Poster Steve Seel
Steve Seel
MPR

SymphonyCast®

With Steve Seel

St. Paul Chamber Orchestra

St. Paul Chamber Orchestra

This week on SymphonyCast, Richard Egarr returns to the Ordway Concert Hall in St. Paul, Minnesota, to lead the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra in a delightful program of works from London. Listen with host Julie Amacher to the wonderful harmonies from the strings in works by Henry Purcell and William Lawes.

Los Angeles Philharmonic

Los Angeles Philharmonic

This week on SymphonyCast, we hear a beautiful performance from Italian pianist Beatrice Rana and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, led by principal guest conductor Susanna Malkki, in the U.S. premiere of Kaija Saariaho’s ‘Vista.’ Listen now with host Julie Amacher!

A Far Cry Chamber Orchestra

A Far Cry Chamber Orchestra

This week on Symponycast, A Far Cry Chamber Orchestra gives us two concerts in one. First, it presents a celebration of women’s strength inspired by Sojourner Truth’s famous “Aint I a Woman” speech. Then A Far Cry performs its signature work, Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings. Listen now with host Julie Amacher.

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra

This week on SymphonyCast, host Julie Amacher welcomes back the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. In this concert, our sensibilities are challenged with experimental celebrations of imperfection. Then functional harmony and technique guide us through an emotional expedition.

Minnesota Orchestra

Minnesota Orchestra

On this week’s episode of SymphonyCast, the Minnesota Orchestra welcomes back a fan-favorite guest, Karina Canellakis. She returns to the podium to lead a program that features Richard Strauss’ musical depiction of ‘Don Quixote.’ Listen now with guest host Melissa Ousley!

Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra

Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra

On this week’s episode of SymphonyCast, we’ll hear a concert from the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra. Karina Canellakis conducts the concert, which features soloist Nicola Benedetti in Karol Szymanowski’s Violin Concerto No. 1. Listen now with guest host Steve Seel.

WDR Symphony Orchestra

WDR Symphony Orchestra

Violinist Augustin Hadelich joins the WDR Symphony Orchestra for ‘Violin Concerto in a minor’ by Antonin Dvorak and conductor Cristian Macelaru leads the orchestra in a fan favorite ‘Symphony No. 2’ by Sergei Rachmaninoff.  

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

On this week’s episode of SymphonyCast with guest host Valerie Kahler, a new fanfare by Wynton Marsalis shows off the orchestra’s brass. Then, ‘Symphonie Fantastique’ completes the concert with a delirious dream fueled by Berlioz’s obsessive passion and unrequited love.

Los Angeles Philharmonic

Los Angeles Philharmonic

On this week’s episode of SymphonyCast with host Julie Amacher, Ludovic Morlot leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic in a concert that features Shostakovich’s epic 10th Symphony.

Buffalo Philharmonic

Buffalo Philharmonic

On this week’s episode of SymphonyCast with host Julie Amacher, JoAnn Falletta leads the Buffalo Symphony Orchestra and Time for Three in a new composition by Jennifer Higdon.

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.