of the iconic opera.

One year after the Minnesota Orchestra and its musicians ended a turbulent contract dispute, audiences are back, and the orchestra is playing well. But financial challenges remain. MPR News Arts Reporter Euan Kerr has the story.

The orchestra will record the Sibelius Third, Sixth and Seventh symphonies for release in 2016. The last Minnesota Orchestra Sibelius recording won a Grammy. MPR News Arts Reporter Euan Kerr has the story.