Features

Michael Zwiebach - August 15, 2013

We keep rediscovering the inexhaustibly deep musical traditions of Africa as artists from all over the world are refreshed and inspired by them. Her'es our late-summer introduction to a few of Africa's beautiful musical traditions.

Janos Gereben - August 12, 2013

The jewel box of the Napa Valley Opera House is about to undergo major surgery in spite of heated opposition.

Michael Zwiebach - August 8, 2013

Our friends over at NPR are running a summer contest to decide on "the great American symphony." Since they brought it up, here’s a list of American symphonies we think you ought to give a try. 

Mark MacNamara - August 8, 2013

Not the afternoon hoped for at an San Francisco Symphony pops concert at the Green Music Center.

Michael Zwiebach - August 1, 2013

Ever since the music industry emerged as a mass commercial enterprise, musicians have waded between that "popular" music and classical (mostly uncommercial) music. In today’s mix, we sample music by musicians who have been at the top of the music industry but have refused to be defined by it.

Edward Ortiz - July 30, 2013

Have a favorite musical depiction of weather? Composers today are increasingly attuned to climate change and extreme weather events. Global warming has been a political issue for years; now it is arriving center stage in music.

Michael Zwiebach - July 25, 2013

The guitar is an instrument that goes everywhere and plays every kind of music. In this playlist, though, we concentrate on Spanish classical guitar as well as Brazil’s extraordinarily diverse, famous guitarists and their music.

Mark MacNamara - July 25, 2013

A peek into the world of the music students at Music@Menlo, written by 14-year-old pianist Yoko Rosenbaum.

Mark MacNamara - July 25, 2013

A girl with talent and more or less the standard dream. Is it her moment? Is talent enough?

Jeff Kaliss - July 23, 2013

If you’re looking for a musical maverick, look no further than the instrument builder, composer, and theorist Cris Forster. Here’s a tour, with video, of his inventions and his ideas.