Why does your dishwasher play you a song, and why does your washing machine play Schubert? There's more than meets the eye when it comes to jingles played by your appliances.
To celebrate National Radio Day (Aug. 20), Classical MPR offers a special presentation of our live March 13 broadcast of the Minnesota Orchestra, with remastered audio and new commentary from host Melissa Ousley, as a gift to listeners. On that historic night, the orchestra performed to an audience-less hall amid concerns surrounding the coronavirus.
For Pride Month, we're shining a light on contemporary queer composers to support and listen to. Check out these 10 artists whom you should add to your regular classical listening.
Watch a video featuring 350 students from the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies in a mass virtual performance of 'Jupiter' from Holst's 'The Planets' -- GTCYS' signature season finale piece typically performed at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis.
With much of the world sheltering in place these days, classical artists everywhere are sharing their work through videos of at-home performances. Classical fans are posting all kinds of content, too. Here are some of our favorites.
Do you hate Valentine's Day? Are you tired of hearing romantic arias and serenades all the time? Here's a playlist of anti-romantic and downright miserable classical music to darken your mood.
The harp is perhaps an instrument that has one of the strongest stereotypes associated with it. Why do we think of such a narrow image of harp players? Learn how gender roles and stereotypes have changed for the instrument throughout the years.
Drew Petersen played on a mysterious Steinway piano with a story. Listen to his recent performance at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, and learn about the history of the piano he performed on.
Plenty of classical works are deemed standards in Valentine's Day playlists, but why? Learn how classical music plays a role in romance.
Valentine's Day is approaching, and it's time to queue up some classical music to celebrate. But how much do you know about love-themed classical tunes? Take our quiz to find out, and get inspired!
We asked you to tell us your favorite chamber pieces to celebrate our new Chamber Music stream. We've tallied the votes, and here are the top 20 chamber pieces, as voted by you.
Contemporary music ensemble Roomful of Teeth is reshaping the face of vocal music by blending Western classical techniques with vocal traditions from around the globe.
In honor of the first all-woman spacewalk, we're revisiting the first space-Earth duet, as performed by NASA astronaut Cady Coleman and Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson.
Lizzo, the singer-songwriter-rapper who is making enormous waves in the music industry, started her love for music in a place many other young people do -- in the band room. Her flute remains a key part of her performances. It even has its own Instagram account.
What do your favorite classical hosts love to listen to? You might be surprised. Here are top 10 lists from the people behind the microphone.
Malena Ernman was an international opera star before deciding to stop traveling via plane due to her daughter, Greta Thunberg's, activism surrounding climate change.
Composer John Lunn shares insights on the score for the new film adaptation of 'Downton Abbey,' his composition process and what he's learned about writing music throughout the years.
We're celebrating the life and the legacy of a remarkable pianist, composer and musical muse: Clara Schumann. Sept. 13 marks the 200th anniversary of her birth. Learn more about this often-forgotten figure in history and how her legacy ties in with contemporary artists.
Welcome Melissa Ousley as the new host of Classical MPR's live broadcasts of the Minnesota Orchestra. She takes over at 8 p.m. Fridays from longtime host Brian Newhouse.
Tal, the orangutan, has been making waves at a zoo in North Dakota for not only loving classical music, but playing along with the New York Kammermusiker. Watch him play recorder with the ensemble.