Music Makers http://www.npr.org From emerging artists to past masters, find out who is shaking up classical music. We present concerts, interviews, commentary and video from some of today's leading musicians. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:54:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Music Makers http://www.npr.org Wired: Come Hear New Music That Uses The Manhattan Bridge 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. Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:54:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2013/06/17/192653033/wired-come-hear-new-music-that-uses-the-manhattan-bridge?ft=1&f=161362288 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2013/06/17/192653033/wired-come-hear-new-music-that-uses-the-manhattan-bridge?ft=1&f=161362288 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.

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]]> Playing Mozart — On Mozart's Violin 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. Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:23:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2013/06/14/190975113/playing-mozart-on-mozarts-violin?ft=1&f=161362288 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2013/06/14/190975113/playing-mozart-on-mozarts-violin?ft=1&f=161362288 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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]]> A Loaded Bible Story, Tweaked For The Opera Stage Composer Mark Adamo has made his mark turning classic books, including <em>Little Women</em> and the Greek drama <em>Lysistrata,</em> into operas. His latest, <em>The Gospel of Mary Magdalene,</em> covers more sensitive territory, examining the titular figure's relationship to Jesus — outside the canonical Bible. Wed, 12 Jun 2013 16:21:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2013/06/12/190742256/a-loaded-bible-story-tweaked-for-the-opera-stage?ft=1&f=161362288 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2013/06/12/190742256/a-loaded-bible-story-tweaked-for-the-opera-stage?ft=1&f=161362288 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.

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]]> Ukrainian Wins Top Prize At Van Cliburn Piano Competition Vadym 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." Mon, 10 Jun 2013 05:19:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2013/06/10/189511177/ukrainian-wins-top-prize-at-van-cliburn-piano-competition?ft=1&f=161362288 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2013/06/10/189511177/ukrainian-wins-top-prize-at-van-cliburn-piano-competition?ft=1&f=161362288 Vadym 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."

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]]> David Finckel On The Emerson Quartet's Changing Of The Guard The quartet's new album of Tchaikovsky and Schoenberg is the last to feature the cellist and longtime member of the group. Sun, 09 Jun 2013 12:26:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2013/06/09/189851452/david-finckel-on-the-emerson-quartets-changing-of-the-guard?ft=1&f=161362288 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2013/06/09/189851452/david-finckel-on-the-emerson-quartets-changing-of-the-guard?ft=1&f=161362288 The quartet's new album of Tchaikovsky and Schoenberg is the last to feature the cellist and longtime member of the group.

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]]> 'Becoming Traviata': A Look At Opera From Behind The Curtain 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. Tue, 04 Jun 2013 08:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2013/06/04/188306613/becoming-traviata-a-look-at-opera-from-behind-the-curtain?ft=1&f=161362288 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2013/06/04/188306613/becoming-traviata-a-look-at-opera-from-behind-the-curtain?ft=1&f=161362288 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.

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]]> 100 Years After The Riot, The 'Rite' Remains San Francisco Symphony music director Michael Tilson Thomas guides us through the infamous <em>Rite of Spring</em> premiere, the music's longevity and its surprising singability. Wed, 29 May 2013 17:04:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2013/05/29/186926523/100-years-after-the-riot-the-rite-remains?ft=1&f=161362288 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2013/05/29/186926523/100-years-after-the-riot-the-rite-remains?ft=1&f=161362288 San Francisco Symphony music director Michael Tilson Thomas guides us through the infamous Rite of Spring premiere, the music's longevity and its surprising singability.

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]]> Colors Swirl In A Real Rite Of Spring Composer and pianist Vijay Iyer and filmmaker Prashant Bhargava transport Igor Stravinsky's imagined springtime religious ritual to India, where such a celebration is real: the joyous Hindu holiday called Holi. Watch excerpts of the film and hear the entire musical performance. Tue, 28 May 2013 13:01:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2013/05/28/186442052/colors-swirl-in-a-real-rite-of-spring?ft=1&f=161362288 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2013/05/28/186442052/colors-swirl-in-a-real-rite-of-spring?ft=1&f=161362288 Composer and pianist Vijay Iyer and filmmaker Prashant Bhargava transport Igor Stravinsky's imagined springtime religious ritual to India, where such a celebration is real: the joyous Hindu holiday called Holi. Watch excerpts of the film and hear the entire musical performance.

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]]> Watch A Mind-Blowing Visualization Of 'The Rite Of Spring' Composer and artist Stephen Malinowski has created an incredibly illuminating — but very easy to understand — path into exploring Stravinsky's music, thanks to what he calls his "Music Animation Machine." Mon, 27 May 2013 06:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2013/05/27/186461168/watch-a-mind-blowing-visualization-of-the-rite-of-spring?ft=1&f=161362288 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2013/05/27/186461168/watch-a-mind-blowing-visualization-of-the-rite-of-spring?ft=1&f=161362288 Composer and artist Stephen Malinowski has created an incredibly illuminating — but very easy to understand — path into exploring Stravinsky's music, thanks to what he calls his "Music Animation Machine."

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]]> Leonard Bernstein's 'Rite of Spring' Thrill Ride Watch the energetic conductor take flight conducting the London Symphony Orchestra in Stravinsky's iconic score. A recently released DVD of a 1966 performance includes an interview with Bernstein, in which he says the famously brutal music "makes a marvelous kind of savage sound." Sat, 25 May 2013 06:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2013/05/25/186489566/leonard-bernsteins-rite-of-spring-thrill-ride?ft=1&f=161362288 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2013/05/25/186489566/leonard-bernsteins-rite-of-spring-thrill-ride?ft=1&f=161362288 Watch the energetic conductor take flight conducting the London Symphony Orchestra in Stravinsky's iconic score. A recently released DVD of a 1966 performance includes an interview with Bernstein, in which he says the famously brutal music "makes a marvelous kind of savage sound."

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]]> The Cocktail Party Guide To Igor Stravinsky Don't know neo-nationalism from neoclassicism? Bone up on the surprisingly multifaceted career of Igor Stravinsky as the 100th anniversary of his iconic <em>Rite of Spring</em> approaches. Fri, 24 May 2013 14:41:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2013/05/24/186443524/the-cocktail-party-guide-to-igor-stravinsky?ft=1&f=161362288 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2013/05/24/186443524/the-cocktail-party-guide-to-igor-stravinsky?ft=1&f=161362288 Don't know neo-nationalism from neoclassicism? Bone up on the surprisingly multifaceted career of Igor Stravinsky as the 100th anniversary of his iconic Rite of Spring approaches.

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]]> Henri Dutilleux, Leading French Composer, Dies At 97 The composer, who never fit into any particular school of composition, will be remembered for a relatively small quantity of perfectly realized, richly textured works created for some of the 20th century's leading virtuosos. Wed, 22 May 2013 15:50:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2013/05/22/186052590/henri-dutilleux-leading-french-composer-dies-at-97?ft=1&f=161362288 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2013/05/22/186052590/henri-dutilleux-leading-french-composer-dies-at-97?ft=1&f=161362288 The composer, who never fit into any particular school of composition, will be remembered for a relatively small quantity of perfectly realized, richly textured works created for some of the 20th century's leading virtuosos.

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]]> Gods And Monsters: 5 Unforgettable Wagner Moments For the 200 anniversary of Richard Wagner's birth, William Berger, author of <em>Wagner Without Fear</em>, guides us through five of his favorite Wagner moments — musical episodes that keep the composer's extraordinary dramas in our lives today. Tue, 21 May 2013 12:06:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2013/05/20/185532142/the-visitor-s-guide-to-wagner-5-unforgettable-moments?ft=1&f=161362288 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2013/05/20/185532142/the-visitor-s-guide-to-wagner-5-unforgettable-moments?ft=1&f=161362288 For the 200 anniversary of Richard Wagner's birth, William Berger, author of Wagner Without Fear, guides us through five of his favorite Wagner moments — musical episodes that keep the composer's extraordinary dramas in our lives today.

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]]> Andris Nelsons Named Music Director Of The Boston Symphony The announcement that the 34-year-old Latvian conductor is taking the reins of the ensemble puts an end to years of uncertainty at the storied orchestra, following James Levine's 2011 resignation. Thu, 16 May 2013 12:07:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2013/05/16/184480130/andris-nelsons-named-music-director-of-the-boston-symphony?ft=1&f=161362288 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2013/05/16/184480130/andris-nelsons-named-music-director-of-the-boston-symphony?ft=1&f=161362288 The announcement that the 34-year-old Latvian conductor is taking the reins of the ensemble puts an end to years of uncertainty at the storied orchestra, following James Levine's 2011 resignation.

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]]> What Do You Get Valery Gergiev For His 60th Birthday? Today marks the superstar conductor's birthday. So what do you get for the man with plum posts the world over? In the case of Russian president Vladimir Putin, you give him a newly resuscitated Soviet prize — and a brand-new theater. Thu, 02 May 2013 12:53:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2013/05/02/180539523/what-do-you-get-valery-gergiev-for-his-60th-birthday?ft=1&f=161362288 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2013/05/02/180539523/what-do-you-get-valery-gergiev-for-his-60th-birthday?ft=1&f=161362288 Today marks the superstar conductor's birthday. So what do you get for the man with plum posts the world over? In the case of Russian president Vladimir Putin, you give him a newly resuscitated Soviet prize — and a brand-new theater.

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