Since MPR was founded in 1967, our studios have been a regular stop for the world's master musicians, composers, and conductors. Additionally, in partnership with Minnesota Orchestra and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, MPR has recorded interviews and performances with many incredible visiting musicians and leaders in the classical music world, such as Bobby McFerrin, Osmo Vänskä, and Neville Marriner, to name a few. The Archive at MPR has preserved these interviews to make them accessible to you. Enjoy this collection which includes unique conversations occasionally combined with performance highlights and excerpts, as well as reports on the local classical scene.
Please note: Most content related to this topic that is contemporary or created after 2005 can be found on our main content pages of YourClassical MPR and MPR News
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.
July 19, 1991 - MPR’s Mindy Ratner interviews local composer Steve Heitzeg on Georgia O'Keeffe.
March 27, 1992 - MPR’s Stephen Smith talks with composer Robert Moran about his operatic work “From the Towers of the Moon.” Moran promotes the idea of children operas. Piece also includes interview clips of soprano Elisabeth Como and composer John Adams.
May 8, 1992 - MPR’s Mark Heistad does a phone interview with Andy Vores, a Welsh classical music and opera composer whose has been named Composer-in-Residence at Bemidji State University.
October 2, 1992 - Worldview Host Mike Maus has a conversation with Latin composers Arthur Kampela & Carlos Sanchez. The two composers detail their compositional process and present music audio examples.
August 6, 1993 - Mainstreet Radio’s Leif Enger shares a story from Ken Amundson, a third-generation violin repairman in Alexandria, Minnesota. His shop has customers from near & far…and Amundson finds some classical friends along the way.
August 13, 1993 - MPR’s Joelle Audette reports on a week long camp at Hoot Owl Resort in Bemidji, where The Borderline Philharmonic gather and perform every summer.
January 22, 1994 - MPR’s Chris Roberts talks with American composer Dominick Argento about his opera “The Dream of Valentino,” a chronicle of the life of silent movie star Rudolph Valentino.
March 26, 1994 - MPR Classical Host Stephanie Wendt interviews the famous pianist Van Cliburn. He talks about his career, faith, and has advice for young musicians.
November 4, 1994 - MPR’s John Rabe chats with pianist Robert Henry as he prepares for an upcoming concert performance. Henry discusses and performs examples on his viewpoint of varying the sound within music. Henry also comments on his musical path and late start as a pianist.