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Lloyd Schwartz Lloyd Schwartz is the classical music critic for NPR's Fresh Air with Terry Gross.
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Lloyd Schwartz
At MoMA, A Look At De Kooning's Shifts In Style

Woman I (1950-52) is one of the works featured in de Kooning: A Retrospective. The exhibit is on display at the Museum of Modern Art through Jan. 9, 2012. John Wronn/Museum of Modern Art hide caption

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John Wronn/Museum of Modern Art

Fine Art

At MoMA, A Look At De Kooning's Shifts In Style

New York's Museum of Modern Art is currently hosting the first major Willem de Kooning retrospective. Critic Lloyd Schwartz says the exhibit traces the development of de Kooning's entire career, along with the little detours he took along the way.

At MoMA, A Look At De Kooning's Shifts In Style

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Astaire, Burns, Allen In 'Distress' In London Town
Warner Archives

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Astaire, Burns, Allen In 'Distress' In London Town

Fresh Air

George and Ira Gershwin wrote some of their best songs for movies — one of which, 1937's A Damsel in Distress, has just been issued by Warner Archives. Critic Lloyd Schwartz says it may be the oddest of the Gershwin brothers' films.

Astaire, Burns, Allen In 'Distress' In London Town

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Degas' Nudes Depict The Awkwardness Of Real Life

Many of Degas' nudes have their backs turned to the viewer. Above, Degas' pastel work, After the Bath, Woman Drying Her Neck, 1886-95. Photo Musee d'Orsay/rmn/Museum of Fine Arts, Boston hide caption

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Photo Musee d'Orsay/rmn/Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Fine Art

Degas' Nudes Depict The Awkwardness Of Real Life

The Boston Museum of Fine Arts and the Musee d'Orsay in Paris have collaborated on a show called Degas and the Nude, which includes works from all over the world. Lloyd Schwartz says that in portraits of everyday moments, Degas made women mysterious, vulnerable and heartbreakingly human.

Degas' Nudes Depict The Awkwardness Of Real Life

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'Porgy And Bess,' Adapted For Modern Times

The American Repertory Theater's production of Porgy and Bess emphasized musical theater over opera. Michael J. Lutch/Courtesy of the American Repertory Theater hide caption

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Michael J. Lutch/Courtesy of the American Repertory Theater

Review

Music Articles

'Porgy And Bess,' Adapted For Modern Times

Fresh Air

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz just attended two productions of Porgy and Bess: an operatic performance at Tanglewood and a musical-theater version in Cambridge, Mass. He says it can work either way, "as long as Gershwin's great score remains its heart and soul."

'Porgy And Bess,' Adapted For Modern Times

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Wilhelm Furtwaengler: A Complex German Conductor

German conductor and composer Wilhelm Furtwaengler. Hulton Archive/Getty Images hide caption

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Hulton Archive/Getty Images

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Music Articles

Wilhelm Furtwaengler: A Complex German Conductor

Fresh Air

German conductor Wilhelm Furtwaengler is regarded as one of the greatest musicians of the 20th century, but his legacy was affected by his decision to stay in Germany during WWII. Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz looks at how Furtwangler is seen today.

Wilhelm Furtwaengler: A Complex German Conductor

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'Sweethearts' On-Screen, But What Happens Off?
Warner Archive

Movies

'Sweethearts' On-Screen, But What Happens Off?

Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers weren't the only famous Hollywood musical team of the 1930s. Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy also starred in a series of operettas. But classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz says the two couples achieved their success in quite opposite ways.

'Sweethearts' On-Screen, But What Happens Off?

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New Releases Showcase Lieberson's Vocal Talent
PBP

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Music Articles

New Releases Showcase Lieberson's Vocal Talent

Fresh Air

Mezzo-soprano Lorraine Hunt Lieberson died a little more than five years ago at the height of her career. Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz says that, just when it seemed we weren't going to hear her sing anything new, some fantastic live performances have just been released for the first time.

New Releases Showcase Lieberson's Vocal Talent

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Like Gilbert And Sullivan? You'll Love These DVDs
Criterion

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Music Articles

Like Gilbert And Sullivan? You'll Love These DVDs

Fresh Air

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz says these operettas on DVD are indispensable for people who love G&S, and might just change the minds of those who don't.

Like Gilbert And Sullivan? You'll Love These DVDs

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A Night At The Opera (On The Silver Screen)

Alida Valli stars as Countess Livia Serpieri and Farley Granger plays Lieut. Franz Mahler in Senso. Everett Collection/Everett Col hide caption

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Everett Collection/Everett Col

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Movies

A Night At The Opera (On The Silver Screen)

Senso, a 1954 Italian political melodrama, and Two Sisters From Boston, a 1946 Hollywood comedy, couldn't be more different — except they're both set at the opera. Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz says he loves them both.

A Night At The Opera (On The Silver Screen)

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Two Titian Masterpieces Traveling Through U.S.

Diana and Callisto, 1556-59 Minneapolis Institute of Arts hide caption

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Minneapolis Institute of Arts

Opinion

Fine Art

Two Titian Masterpieces Traveling Through U.S.

Fresh Air

Two Titian masterpieces — Diana and Actaeon and Diana and Callisto — are in the United States for the first time. Fresh Air's Lloyd Schwartz says art lovers will want to see them in person — particularly because there's a chance they may be permanently separated.

Two Titian Masterpieces Traveling Through U.S.

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Celebrating James Levine's 40 Years At The Met

James Levine: Celebrating 40 Years at the Met Metropolitan Opera hide caption

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Metropolitan Opera

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Celebrating James Levine's 40 Years At The Met

Fresh Air

In honor of Levine's 40th anniversary conducting the Metropolitan Opera, the Met has released two box sets of his live performances. Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz says the new releases prove what a vital figure Levine has been.

Celebrating James Levine's 40 Years At The Met

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Music And Animation Combine In Disney's 'Fantasia'

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Disney

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Movies

Music And Animation Combine In Disney's 'Fantasia'

Fresh Air

Walt Disney's Fantasia, the first feature-length film to offer visual images of classical music, has just been re-released in a new box set. Music critic Lloyd Schwartz says the film is a delightful introduction to classical music -- but doesn't always convey it convincingly on screen.

Music And Animation Combine In Disney's 'Fantasia'

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In Berlin, A Musical Tribute To Composer Pierre Boulez

A flautist from Konzerthausorchester Berlin performs during Musikfest Berlin 2010's tribute to Pierre Boulez. Kai Bienert hide caption

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Kai Bienert

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Music Reviews

In Berlin, A Musical Tribute To Composer Pierre Boulez

Fresh Air

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz recently attended the 2010 Musikfest Berlin's two-week-long tribute to 85-year-old French conductor and composer Pierre Boulez. Schwartz says the musical tribute was "sonically ravishing, with endlessly inventive combinations of sound and texture."

In Berlin, A Musical Tribute To Composer Pierre Boulez

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Remembering 'La Stupenda': Opera Singer Joan Sutherland

Australian soprano Joan Sutherland poses in her dressing room at the Metropolitan Opera after making her Met debut on Nov. 26, 1961, in New York. AP Photo hide caption

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AP Photo

Music News

Remembering 'La Stupenda': Opera Singer Joan Sutherland

Fresh Air

From the late 1950s up until her last stage appearance in 1990, Australian soprano Dame Joan Sutherland was one of the world's most admired and celebrated opera stars. She died Sunday at age 83. Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz looks back at the life and work of the singer known as "La Stupenda."

Remembering 'La Stupenda': Opera Singer Joan Sutherland

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Benita Valente: An Exquisitely Pure, Operatic Voice

Benita Valente made her debut with the Met on September 22, 1973, singing Pamina in The Magic Flute. Peter Checchia hide caption

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Peter Checchia

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Benita Valente: An Exquisitely Pure, Operatic Voice

Fresh Air

Soprano Benita Valente has retired from singing, though at 75, she's still remarkably active behind the scenes as an educator, organizer and fundraiser. She may not be the world's most famous singer, but a selection of her recordings leads off a new series on Bridge Records called Great Singers of the 20th Century. Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz agrees with the title.

Benita Valente: An Exquisitely Pure, Operatic Voice

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