Regional Spotlight™

There's December cheer in the air as this week's Regional Spotlight features holiday performance recorded earlier this month from ensembles around the state. You'll enjoy music of the season from the National Lutheran Choir, Bella Voce Young Women's Chorus and Vox Nova Chorale

The Minnesota Boy Choir's performances of the "Carol of the Bells," "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" and Vince Guaraldi's classic "Christmas Time Is Here" are sure to warm your heart on a cold December afternoon. Listen now.

Vox Nova Chorale has just released its first CD, 'A Minnesota Christmas.' Two pieces from this young and hardworking choir are in this week's Regional Spotlight. Isaac Lovedahl's "They Brought a Joyful Song" is followed by Michael Atwood's "Fear Not: Behold." Both works show off one of Minnesota's newest choral ensembles.

It's been five years since Ukrainian pianist Vadym Kholodenko won the gold medal at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. When asked at the press conference how he felt he replied, 'Not disappointed.' You won't be disappointed with his performance of Ravel's Sonatine from his October Frederic Chopin Society recital.

The Rose Ensemble is preparing for a series of concerts titled Empire, Religion, War, Peace: Music from Europe's 30 Year Conflict, 1618-1648. Jordan Sramek, artistic director of the Rose Ensemble, and Greg Ingles, director of the Dark Horse Consort, join Steve Staruch for a preview of this weekend's performances.

After the sustained ovation for his Frederic Chopin Society recital in April, pianist Richard Goode gave his audience an exuberant performance of Chopin's iconic 'Barcarolle.' You'll want to shout and cheer!

The Rose Ensemble sings the Agnus Dei and Lux Aeterna from a Requiem by Tomas Luis de Victoria.

Amit Peled performs on a cello once owned by Pablo Casals. He makes the instrument sing. And the perfect vehicle for Peled's vocal style is the the Haydn Cello Concerto No 1. The Minnesota Sinfonia, led by Jay Fishman, is the perfect 'backup' band for this heartfelt performance. It's in this week's Regional Spotlight.

Two Twin Cities performers make musical magic in this week's Regional Spotlight. Guitarist Eva Beneke and mezzo-soprano Nerea Berraondo have just released a recording of songs by 19th-century guitarist and composer Fernando Sor.

Cesar Franck's 1885 work 'Prelude, Chorale and Fugue' is a tribute to the austerity, yet deep-feeling nature, of Bach. Juho Pohjonen's performance from a Frederic Chopin Society recital earlier this year is in this week's Regional Spotlight.