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A Classical Concert at the Supreme Court Violinist Rachel Barton Pine
Every May, the Supreme Court justices invite musicians to the court for a spring concert. This year, violinist Rachel Barton Pine and baritone Rod Gilfrey performed in the elegant East Conference Room of the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C.
Tuesday, May 24, 2005

Fingal's Cave, A Scottish Ocean Cathedral Fingal's Cave in Scotland
In 1829, composer Felix Mendelssohn visited Fingal's Cave, an ocean cave on an uninhabited island of the Inner Hebrides Islands of Scotland. The cave's cathedral-like beauty inspired the composer to write his popular Hebrides Overture.
Monday, May 23, 2005

From the Village to the Concert Hall Ladysmith Black Mambazo; Credit: Heads Up Records
From the sounds of Brazil to the music of South Africa to the world of American jazz, Performance Today explores the connections between folk and classical traditions in music around the world.
Monday, May 16, 2005

Ottorino Respighi's 'Botticelli Triptych' Detail from 'The Birth of Venus'
Ottorino Respighi based his Botticelli Triptych on three famous paintings by the Italian Renaissance master Sandro Botticelli: Spring, Adoration of the Magi and Birth of Venus.
Wednesday, May 11, 2005

Piano Artistry from Konstantin Lifschitz Pianist Konstantin Lifschitz
At 28, Russian pianist Konstantin Lifschitz is celebrated for his exquisite musical sensibility and nuanced playing. He performs Chopin's Waltz No. 1 and Liszt's Paganini Etude No.6 in NPR's Studio 4.
Thursday, April 28, 2005

'Over the Rainbow' Lyricist Honored with Stamp The U.S. Postal Service stamp of Yip Harburg.
The U.S. Postal Service has issued a 37-cent stamp honoring E.Y. "Yip" Harburg, the lyricist behind the songs from The Wizard of Oz. Harburg, who wrote the lyrics to more than songs in all, won a 1939 Academy Award for "Over the Rainbow."
Thursday, April 28, 2005

The Appalachia Waltz Trio: Musical Americana The Appalachia Waltz Trio
As the Appalachia Waltz Trio, fiddler Mark O'Connor, violist Carol Cook and cellist Natalie Haas combine the elegance of classical training with the rhythmic drive of American and Celtic roots music. The group performs music from their new CD Crossroads in Studio 4A.
Friday, April 22, 2005

Violinist Barnabas Kelemen Performs Paganini Barnabas Kelemen
In 2002, Hungarian violinist Barnabas Kelemen won the prestigious International Violin Competition of Indianapolis. The prizes included a four-year loan of a 1683 Stradivarius violin. Hear Kelemen perform on the instrument at NPR.
Tuesday, April 19, 2005

Sextet Harmonies from Concertante Members of the sextet Concertante
There are countless established chamber quartets and trios, but in the world of classical music, touring sextets are uncommon. The string ensemble Concertante is one of the rare exceptions. They perform music by Strauss in NPR's Studio 4A.
Thursday, April 14, 2005

Piano Phenom Lang Lang Performs Mozart, Liszt Pianist Lang Lang
Pianist Lang Lang exploded onto the classical music scene when he was only 17. Today, the 22-year-old Chinese native is an international musical star known for his explosive showmanship and extraordinary technical skill. He performs music by Mozart and Liszt in Studio 4A.
Tuesday, April 12, 2005

Steven Stucky Wins Pulitzer Prize for Music Composer Steven Stucky
Steven Stucky, a Cornell professor, composer and conductor, has won the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for music. His award-winning composition, the Second Concerto for Orchestra, premiered March 12, 2004.
Tuesday, April 5, 2005

A Musical Tribute to Pope John Paul II Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II was a great believer in the spiritual power of music. NPR's Fred Child talks with conductor Gilbert Levine, musical advisor to the Pope, about the some of the music the Pontiff used to convey his thoughts about God and humanity.
Monday, April 4, 2005

April Fool's: Steroid Scandal Plagues Top Musicians
Rumors have been circulating for some time that -- just like in the world of sports -- classical musicians are using performance-enhancing drugs. NPR's Tom Goldman talks to NPR's Lisa Simeone about the speculations.
Friday, April 1, 2005

Pianist Jon Nakamatsu Performs Scarlatti, Liszt Jon Nakamatsu
A native of California, Jon Nakamatsu broke onto the international musical scene in 1997 when he became the first American since 1981 to win the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. He performs music from Scarlatti and Liszt at NPR.
Friday, April 1, 2005

English Music from the American Chamber Players American Chamber Players
The American Chamber Players, a Washington, D.C.-based chamber music ensemble, performs music by the often overlooked English composer Frank Bridge.
Tuesday, March 29, 2005

The Shanghai Quartet, from Cinema to Studio The Shanghai Quartet
In a 20-second scene in the new Woody Allen movie Melinda and Melinda, the celebrated Shanghai Quartet plays the Pizzicato Movement of Bartok's Fourth Quartet. For a complete performance, they join NPR's Fred Child in Studio 4A.
Tuesday, March 22, 2005

Lúnasa: New Sounds in Celtic Music Lúnasa
When Lúnasa released a self-titled debut CD in 1997, the Irish quintet was immediately credited with launching a new chapter in Celtic music. The band performs in Studio 4A.
Thursday, March 17, 2005

Music for a Cause: Tsunami Relief Pianothon Pianist Elena Besprovanik
From a 12-hour marathon piano concert held to benefit tsunami victims, we hear three pianists. First, Elena Besprovanik plays Alfred Grunfeld's Vienna Soiree. Then we hear Jenny Lin play Secreto, by Federico Mompou, follwed by Jung Lin play the Fairy Tale, Op. 34, No. 2, by Nikolai Medtner.
Tuesday, March 8, 2005

Cellist Daniel Mueller-Schott Performs Bach Cellist Daniel Mueller-Schott
In just a few years, Daniel Mueller-Schott has succeeded in establishing himself as one of the most in-demand cellists in the world. The 28-year-old musician performs Bach's Cello Suite No. 4 in NPR's Studio 4A.
Tuesday, March 8, 2005

The Music of Wales: A St. David's Day Celebration Welsh singer and harpist Sian James
Performance Today notes the holiday of St. David -- the patron saint of Wales -- with music from Welsh singer and harpist Sian James and Welsh triple harpist Robin Huw Bowen.
Tuesday, March 1, 2005

Real-Life 'Chorus' Director Shares His Secrets A scene from the French film 'The Chorus.'
In the popular French film The Chorus, a lowly music teacher transforms a group of scruffy delinquents into an angelic-sounding chorus. Jeffrey Smith, music director of Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, joins NPR's Fred Child to talk about the movie and what it takes to teach young boys to sing.
Friday, February 25, 2005

The Legacy of 'Over the Rainbow' Judy Garland with 'Toto' in 'The Wizard of Oz'
The 1939 film The Wizard of Oz became an instant classic with the help of the music of composer Harold Arlen. Commentator Rob Kapilow says that one of the songs, in particular, stands out above the rest. He pays tribute to Arlen's Over the Rainbow.
Tuesday, February 15, 2005

Atlanta Symphony Unveils Design for New Hall The proposed design for the new Atlanta Symphony Hall
The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra reveals plans for a new $300 million symphony center. Designed by renowned architect Santiago Calatrava, the modern structure will be constructed of glass, steel and white concrete.
Thursday, February 10, 2005

The 5 Browns: Making Music a Family Affair The 5 Browns perform in NPR's Studio 4A.
A family quintet of young pianists, The 5 Browns made history as the first set of five siblings to study simultaneously at the Juilliard School. They join NPR's Fred Child for a performance in Studio 4A.
Tuesday, February 8, 2005

Lost Beethoven Concerto Premieres Beethoven
An unfinished piano concerto by the 18-year-old Beethoven was found in the British Museum last year. Reconstructed by Dutch musicologist Cees Nieuwenhuizen, the work premiered Feb. 1 in Rotterdam.
Friday, February 4, 2005

Gallery Discovers Last Known Mozart Painting Detail from the last known portrait of Mozart.
The Gemaeldegalerie in Berlin recently announced the discovery of a painting depicting composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Painted in 1790 by the German artist Johann Georg Edlinger, the work is probably the last portrait of the composer, according to art experts.
Thursday, January 27, 2005

From the Village to the Concert Hall Pipa virtuoso Wu Man
In a multi-part series, NPR's Fred Child explores the connections between folk and oral traditions from around the world and the Western tradition of classical music.
Monday, January 24, 2005

A Musical Tour of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Home The Martin Luther King, Jr. Birth Home; Credit: Joe Cook/National Park Service
Each year, over 600,000 people visit Martin Luther King, Jr.'s boyhood home in Atlanta. NPR's Fred Child goes on a special tour of the house to learn more about the role that music played in King's young life.
Friday, January 15, 2005

Renée Fleming: 'The Inner Voice' Renée Fleming
For most opera critics and fans today, America's reigning soprano is Renee Fleming. In her new autobiography The Inner Voice, Fleming offers a candid, behind-the-scenes look at the life of an opera singer.
Thursday, January 6, 2005

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