Acclaimed classical pianist surprises with Elton John

Cellist Sterling Elliott joined the Minnesota Orchestra, with guest conductor Kristiina Poska, for a program featuring Tchaikovsky’s ‘Variations on a Rococo Theme’ and favorites by Copland and Beethoven. Listen to the concert now!

Monday, April 15, marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Neville Marriner, the music director of the Minnesota Orchestra from 1979 to 1986. To mark the occasion, we're going back to a concert from April 2008, when he served as guest conductor. Melissa Ousley and Brian Newhouse host this special encore. Listen now!

While it has been unseasonably mild in the Twin Cities lately, it was bone-chillingly cold just a few weeks ago. That’s when a Minnesota Orchestra concert, anchored by an unforgettable performance by cellist Anthony Ross, warmed the heart and ears of classical host Ward Jacobson.

On Jan. 1, Thomas Søndergård and the Minnesota Orchestra, along with pianist Stephen Hough, welcomed 2024 with a sparkling concert featuring music by Prokofiev, Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky. Listen to the concert now!

When pianist Stephen Hough returns to Minneapolis to perform Sergei Rachmaninoff’s ‘Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini’ with the Minnesota Orchestra on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, he will be following in the footsteps of the great Russian composer, who gave the Minnesota premiere of his work in 1935, with conductor Eugene Ormandy and the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra. Find out more!

On Jan. 1, 2023, conductor Mei-Ann Chen and the Minnesota Orchestra rang in the new year with a program featuring music by Leonard Bernstein, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and a piece by Jessie Montgomery performed by special guest Awadagin Pratt. Listen to the concert now as we prepare for 2024!

In this season of holiday traditions, few are as magnificent and memorable as Handel's ‘Messiah.’ British conductor Christopher Warren-Green returns to lead the Minnesota Orchestra, the Minnesota Chorale and soloists in this glorious work. Listen live at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8, on YourClassical MPR.

Michael Giacchino not only is a film composer but also a filmmaker. He shares his experience directing and composing music for Marvel’s ‘Werewolf by Night,’ which will be screened with a live performance of his score by the Minnesota Orchestra on Wednesday, Oct. 4, at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis.

The Minnesota Orchestra’s recording of ‘brea(d)th,’ which premiered in May at Orchestra Hall, has been released on all streaming platforms by Decca Records.

Jon Kimura Parker shares his love and admiration for British singer, pianist and composer Elton John. Listen as he shares a snippet of a song that shaped his youth with YourClassical MPR host Melissa Ousley.