This activity is made possible in part by the 

Minnesota Legacy Amendment's Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund

This activity is made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment's Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.


Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment logo

Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment

Sabina Thatcher Interview

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Alison Young

How do you make a group of actors look like they've been playing string instruments all their lives? Bring in the consultants! Alison Young speaks with SPCO Principal Violist Sabina Thatcher about how she helped these actors look so natural on-stage.


The SPCO

Actors play musicians in Park Square's "Opus"

Spring for Music, a new and innovative festival of concerts by North American symphony and chamber orchestras presented annually at Carnegie Hall to broad music-loving audiences, is being presented through a unique marketing structure built around adventurous and creative programs. The festival is designed to allow chosen orchestras to showcase their artistic philosophies through distinctive and creative programming in one of the world's most competitive musical environments.


Classical Live - Spring For Music

Photos from the ongoing Spring for Music series brought to you by Classical Live.


Classical Live: Spring for Music Slideshow

Music in Minnesotans: James Sewell

In this week's edition, Alison Young talks with Dancer/Choreographer/Artistic Director James Sewell. He has long used classical music as a source for the dances he creates, and you'll never hear these pieces the same when he describes how the vibrations move him!


Music with Minnesotans

Music with Minnesotans: James Sewell

Jennifer Allen is the Associate Music Director for Classical MPR and is responsible for classical music programming and library organization. What she enjoys most about her job is sharing great music with MPR audiences. Anderson started with Classical MPR as an intern in October 2005. She holds a degree in music from Macalester College and currently resides in St. Paul.


Jennifer Allen

Classical MPR's assistant music director takes a musical trip around America, led by Spring for Music orchestras


American Panorama

Christian Zacharias shares his "desert island discs"

He's one of the greatest Mozart interpreters in the world, and this weekend, he'll be right here in Minnesota. Christian Zacharias plays and conducts the SPCO in our live broadcast this Saturday at 8:00 on Classical MPR. You can listen on-line now to his "desert island discs."


Christian Zacharias "Desert Island Discs"

The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra live broadcast this Saturday

Building upon a curiosity which began in his teens, Michael Barone has been involved with the pipe organ for more than 65 years. As host and senior executive producer of Pipedreams, produced and distributed by American Public Media, he is recognized nationally for his outstanding contributions to the world of organ music. Pipedreams began in 1982 and remains the only nationally distributed weekly radio program exploring the art of the pipe organ. Michael's talent and commitment have been recognized with numerous awards, including the American Guild of Organists President's Award in 1996, the Distinguished Service Award of the Organ Historical Society in 1997 and the 2001 ASCAP-Deems Taylor Award. In November 2002 he was selected for induction to the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame. For 22 years he was host for broadcasts of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and his weekly program devoted to The New Releases aired for 40 years on Minnesota Public Radio.  Additionally, since 1997 he has been host for USA broadcasts of A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from King’s College, Cambridge, England.


Michael Barone

Bach's Birthday is Monday and we celebrate all day this Saturday with a cycle of free hour-long concerts at five Saint Paul churches.


Party on Saturday for Johann

Ludwig van Beethoven, Violin Sonata No. 4: Andante scherzoso - Steven Copes/Shai Wosner

Steve Staruch can be heard on Classical Minnesota Public Radio on Monday mornings and at other times during the week. Prior to joining the staff of MPR in 2004, Steve presented a variety of radio programs on WCAL in Northfield, Minn., where he created an immensely popular call-in program, and on WXXI in Rochester, New York. Outside radio, Steve also enjoys work as a freelance tenor and violist. Steve and his wife, Naomi, enjoy traveling, gardening and hosting dinner parties.


Steve Staruch

Long time friends, SPCO concertmaster Steven Copes and pianist Shai Wosner played Beethoven to open their Music in the Park recital.


Ludwig van Beethoven, Violin Sonata No. 4: Presto - Steven Copes/Shai Wosner

Regional Spotlight™

Regional Spotlight: Shai Wosner and Steven Copes

Gabriela Frank with the SPCO

"Elegia Andina (Andean Elegy)," Gabriela Lena Frank, SPCO, 11.15.08

Frida Kahlo comes to life again in a stunning set of songs by the American Latina composer Gabriela Lena Frank written for Dawn Upshaw and the Saint Paul Chamber orchestra.


New music at the SPCO by Gabriela Frank

Four Songs, Samuel Barber - Sasha Cooke, mezzo-soprano/Wu-Han, piano

Gustav Mahler called it "probably the most personal composition I have created thus far" - Das Lied von der Erde - The Song of the Earth. This Saturday at 8:00 you'll have a front row seat for a spectacular setting arranged for smaller forces by Arnold Schoenberg when we broadcast live the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra with their new artistic partner Edo de Waart and the thrilling up-and-coming mezzo, Sasha Cooke.


About The SPCO