SymphonyCast

This year’s Virtual BBC Proms celebrated the past, reflected on the present and explored the future, all done virtually.  We'll share the radio broadcast of the Last Night of the BBC Proms on the 10/2 broadcast of SymphonyCast.

In the year that the Proms turns 125 years old, the 2020 season brings the spirit of the Proms to music-lovers at home with treasures from the past and incredible live performances from the present.  Don't miss it, Fridays on SymphonyCast 9/18-10/2.

In the August 7th broadcast, the SPCO’s Chamber Music Series continues its practice of featuring their own musicians as composers and arrangers.  We'll hear violinist Maureen Nelson taking on the challenge in arranging this Renaissance Suite.

For many of us, just a few notes from Paul Dukas' The Sorcerer's Apprentice immediately conjurs up images of water rising as the brooms carry buckets of water to the Sorcerer's basement.  Enjoy this rhythmic music again, perhaps with the whole family on the July 3rd broadcast.

Grammy Award-winning classical guitarist Jason Vieaux, is the guitarist that goes beyond the classical. NPR describes Vieaux as “perhaps the most precise and soulful classical guitarist of his generation.”  We'll hear him perform Leshnoff and Ravel in the June 19th broadcast. 

One of Spain’s most distinguished international conductors, Juanjo Mena has been Chief Conductor of the BBC Philharmonic, Artistic Director of the Bilbao Symphony Orchestra, Chief Guest Conductor of the Orchestra del Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa and Principal Guest Conductor of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. On May 29th we'll hear him conduct the Minnesota Orchestra. 

Carl Maria von Weber wrote a piece that will be featured this month on SymphonyCast. "Invitation to the Dance" is a description of a dance, not necessarily a dance-piece in itself. The piece was orchestrated by Berlioz, and you can dance along as you listen this month (4/17). 

4/3        Beethoven: Overture to Coriolan Shaw: Watermark Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3 (Jonathan Biss, p and dir; Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra; Mischa Santora, cond)

John Adams' piece Gnarly Buttons features solo clarinet and a chamber ensemble that includes a sampling keyboard loaded with cow samples. On 3/6 hear this chamber piece paired with Holst's The Planets played by the Minnesota Orchestra.

"Must the Devil have all the good tunes?" John Adams' piano concerto asks exactly that question this month on SymphonyCast (2/14). The piece features solo piano (performed by Yuja Wang), bass guitar and "detuned 'honky tonk' piano." Tune in to hear the piece marked "Gritty, Funky" and conducted by Gustavo Dudamel. 

The Labeque sisters round out a month's worth of programs from concert halls across the U.S. on SymphonyCast (1/31).