Arts

Music Director Dmitry Sitkovetsky Plays with the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra for Two Performances

In April of 2002 a renowned Russian violinist was invited to perform Beethoven's Concerto for Violin with the Greensboro Symphony. That performance left a lasting impression. The chemistry between soloist and orchestra was just right, and the following year the guest artist was appointed Music Director of the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra. It's a position Dmitry Sitkovetsky holds to this day, and this week he joins the orchestra once more as soloist performing Beethoven's amazing concerto. Dmitry spoke with David Ford by phone from his studio in London, and he began by asking him about his musical use of time in his 2004 recording of the Beethoven Concerto with Sir Neville Marriner and the Academy of St, Martin in the Fields.

How Breakthrough 'Captain Phillips' Actor Connected To The Role

This past week, Somali-born actor Barkhad Abdi received an Academy Award nomination for his role opposite Tom Hanks in the film Captain Phillips. The part was his first acting role. Abdi plays a Somali pirate who leads the hijacking of the Maersk Alabama. He spoke with NPR's Arun Rath in October about learning to relate to his character. (This story originally aired on All Things Considered on Oct. 20, 2013.)

Living, And 'Forgiving,' In A Brilliant Writer's Orbit

Jay Cantor is a hard author to nail down. He's written about topics as wide-ranging as Che Guevara and Krazy Kat. His latest work expands his range even more, fictionalizing the lives of four of Franz Kafka's friends and lovers. It's called Forgiving the Angel, and Cantor tells NPR's Lynn Neary it's a book born out of gratitude.