Music & Culture

A worker unveils advertisement for future productions at the Metropolitan Opera at Lincoln Center in New York City. The Metropolitan Opera's general manager Peter Gelb has threatened a lockout if there is no an agreement with unions to that represent musi

Music & Culture

Met Opera's Union Lockout Postponed; Financial Analysis To Come

12:11pm August 25, 2014

by Sam Sanders

The drama continues. For months now, unions have been negotiating with the Metropolitan Opera's leadership over compensation and benefits; employees also accuse the Met of financial mismanagement.

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Music & Culture

Better Late Than Never: Soul Singer Hits National Spotlight

11:56am August 25, 2014

Soul singer Naomi Shelton had to wait until her 60s to see the release of her debut album. NPR's Eric Westervelt speaks with her about her latest release with her band The Gospel Queens, Cold World.

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Music & Culture

Douglas and Caine Find 'Present Joys' In The Sacred Harp Songbook

6:36pm August 22, 2014

The virtuoso jazz musicians perform from their new album of duets. It features hymns based on a tradition called shape-note singing, which dates to the early 1800s.

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Music & Culture

Benjamin Booker Is Raw, Yet Disciplined On Debut Album

3:51pm August 22, 2014

by Ken Tucker

The 25-year-old guitarist-singer-songwriter has already served as an opening act on Jack White's recent tour, and he may be ready for headliner status.

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Music & Culture

A Sleek And Busy Walk With Jean-Luc Ponty

7:56am August 22, 2014

by Kevin Whitehead

Before Ponty came to the States, he already had his concept. Fresh Air critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the digital reissue of Sunday Walk.

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Music & Culture

A Duo's Debut Album: A Collaboration From 'The Both'

9:51am August 21, 2014

by Ken Tucker

Aimee Mann and Ted Leo began performing together in 2012, when Leo was Mann's opening act. Mann began joining Leo onstage during his set. Their debut album is "The Both."

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Music & Culture

With Both Farce And Feeling, Currentzis' 'Figaro' Succeeds Magnificently

3:17pm August 19, 2014

by Lloyd Schwartz

There are many recordings of Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro. Do we need another?

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Music & Culture

Fresh Air Pays Tribute To James Brown, 'Godfather Of Funk'

10:58am August 19, 2014

James Brown is featured in the new biopic Get On Up. In '80s and '90s, Terry Gross talked with his biographer and two musicians who played in his band. And in 2005, she talked with Brown himself.

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Many institutions have their archives stored on CDs — but the discs aren't as stable as once thought. There is no average life span for a CD, says preservationist Michele Youket, "because there is no average disc."

Music & Culture

How Long Do CDs Last? It Depends, But Definitely Not Forever

8:27am August 19, 2014

by Laura Sydell

Preservationists are worried about troves of records stored on what was once considered a durable medium: the compact disc. Many discs can last for centuries — but most won't.

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The Metropolitan Opera has settled labor contracts with two of its largest unions.

Music & Culture

Met Opera Tentatively Settles With 2 Major Unions

10:55pm August 18, 2014

by Jeff Lunden

While agreements with 10 more unions need to be reached by Tuesday night, the deal struck with two of the Met's major unions represents a major turning point in a bitter dispute.

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