May 28th, 2008 · In real life, Elizabeth I and Mary Stuart were political rivals. But in the opera house, passion plays better than politics, so in Maria Stuarda, the two monarchs are also in love with the same man. In Mary's case, her passion proves deadly.
May 16th, 2008 · The Alpine home of the family at the center of the hit musical The Sound of Music will soon be a home to many visitors. The real residence of the Von Trapp family opens as a hotel in July. Visitors to Salzburg, Austria, can even recreate the love story of Maria and Baron Von Trapp by getting married at the hotel.
Dec 27th, 2007 · Fresh Air's classical music critic takes a look at the career of opera legend Maria Callas -- because the recording industry can't seem to resist her. EMI has just released a 70-disc collection called Maria Callas: The Complete Studio Recordings, and there's a new DVD compilation of the soprano's work, called The Eternal Callas.
Sep 16th, 2007 · 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.
Aug 23rd, 2006 · "You're so terrified / so terrified," Caithlin De Marrais sings with neither rancor nor disappointment, and the reason becomes clear as she hits that word "so" a third time, spins it from an intensifier into a conjunction, and sings, "So am I," recasting everything to admit to her own weaknesses.
Aug 9th, 2006 · Actress Maria Bello often seems to find herself playing characters involved with men in trouble -- take the films A History of Violence and The Cooler, for example. She now stars as the wife of a Port Authority officer trapped in the rubble of the Sept. 11 attacks, in Oliver Stone's upcoming film World Trade Center.
Mar 12th, 2006 · Like Sundance, it turns 25 this year and promotes independent films. But that's where the similarities end for the Black Maria Film & Video Festival, which takes short, often experimental films on the road across America.
Sep 2nd, 2005 · NPR Jazzfest presents the Grammy-winning Maria Schneider Orchestra in a special JazzSet from Great Barrington, Mass. Schneider's appearance was the highlight of this summer's grand opening season of the newly restored, 100-year-old Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center.