While Minnesota Public Radio has broadcast Minnesota Orchestra performances for listeners for decades, it has also broadcast numerous stories on the many aspects of the renowned classical music organization. This collection highlights a number of memorable moments.
January 16, 1986 - On this Midday call-in program, MPR’s Beth Friend talks with Edo de Waart, the Dutch conductor who was the music director of the Minnesota Orchestra. De Waart discusses his classical career, programming, and interest in coming to Minnesota.
September 8, 1986 - This Midday call-in program features a conversation between MPR’s Beth Friend and Edo de Waart, music director at the Minnesota Orchestra. The two discuss de Waart’s first season as music director of the Minnesota Orchestra. Edo de Waart also answers listener questions about the new season, challenges in the classical music industry, and instrumentation.
December 29, 1986 - MPR’s Beth Friend reports on the impact taking place with the Minnesota Orchestra as the organization experiences first season with Edo de Waart as music director. The conductor hopes to win over audiences with programs that highlight contemporary classical compositions, not only centuries old works.
October 24, 1987 - MPR’s Mark Heistad reports on "Kinder Koncert," a Minnesota Orchestra performance focused on bringing classical music to children. Reports features interviews with musicians Adele Lorraine and Edward Stack; and composer Dan Sturm on the premiere of his composition, "The Grandfather Tree".
July 26, 1989 - On this Midday program, conductor Leonard Slatkin, who is concluding his tenure as artistic director of the Minnesota Orchestra Sommerfest, has a conversation with MPR’s Bob Potter and answers listener questions about his approach to music making.
July 9, 1990 - On this hour of Midday, Michael Steinberg, artistic director of the Minnesota Orchestra Sommerfest; and his wife Jorja Fleezanis, a concertmaster, take listener's questions about Sommerfest in Minneapolis.
April 26, 1993 - MPR’s Gary Eichten talks with famous musician Doc Severinsen, who has been named the first principal pops conductor for the Minnesota Orchestra. Severinsen details what symphony orchestra program will look like as a “pops” concert.
December 17, 1994 - William Eddins, assistant conductor for Minnesota Orchestra, plays the piano and answers listener questions about music appreciation, broadcast from MPR's Maud Moon Weyerhaueser Music Studio.
May 8, 1997 - MPR’s John Rabe talks with Larry Schoenberg, son of composer son of composer Arnold Schoenberg. The two discuss Arnold Schoenberg’s evolving compositions and The Minnesota Orchestra performance of Schoenberg’s piece “Guerre-Lieder.”
May 24, 2001 - A profile on Finnish conductor Osmo Vänskä, who has been named new music director of the Minnesota Orchestra. Report contains various commentaries and interviews about the conductor and his leadership style.