September 23, 2005 - MPR’s Karl Gehrke reports on Seattle composer Stehen Newby’s “Rondo Oratorio,” It is a multi-movement work for large chorus, chamber orchestra, rhythm section, soloists and narrators that captures the spirit of the people who lived in St. Paul's long-gone Rondo neighborhood.
September 23, 2005 - MPR’s Greta Cunningham interviews Minnesota author Louise Erdrich about her book “The Painted Drum.” The story is of a New Hampshire woman, an Ojibwe Indian and a Native American drum.
September 29, 2005 - In 1890, a 19-year-old girl stole her family's savings and ran away from her rural Ireland home to come to America. May Dunigan {DYE-gah-nan} had hopes of creating an exciting new life. She eventually became a prostitute, a grifter and spent time in prison for plotting to kill a jealous lover. May called herself "Queen of the Crooks." After her looks faded and she fell on hard times, a police officer encouraged her to write an auto-biography. It's THIS book that's the basis for Irish writer Nuala O'Faolain's new biography THE STORY OF CHICAGO MAY. O'Faolin's previous books "Are you Somebody?" and "Almost There" are New York Times best-sellers. She told Minnesota Public Radio's Greta Cunningham Chicago May was forgotten by Ireland and her relatives--which is not too surprising considering she left her hard-working family penniless.
October 3, 2005 - Tom Crann interviews Minnesota writer Ann Bauer about her book "A Wild Ride up the Cupboards," a story of how one family struggles with their son's withdrawal, and how his parents, Jack and Rachel, make sense of it in their own ways.
October 11, 2005 - Minnesota has often been called the choral center of the U.S. The state is filled not only with church and school choirs, but also professional choirs with reputations that extend beyond Minnesota's borders. This is a busy time for many of those choirs as they get ready for their season-opening concerts this month. But missing for the second year is one of the best-known choruses in the state. Minnesota Public Radio's Karl Gehrke has more.
October 20, 2005 - MPR’s Karl Grehrke interviews local jazz musician Dave Graf about life as a trombonist and his first CD release, “Just Like That.” Gehrke also speaks with Artegra label founder Warren Sampson and trumpeter Dave Jensen about Graf.
October 25, 2005 - MPR’s Chris Roberts talks with Minneapolis trumpeter Charles Lazarus. The 36-year-old plays trumpet for the Minnesota Orchestra, but for Lazarus, the orchestral repertoire isn't the only music that matters. With the CD release of “Solo Settings,” he displays a stylistic range that extends well beyond the classical canon.
November 14, 2005 - Voices of Minnesota visits two prominent Native American Minnesotans: Helen Blue-Redner is the former chairwoman of the Upper Sioux Community, and Carl Gawboy is an artist.
November 15, 2005 - MPR’s Euan Kerr interviews Gregory Maguire, author of “Wicked,” who shares that his purpose behind creating book series was in exploring the idea of evil.
November 17, 2005 - All Things Considered’s Tom Crann profiles “To Be Certain of the Dawn.” The new oratorio is written by Stephen Paulus to a text of Michael Dennis Browne for the Minnesota Orchestra, the choirs at the Basilica, and soloists.