It's been one year since the death of the great soprano Jessye Norman, photographed here in 2006 in Germany. Sean Gallup/Getty Images hide caption
Classical Classical music performances and features from NPR news, NPR cultural programs, and NPR Music stations.
Classical
Composer Sarah Kirkland Snider's Mass for the Endangered is a prayer for the wildlife on our planet. Anja Schutz/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
An undated portrait of the violinist Lara St. John. Martin Kennedy/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
A view of the Metropolitan Opera ticketing office in 2018. Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
A 1939 portrait of opera singer Lawrence Tibbett, the co-founder and first president of the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA). Fairfax Media/Getty Images hide caption
Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer and Chris Thile plays a Tiny Desk (home) concert. NPR hide caption
Isaac Cates and Ordained is one of two US a cappella groups performing at Vox Virtual. Clarence Lomax/Vox Virtual Festival hide caption
English guitarist and lutenist Julian Bream. Evening Standard/Getty Images hide caption
Ted Hearne's latest work, a theatrical production reckoning with gentrification and privilege, was commissioned by the LA Philharmonic and was supposed to premiere on the West Coast in late March. Instead, Place was released as an album. Jen Rosenstein/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Ted Hearne On Exploring Gentrification Through The Music Of 'Place'
Víkingur Ólafsson plays a Tiny Desk (home) concert. NPR hide caption
New York Philharmonic first violinist Kuan Cheng Lu, playing for a socially distanced audience of two at Lincoln Center on July 31. Mito Habe-Evans/NPR hide caption
During A Lonely New York Summer, Lincoln Center Brings Music To Essential Workers
A 2016 photo of a sign for the Opera Theatre of St. Louis. Chris Weeks/Getty Images hide caption
The Young People's Chorus of New York City, performing back in better times. Alexey Konkov/Courtesy of the artists hide caption
Is Singing Together Safe In The Era Of Coronavirus? Not Really, Experts Say
"I got a lot of emails after we posted our first video," says violinist Dr. Erica Hardy. She says the orchestra's virtual performances are a way to give back to the community. Screenshot by NPR hide caption
Meet The Medical Professionals Playing Classical Music Together Online
Tenor Jonas Kaufmann, with pianist Helmut Deutsch, in recital at a Baroque abbey in Bavaria. The performance was part of the Metropolitan Opera's new live streaming series. Metropolitan Opera hide caption
Pianist Leon Fleisher eventually resumed playing with both hands after an injury sidelined him at age 36. Chris Hartlove/Provided by the artist hide caption
When thinking about putting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to music on Voices, Max Richter tried to capture the essence of "the world we haven't made yet." Mike Terry/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Composer Max Richter On 'Voices,' A New Album That Envisions A Better World
Pianist Yuja Wang (pictured), violinist Leonidas Kavakos and several prominent academics have been accused this week of making anti-Black comments. Daniel Mihailescu/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
Families are still seeking the musical instruments and other items stolen by the Nazis. Cornelia Li for NPR hide caption
Maria Schneider. Briene Lermitte/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
The Ephrata Cloister in Lancaster County, Pa., created conditions for its inhabitants to become the first known female composers in America. Doug Kerr/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
A New Album Re-Creates The Work Of The 1st Known Female Composers In America
July 21 is the centennial of the birth of Isaac Stern. The violinist worked with his contemporaries, like Igor Stravinsky and Leonard Bernstein, and went on to mentor the next generation of musicians. Keystone/Getty Images hide caption