Apr 25th, 2008 · Nabucco, Giuseppe Verdi's third opera, was his first, unqualified hit. It features an emotional chorus so closely linked to Verdi that it was spontaneously performed by the immense crowd at Verdi's funeral, some 60 years after the opera was written.
Sep 27th, 2005 · British musician David Gray made a name for himself in the 1990s with hits such as "Babylon." Now, Gray's moved from self-producing in small studios, to recording with a producer who's worked with U2 and Madonna. Steve Inskeep talks to David Gray about the sound on his new album, Life in Slow Motion.
May 26th, 2005 · The Director of Iraq's Museum of Antiquities talks about the looted treasures of Babylon, and the few that have made their way home.
Apr 26th, 2005 · Author and playwright Pearl Cleage's success has helped her to become one of the preeminent authors of African-American women's fiction. She talks about her new book, Babylon Sisters, centering on a mother and daughter making the best of life and love in Atlanta.
Feb 17th, 2005 · In January, a Marine gave an FBI agent in Pennsylvania eight small objects he'd brought home from Iraq. They were 5,000-year-old stone seals that had been looted from a site near Babylon. The FBI says it's the first recovery by its agents in the United States of looted cultural property from Iraq. Joel Rose of member station WHYY reports.
Jan 17th, 2005 · Ed Ward reviews Goodbye, Babylon, a six-CD anthology that culls strange, rare and fiery finds of American gospel and other religious music from the early 20th century. The box set is produced by maverick label Dust-to-Digital.