SymphonyCast

New symphony program comes to Classical 88.7 HD-1 on Saturday evenings

Each week SymphonyCast presents a full-length concert by a national or international symphony orchestra. Concerts are drawn from Europe’s leading ensembles, along with U.S. orchestras, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, The Philadelphia Orchestra and The Cleveland Orchestra. SymphonyCast is hosted by Brian Newhouse, a renowned classical music host, producer and performer.

This program replaces the Minnesota Orchestra and St. Paul Chamber Orchestra concerts, both of which are incorporated into the new SymphonyCast program. Listen on Saturday evenings from 7:00 - 9:00pm.

The Metropolitan Opera on Classical 88.7

2006-07 Radio broadcast season runs through May 5, 2007

Live backstage interviews with the performers will be a new feature of this season’s Metropolitan Opera broadcasts, which begin on Saturday, December 9 and run through May 5. Now in its 76th season, the longest-running classical music series in American broadcast history will feature the finest performances in the world.

The 22-opera broadcast season features 20 live matinee operas (including the world premiere production of Tan Dun’s The First Emperor and the Met broadcast premiere of Richard Strausss’ Die Ägyptische Helena). The broadcasts are hosted by Margaret Juntwait, who returns for her third season. The season will also include two special taped broadcasts (this season’s Madama Butterfly and Maria Callas’s 1956 performance of Lucia di Lammermoor). Heard in more than 40 countries around the world, the Met broadcasts are sponsored by Toll Brothers, America’s luxury home builder™, with generous long- term support from The Annenberg Foundation and the Vincent A. Stabile Foundation.

“The radio broadcasts this year complement a host of new initiatives recently launched by the Met that are designed to help build a larger international audience,” said Peter Gelb, the Met’s new General Manager. “The programming we’re now producing will be presented in a way that will continue to entertain our dedicated listeners, while heightening the interest of newcomers and attracting new fans for opera.”

Intermission content will reflect the excitement of the “new” Met, such as live dressing room interviews with singers and other artists. A new “Backstage Pass” series will feature audio portraits illuminating the intense, behind-the-scenes action at one of the world’s largest opera companies. The beloved Opera Quiz, to air during performances with more than one intermission, will feature a livelier format, with a new “Presto” round of rapid-fire questions, as well as enhanced listener participation.

Beverly Sills and Renée Fleming will make special broadcast appearances for live interviews over the course of the season.

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