Distinctive Voices: Three Must-Hear Violin Albums
by Tom Huizenga
From the sweet melodies by Bach to the quiet sound world of Morton Feldman, sample three fascinating new albums by today's top fiddlers.
Wired: Come Hear New Music That Uses The Manhattan Bridge
by Anastasia Tsioulcas
Friday at 6:30 PM, come hear a singular world premiere at Make Music New York. A collaboration commissioned by NPR Music with artist Eli Keszler and drumming dynamos So Percussion uses the Manhattan Bridge itself as part of the music-making.
Playing Mozart — On Mozart's Violin
by Anastasia Tsioulcas
Hearing — and holding — Mozart's own instruments is a thrill like no other. The great composer's violin and viola, which are only pulled out of storage in Salzburg about once a year, are in the United States for the very first time. And the magic they wield is undeniable.
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An Inconvenient Tune
by Pablo Helguera
Fridays are funnier with a classical cartoon at noon from Deceptive Cadence.
A Loaded Bible Story, Tweaked For The Opera Stage
by Cy Musiker
Composer Mark Adamo has made his mark turning classic books, including Little Women and the Greek drama Lysistrata, into operas. His latest, The Gospel of Mary Magdalene, covers more sensitive territory, examining the titular figure's relationship to Jesus — outside the canonical Bible.
Ukrainian Wins Top Prize At Van Cliburn Piano Competition
KERAVadym Kholodenko, 26, of Ukraine, takes home the $50,000 purse, plus three years of professional management. But, he says, the rankings don't mean that much. It's interesting for the audience, Kholodenko says, but in life it's "not so important."
David Finckel On The Emerson Quartet's Changing Of The Guard
by NPR Staff
The quartet's new album of Tchaikovsky and Schoenberg is the last to feature the cellist and longtime member of the group.
The Cage-y Consumer
by Pablo Helguera
Fridays are funnier with a classical cartoon at noon, from Deceptive Cadence.
The Cliburn Competition After Van
Founded in 1962, the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition continues this year without the presence of its iconic namesake. But organizers and contestants believe the contest — as well as its high standards and ability to boost careers — will remain.
'Becoming Traviata': A Look At Opera From Behind The Curtain
by Tom Huizenga
For a film built almost completely from rehearsals on a bare stage, there's a surprising amount of drama — especially between a stage director and his charismatic star, French soprano Natalie Dessay.
