Music & Culture

Warren Easton Charter High School's marching band members line up in formation. Their instruments, among many, include sousaphones, cymbals, and a drum section with snare, tenor and bass drums.

With the return of Mardi Gras marching bands, New Orleans' streets are full of magic

11:36am March 01, 2022

by Aubri Juhasz

The bands may be smaller this year, but students say they're prepared to keep the culture alive and entertain hundreds of thousands of revelers.

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Conductor Semyon Bychkov, conducting the Vienna Philharmonic in a performance in Vienna in 2017.

Some Russian performing artists are speaking out against Putin

2:17pm February 28, 2022

by Anastasia Tsioulcas

A number of Russian stars from the performing arts world are using their voices and international platforms to denounce the invasion of Ukraine and speak up against Russian President Vladimir Putin.

World Cafe celebrates 30 years with a 2009 playlist.

Music & Culture

World Cafe 30th Anniversary Playlist: 2009

12:19pm February 28, 2022

by Bruce Warren

2009 was a big year for really big pop stars, like Lady Gaga, The Black Eyed Peas and Jay-Z; indie rock artists like Wilco, Dirty Projectors and Animal Collective also put out standout records.

Music & Culture

Claremont Trio, 'Serenata'

9:00am February 28, 2022

by Tom Huizenga

Violin and cello are sparkling stand-ins for the Andean charango in an evocative serenade by Gabriela Lena Frank.

Music & Culture

A Canadian man amasses a huge collection of Hawaiian music

8:10am February 28, 2022

A nearly 10,000-piece Hawaiian music collection was donated to the state's archives by the family of Michael Scott. His will stipulated that it go someplace where it can be accessible to the public.

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"What Emergent Strategy taught me is this emphasis on relationship," Hurray for the Riff Raff's Alynda Segarra tells the book's author, adrienne maree brown.

Music & Culture

Hurray for the Riff Raff's Alynda Segarra, a 'recovering lone wolf,' in conversation

5:00am February 28, 2022

by Ann Powers

NPR Music's Ann Powers moderates the first-time meeting of far-flung soulmates. Hurray for the Riff Raff's new album was inspired, in part, by adrienne maree brown's book Emergent Strategy.

Star Russian soprano Anna Netrekbo singing in Metz, France in February 2020.

Metropolitan Opera says it will sever ties with Putin-allied artists

11:22pm February 27, 2022

by Anastasia Tsioulcas

Star performers at the famed New York opera house, including soprano Anna Netrebko and conductor Valery Gergiev, have been closely associated with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The management company of conductor Valery Gergiev has decided to drop him over his close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Music & Culture

A Russian conductor has been dropped by a management company over his ties to Putin

4:45pm February 27, 2022

by The Associated Press

Valery Gergiev had been represented since December 2020 by Munich-based Marcus Felsner, who started his own management company that year after leaving Opus3.

On February 25, Sasami released her new album, 'Squeeze,' which is a call for catharsis and healing for those who are disillusioned.

Music & Culture

Sasami finds catharsis in nu-metal on her new album 'Squeeze'

8:53am February 27, 2022

In her new album, 'Squeeze,' Sasami invites listeners to process their rage and disillusionment as a way to bring them closer to healing.

Jennifer Hudson wins top honor at 53rd NAACP Image Awards

6:17am February 27, 2022

by The Associated Press

Hudson wins entertainer of the year at the 53rd annual NAACP Image Awards honoring work by entertainers of color, beating out Regina King, Lil Nas X, Megan Thee Stallion and Tiffany Haddish.