How did it happen that a terrific guitarist from Bolivia and an expressive singer from Colombia came to the frozen north to form a hot ensemble with two other musicians named "Peterson"? In this week's Regional Spotlight, Steve Staruch welcomes Mestifonia to the Maud Moon Weyerhaeuser Studio. Mestifonia is part of Classical MPR's Class Notes Concerts program.
The holiday season is filled with sweets. But maybe you like a little spice in your holiday eggnog. Listen as Orkestar Bez Ime joins Steve Staruch to perform its full-bodied music from the Black Sea region.
Let the young guys of the Minnesota Boychoir put some warmth in your eggnog. They joined Steve Staruch in the Maud Moon Weyerhaeuser Studio for a sample of their upcoming holiday performances. With singing both merry and bright, warm and inviting, the holiday season truly begins with the Minnesota Boychoir.
Juliana Soltis is a cellist of remarkable gifts and insights. She is on a solo tour performing Bach's Cello Suites. You've never heard Bach played this way before.
It's Chopin, playing as gorgeous and as fleeting as the last rays of the sun on a late Autumn day. Award-winning Russian pianist Pavel Kolesnikov's Frederic Chopin Society recital in October included Chopin's Nocturne Op. 15, No. 1. Kolesnikov makes the piano sing. His performance is in this week's Regional Spotlight.
There is an impressionistic quality to Ilmari Hannikainen's piano music -- profoundly Finnish, mysterious and dark. Listen as Minnesota pianist Gail Olszewski shares works by Hannikainen in this week's Regional Spotlight.
Alexander Boldachev is a young Russian harpist. He is on a U.S. tour. His performance of Debussy's Arabesque No. 1 from the Dakota in Minneapolis is in this week's Regional Spotlight.
Tony Ross, the principal cello of the Minnesota Orchestra, recently celebrated his 60th birthday performing some of his favorite chamber works with the Chamber Music Society of Minnesota. The highlight of the program was the Schubert Quintet. Joyful and sweet, the opening of this cherished piece is in this week's Regional Spotlight.
