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Euan Kerr is an arts reporter for MPR News.


Euan Kerr

Marianne Combs reports on the arts for MPR News.


Marianne Combs

Former Minnesota Opera president Kevin Smith will take over as interim CEO of the Minnesota Orchestra, the orchestra's board said Thursday.


Minnesota Opera

Minnesota Orchestra names new interim president

Rex Levang

Mozart's Cosi Fan Tutte seems like a standard operatic comedy — but with a twist. Classical MPR's Rex Levang explains this opera that has come into its own. The Met Opera's production of Cosi airs Saturday, April 26, at 12 noon, on Classical MPR.


Mozart's 'Cosi fan tutte' has come into its own

Sisters Arabella and Zdenka are opposites, but they're loving sisters. A conflict exists between the sisters' desires and the needs of their parents. It seems an insoluble problem until an unexpected caller arrives, setting in motion a romantic comedy. Classical MPR's Rex Levang illuminates ahead of the Met Opera broadcast on Saturday, April 19, at 11 a.m.


'Arabella' is an operatic romantic comedy

Umberto Giordano's opera is a passionate tale of the ill-fated love of a dashing poet and an aristocratic lady, set against the backdrop of the French Revolution. Find a synopsis and slideshow here.


Slideshow: Met Opera's 'Andrea Chenier'

Minnesota Opera: Magic Flute

John Birge has been hosting, producing and performing classical music for more than 25 years. Since 1997, he has been hosting on Minnesota Public Radio's Classical Music Service. He played French horn for the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestra and performed with them on their centennial tour of Europe in 1995. He was trained at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Eastman School of Music and Interlochen Arts Academy.


John Birge

Minnesota Opera's new 'Magic Flute' is not merely a new production; it's a brand-new way of putting opera on a stage. And Mozart's original music remains pristine. We heard some of it sung as cast members Jesse Blumberg and Tracey Engleman join Classical MPR's John Birge in the studio.


mn opera  Jesse Blumberg and Tracey Engleman

Minnesota Opera's innovative approach to 'Magic Flute'

As part of Member Appreciation week at Minnesota Public Radio, the hosts at Classical MPR have offered this up-close tour of their desks, sharing some interesting items and the stories behind them.


Classical MPR tour: Hosts' desk items

On this week's Morning Glories, we'll take a look at some performers and repertoire coming to our region in the next few weeks.


Morning Glories: Coming Attractions

Steve Staruch: 'Werther' and Love

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

Classical MPR's Steve Staruch shares a story about how the opera 'Werther' affected a listener's dating life. It's a nice segue into Classical MPR's broadcast of the Met Opera's performance of Jules Massenet's 'Werther', Saturday at noon.


A story of love and 'Werther'

'The Enchanted Island' combines two Shakespeare plays and the works of Baroque composers to create something entirely new. And the Met Opera's stunning sets bring the undersea world to the stage.


Met Opera: 'The Enchanted Island'

Tonight, at 8 p.m. Classical MPR is proud to air Minnesota Opera's version of 'Doubt.'
