Minnesota Orchestra

Listen live at 8 tonight on YourClassical MPR as violinist Joshua Bell performs Max Bruch’s heroic ‘Scottish Fantasy’ in the season-opening concert of the Minnesota Orchestra. Also on the program is Kalevi Aho’s ‘Minea,’ Jessie Montgomery’s ‘Banner’ and Ludwig van Beethoven’s timeless Symphony No. 5.

The Minnesota Orchestra is the latest organization to require proof of full vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test to attend events.

Conductor Karina Canellakis leads the Minnesota Orchestra in a concert featuring Peter Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4, along with selections from William Grant Still’s Symphony No. 1 and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21, with pianist Jon Kimura Parker. Listen now, with host Steve Seel.

Only a limited number will be allowed in Orchestra Hall. The orchestra will continue presenting live concerts on radio, TV and livestream through at least August.

From Mahler to Berlioz, bells are an important part of orchestral repertoire. But, for the longest time, the Minnesota Orchestra relied on computer-based bell samplings and chimes to bring out those booming sounds. Thanks to a generous gift, however, two new bells will be added to the ensemble.

COVID-19 cancellations of concerts and the orchestra's biggest fundraiser of the year, the Symphony Ball, punched a hole in the organizations finances.

Gathering with our community, our family, and our people to celebrate this holiday season will likely be different than in years past. Listen to 'A Midwinter Gathering' with the Minnesota Orchestra and Kevin Kling.

To celebrate National Radio Day (Aug. 20), Classical MPR offers a special presentation of our live March 13 broadcast of the Minnesota Orchestra, with remastered audio and new commentary from host Melissa Ousley, as a gift to listeners. On that historic night, the orchestra performed to an audience-less hall amid concerns surrounding the coronavirus.

Welcome Melissa Ousley as the new host of Classical MPR's live broadcasts of the Minnesota Orchestra. She takes over at 8 p.m. Fridays from longtime host Brian Newhouse.