Regional Spotlight - Summer Singers

The lake place can wait when the Summer Singers are performing. Vicki Peters is the director of a most dedicated group of singers who bring passion and commitment to their performances when most choral singers are taking time off. The joy of their music making will capture your heart. In this week's Regional Spotlight are two pieces recorded in concert last July. Both are hauntingly beautiful.

• Minnesota Opera - Donizetti's Mary Stuart
  Two of history's most commanding women, Queen Elizabeth I and Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots, engage in a ruthless fight for the English throne - and the heart of one man. While Mary languishes in prison, Elizabeth forges a devastating plot to secure the crown. Judith Howarth (Mary) and Brenda Harris (Elizabeth), star as the dueling divas.
• New Classical Tracks - Sibelius from Minnesota
  Conductor Osmo Vanska has begun recording the Sibelius symphonies with the Minnesota Orchestra. Though he's been intensely involved with the composer's music for years, he finds it as compelling as ever.
• Playlist for Children
  Continuing with our New Year's resolution playlists, Host Emily Reese compiled a list to get kids up and moving to Classical Music.
• Whimsy Now and Then: "Roll Credits Redux" and Relache - An Essay by Bill Morelock
  Lynne "I can't believe they're letting us do this again" Warfel and Bill "Who's minding the store anyway?" Morelock return with Roll Credits, their movie music show, Monday night at 7 on Classical MPR. A few notes on the show here, plus a look at a film born at a time when Frivolity forged a movement. Its manifesto: it means nothing.
• The Enchanted Island - A World Premiere at the Met
  "The Enchanted Island" gets its broadcast premiere at The Metropolitan Opera Saturday. Hear it live on Classical MPR at noon central.
• Flicks in Five: The Magnificent Seven
  As we head into the awards season for movies, it's interesting to consider the nominee who didn't win on the day, but Elmer Bernstein's score has outlived the film itself to become part of our popular culture.