Poster Steve Seel
Steve Seel
MPR

SymphonyCast®

With Steve Seel

Lviv National Philharmonic

Lviv National Philharmonic

This week on ‘SymphonyCast,’ host Steve Seel brings us a concert of inspiration from an orchestra in Lviv, a town on Ukraine’s western border with Poland. It dares to do the unthinkable: carry a musical message of hope across the world during a period of war and instability. Listen now.

WDR Symphony Orchestra

WDR Symphony Orchestra

On ‘SymphonyCast’ this week, acclaimed sibling piano duo Arthur and Lucas Jussen share the stage with the WDR Symphony Orchestra, performing Mendelssohn’s Concerto for Two Pianos. Listen now with host Steve Seel.  

A Far Cry chamber orchestra

A Far Cry chamber orchestra

This week on ‘SymphonyCast,’ we hear A Far Cry’s 2023 season-opening concert, ‘Reimagined.’ It explores how we develop music and ideas as a way to process change and to adapt and grow. Listen now with host Steve Seel.

Minnesota Orchestra

Minnesota Orchestra

This week on SymphonyCast, Gabriela Montero makes her Minnesota Orchestra debut, performing her ‘Latin Piano Concerto’ in a program featuring repertoire inspired by Spanish and Latin America musical traditions. Listen now with host Steve Seel.    

Nashville Symphony

Nashville Symphony

On the latest episode of ‘SymphonyCast,’ the Grammy-nominated and internationally renowned pianist joins the Nashville Symphony for Grieg's Piano Concerto. Also included in the program is Shostakovich's Symphony which was a pivotal work in the great Russian composer’s career. Listen now with host Steve Seel.

WDR Symphony Orchestra

WDR Symphony Orchestra

On the latest episode of ‘SymphonyCast,’ conductor Cristian Măcelaru leads the WDR Symphony Orchestra in two showpieces for violin and orchestra, plus a big treat: Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 1. Listen now with host Steve Seel.

NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra

NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra

This week on ‘SymphonyCast,’ the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra is led by conductor Jukka-Pekka Saraste in what is arguably Jean Sibelius’ most beloved symphony, No. 2. Listen now with host Steve Seel.

Shanghai Symphony Orchestra

Shanghai Symphony Orchestra

The Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and its principal violist, Diyang Mei, present an adaptation of Edward Elgar’s famous Cello Concerto on this week’s SymphonyCast. Listen now with host Steve Seel.

Oslo Philharmonic

Oslo Philharmonic

This week on SymphonyCast, the Oslo Philharmonic and renowned Argentine cellist Sol Gabetta shine in Shostakovich’s First Cello Concerto. Also featured are Julia Perry’s ‘Short Piece for Orchestra’ and Tchaikovsky’s ‘Pathetique Symphony.’ Listen now with host Steve Seel.

Lakes Area Music Festival

Lakes Area Music Festival

This week on SymphonyCast, conductor Christian Reif leads a concert at the Lakes Area Music Festival in northern Minnesota that’s inspired by the mystery and warmth of summer nights, featuring a tone poem by Anna Clyne, reflective songs by Hector Berlioz and the Second Symphony by Johannes Brahms. Listen now with host Steve Seel.

About SymphonyCast®

The Show

SymphonyCast®, with host Steve Seel, is a two-hour weekly radio program featuring a full-length concert by a major orchestra. Material is drawn from Europe’s premier symphony orchestras, along with U.S. orchestras such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Nashville Symphony and the Cleveland Orchestra.

Our Host

Steve Seel

Steve Seel possesses a broad knowledge of many musical genres, having hosted radio programs ranging from classical to jazz and even avant-garde music at radio stations around the country. Steve began his love affair with public radio at 24 working whatever shifts he could at his hometown station of WUSF-FM in Tampa, Florida, and from there worked his way to snowy Buffalo, New York, and its renowned classical station WNED-FM, where he hosted middays and the weekly experimental-music show Present Tense. In 2005, Steve became one of the founding voices on Minnesota Public Radio's eclectic station, the Current. While there, he hosted afternoons and mornings, and conducted in-depth interviews with pop music luminaries ranging from Brian Eno to David Byrne to Tori Amos. Steve is a basement composer obsessed with all things both minimalist and slow, and might actually be incapable of writing anything that exceeds 75 beats-per-minute.

The Team

Daniel Nass, Producer

Daniel Nass is the producer of SymphonyCast®. He is responsible for creating the sound of the show, including choosing music programming and conducting artist interviews. In his nonproducer life, he is an avid runner and an award-winning composer.

Michael Osborne, Technical Director

Michael "Ozzie" Osborne is the Technical Director for SymphonyCast®. He masters the live and recorded music recordings that are programmed for each SymphonyCast® show. He also enjoys photography, listening to music and bicycling.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the name of the composer, performer or piece I heard on the show?

Complete playlist information is available for each show. Click on a specific episode to access a detailed playlist.

What is the theme music at the beginning of every SymphonyCast® episode?

It’s the opening trumpet fanfare from Steve Heitzeg’s Nobel Symphony.

Can I buy a recording of music I heard on your show?

It’s possible, but not likely. Many of the performances that you hear on SymphonyCast® are not available for purchase because they were played at a live concert. In some cases, the musicians have recorded that same music for a commercial CD. If so, album title and recording label information will be available in the episode playlist.

How do I leave a comment?

Use our contact form to send us your thoughts.