Pianist Awadagin Pratt Conducts Beethoven from the Bench
Pianist Awadagin Pratt was the first student in the Peabody Conservatory's history to receive diplomas in piano, violin and conducting.
Arts
Artists Transform Coffee Spills Into Masterpieces
Ever splashed yourself with coffee? Then you know its staining powers. But where some see a ruined shirt, others have found a canvas.
'Barbara' Is Imperfect, Defiant And Wonderfully Human
The characters in Lauren Holmes' debut story collection are more than words on a page, says reviewer Michael Schaub. They're fully, exasperatingly real, portrayed with charm but without pretension.
Chinese Dissident Artist Ai Weiwei Restricted To 20-Day U.K. Visa
Ai says he was denied a six-month visa because U.K. officials said he didn't list a criminal conviction in his application. Ai was imprisoned in China, but he notes he was never charged with a crime.
'Listen To Me Marlon' Explores Brando's Life In His Own Words
The documentary, Listen to Me Marlon, tells the story of legendary actor Marlon Brando through hours of personal audio recordings. NPR's Melissa Block talks to director Stevan Riley about the film.
'The End of the Tour' Offers A Hint Of David Foster Wallace's Inner Struggle
A new film revisits a five-day interview that took place between writer David Foster Wallace and a reporter for Rolling Stone in 1996. Critic David Edelstein calls it a "very good movie."
From Pygmy Hunting Songs To Taylor Swift, What Makes Music Universal
Can you hear what's similar about a Palestinian line dance and Swift's "Shake It Off"? Or The Sound of Music's "Do-Re-Mi" and a Pygmy song? Scientists have finally decoded the language of music.
The Golden Age Of Cocktails: When Americans Learned To Love Mixed Drinks
The Manhattan, the daiquiri, the martini. These classic cocktails were all born between the 1860s and Prohibition, an era when American bartending got inventive — and theatrical.
'Baby' Is A Pretty Feat Of Misdirection
Mary Kubica's new thriller follows a woman who takes in a runaway and her baby daughter. Reviewer Bethanne Patrick says it's a perfect setup — but the twists you expect aren't the ones that arrive.
Women's Comics Are Surfing The Crowd
It's no secret that women are getting more prominent in the world of comics. But some women are tired of waiting for mainstream attention: They're turning to crowdfunding to get their projects done.