Nov 7th, 2008 · Verdi's tightly wound masterpiece swirls heartfelt sentiment together with appalling violence and genuine tragedy, along with some of the most familiar tunes he ever composed. From the Washington National Opera.
Oct 10th, 2008 · Four years after reviving and releasing his abandoned masterpiece, Smile, Wilson is back with a new album, That Lucky Old Sun. Between performances of songs from the new disc, the former Beach Boys singer shares what it was like to return to his old recording home at Capitol Records.
Oct 3rd, 2008 · It's not often you hear the word "masterpiece" coming from a film critic. But David Edelstein says it applies to Jonathan Demme's newest film, a marvelously textured thing at once focused and bursting at the seams.
Sep 19th, 2008 · The 12 short stories that make up Italo Calvino's Cosmicomics mix scientific erudition and wild fantasy to tell a wonderfully unique story of creation. Salman Rushdie calls it "possibly the most enjoyable story collection ever written."
Sep 16th, 2008 · Record collectors entranced by the otherworldly sounds of Ethiopian funk and jazz of the 1960s and 70s had only rare 45s to slake their thirst until the Ethiopiques series of albums hit US shores in the late 90s. Those albums feature some of the best music to come out of the scene, but still more albums await re-release.
Sep 8th, 2008 · Folksinger "Sixto" Diaz Rodriguez became a success in the '70s after releasing the hit Cold Fact, which was hailed a psychedelic folk masterpiece. Hear two songs from the newly reissued Cold Fact on WXPN's World Cafe, with host David Dye.
Aug 15th, 2008 · The Barber of Seville may be the perfect, operatic comedy. On World of Opera it comes to us from the jewel-like theater at Glimmerglass Opera, a perfect venue for the crystalline musical textures and intimate vocal detail of Rossini's masterpiece.
Jul 28th, 2008 · For all the jazz albums which are universally hailed as classics, there are more records out there which should be recognized as such. Arranger and Grammy-winning record producer Bob Belden picks the top five slept-on masterpiece jazz LPs.