Music & Culture

A rare recording of Phinney's Rainbow — thought to be the first produced musical of Stephen Sondheim (shown here as a wizened showbiz veteran of 32, with three Broadway musicals under his belt) — has been found on a bookshelf in Milwaukee.

A rare recording of a musical by an 18-year-old Stephen Sondheim surfaces

6:02pm December 02, 2022

by Bob Mondello

Broadway-legend-in-training Stephen Sondheim was a college sophomore in 1948 when his musical Phinney's Rainbow was produced — and recorded — at Williams College in Massachusetts.

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Steve Lacy performs at The Fillmore Silver Spring in Maryland on Oct. 15, 2022.

What's making us happy: A guide to your weekend listening, viewing and reading

5:00pm December 02, 2022

Each week, the guests and hosts on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour share what's bringing them joy. This week: Midwest Modern Twitter account, Unclear and Present Danger podcast, Gemini Rights and more.

A man has been charged with murdering Migos rapper Takeoff

4:35pm December 02, 2022

Houston police announced Friday that Patrick Xavier Clark, 33, has been charged with murder in connection with Takeoff's fatal shooting outside a bowling alley last month.

Music & Culture

100 years ago, 'Carol of the Bells' came to America — from Ukraine

4:22pm December 02, 2022

"Carol of the Bells" is a Christmas staple in the U.S., but it was written by a Ukrainian composer and first came to the U.S. 100 years ago — when Ukrainians were fighting for freedom.

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Music & Culture

RM of BTS: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert

3:14pm December 02, 2022

by Stephen Thompson

The K-pop superstar and BTS member performs a set of solo material in front of a very impressive replica of the Tiny Desk.

Music & Culture

Hammers of Misfortune, 'Overthrower'

12:37pm December 02, 2022

by Lars Gotrich

Featuring a dueling guest vocal from Slough Feg's Mike Scalzi, the hyperactive thrash ripper takes King Crimson to the pit.

Ye attending the Balenciaga Womenswear show in October as part of Paris Fashion Week. Since then, he's made a string of increasingly brazen extremist comments.

Ye says 'I see good things about Hitler' on conspiracy theorist Alex Jones' show

6:17am December 02, 2022

by Andrew Limbong

The rapper previously known as Kanye West made a series of antisemitic comments, declaring "I love Jewish people, but I also love Nazis." Ye was on the show alongside white-nationalist Nick Fuentes.

Elton John performs on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Friday, Sept. 23, 2022.

Music & Culture

Glastonbury organizers say the festival will be Elton John's U.K. farewell show

6:17am December 02, 2022

by The Associated Press

Glastonbury Festival organizers say Elton John's performance on the 2023 festival's final night on June 25 will be his farewell show in the U.K.

Tania Léon conducts the Youth Orchestra LA in the premiere of her work Pa'lante at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.

The unplanned, unstoppable career of composer Tania León

6:00am December 02, 2022

by Tom Huizenga

Failure was not an option when Léon arrived in New York, a determined 24-year-old pianist from Cuba. At nearly 80, she says some things haven't changed.

Music & Culture

Drummer Nate Smith arranges funky grooves with strings attached

5:35pm December 01, 2022

by Sarah Geledi

Hear the premiere of Nate Smith's groovy sextet Kinfolk, with a double string quartet featuring members of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra.

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