Camille Saint-Saens

Camille Saint-Saens lived from the waning years of music's classical era, all the way into the early decades of 20th-century modernism. The tumultuous, romantic opera, Samson and Dalila is one of his many masterpieces.

Joshua Bell has unpacked his fancy fiddle in places as diverse as Carnegie Hall and the Washington, D.C. subway. Hear him, along with pianist Jeremy Denk, play the passionate Violin Sonata No. 1 by Saint-Saens in concert at the intimate Spivey Hall, near Atlanta.

This week, talented teen voices ring out in the home of Houston Grand Opera. From the Wortham Theater Center, a 17-year-old soprano sings Copland, three Texan "spirits" sing a scene from Mozart's Magic Flute. And, for the grand finale, all the young musicians join to perform music from Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel. This program originally aired on April 30, 2008.

From the Music Center at Strathmore in Bethesda, Md., an award-winning teen quartet plays Debussy, a young baritone sings Vaughn Williams and a 15-year-old violinist plays music from a Saint-Saëns concerto. This show originally aired on October 3, 2007.

Robert Siegel talks with a tenor who used to do more than sing for a living. Before becoming an opera singer, Carl Tanner drove a truck. He also made his living as a bounty hunter. But it wasn't his calling. So Tanner is now singing the role of Samson in the Washington National Opera's production of Samson and Dalila.

Opera superstar Maria Callas died 30 years ago Sunday, at age 53. But you'd hardly know she was gone, judging from the steady stream of releases from her record company. It's a testament to the continuing appeal of a great artist.

From the ancient "Day of the Dead" melody to depictions of ghouls and witches, composers have long tapped into the dark side to serve up some deliciously devilish music.

From cuckoos to roosters, nightingales to goldfinches, composers have long been fascinated with the sounds of birds. Hear how their chirps, twitters, and songs are imitated by the instruments of the orchestra.