If you happened to drive past a Nebraska farm in the late 1970s or early 80s, you might have seen a couple guys driving tractors while seeming to conduct an orchestra. In the run-up to Father's Day, Ward Jacobson shares a heart-warming story about the music-related joys he shared with his father.
Danish composer Bent Sorensen has been named winner of the prestigious Grawemeyer Award for Music Composition, which doles out a rare prize of $100,000, one of the biggest monetary prizes among composition awards.
The relationship between Classical MPR and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra has been long and fruitful on both sides.
Everyone knows the sounds of Halloween: creaky floorboards, howling winds, the amplified sound of a beating heart. But back in the day, the devil was said to exist in a particular musical tone: the devil's interval.
Martin Luther started a theological revolution that ignited wars, reshaped Europe and influenced culture in many ways, including the creation of two ideas that underlie some of Germany's greatest music.
Understanding young audiences is key to engaging them, say Minnesota Opera staff - but, they add, connecting their art form with new audiences doesn't just mean catering to millennials. Only a small fraction of all Americans attend opera in any given year, so there's room for growth across all demographics.
Record Store Day, April 22, isn't just for fans of Prince and Pink Floyd: classical music lovers can score some rare vinyl as well.
No spoilers! Except the fact that one of the subjects of the podcast 'S-Town' turns out to be a special fan of Giuseppe Verdi - as performed by Andrea Bocelli.
Classical host Bill Morelock shares a reflection on the work of contemporary composer Daniel Gilliam. 'An art song is a gemstone, cut to perfection. That's something we all can appreciate,' Morelock writes. 'It's delicate work, as in our jewel simile, involving subtleties and small details that require attention to apprehend.'
Musical genius is about more than what music you write: it's about when you write it, and where you put it. Philip Glass has been in a lot of the right places, at a lot of the right times, for 80 years and counting.
What's the difference between violin playing and fiddling? Daniel Johnson explains.
How is writing music like writing fiction? Cinda Yager shares her correspondence with composer Conrad Winslow.
The third season of 'Mozart in the Jungle' will be released tomorrow, Dec. 9. Here are ten questions we're burning to know the answers to.
One of the most unexpected developments in recent years is the return of the live theatrical musical to a buzzworthy position in pop culture. What's going on?
The nominations for the 59th annual Grammy awards were announced this morning. Beyonce leads the pack with a total of nine nominations for 'Lemonade,' and many classical artists are honored as well.
This week's top classical music news stories include a new report on the changing finances of U.S. orchestras, the rise of a new leader at Lincoln Center, and a cellist campaigning against brothels.
On Saturday night, Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg took the stage with the Washington National Opera to perform a speaking role in Donizetti's 'The Daughter of the Regiment.' Her dialogue, which Ginsburg wrote herself, turned out to be pointed.
This week's top news stories in the classical music world include an apologetic ash-thrower, the death of a great pianist, and a literary award for a famed composer.
Professional cellist and best-selling author Edward Kelsey Moore shares a lesson he's learned from a career in the arts that has included work on some failed productions. 'Being a little, or a lot, delusional isn't the sad result of a long career in the arts,' he writes. 'It's one of the prerequisites.' Read and listen to the complete story, which includes Ginger Rogers and legendary director Joshua Logan.
This week's top classical news stories include a composer speaking out against racism in classical music; a piano prize for Benjamin Grosvenor; and a tragedy in the family of one of the Piano Guys.