Pianist Van Cliburn, Warmed Russian Hearts During Cold War
The Texan won the first International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow in 1958 — and wooed Russians in the process. Van Cliburn died Wednesday at 78.
Music & Culture
Remembering Van Cliburn, A Giant Among Pianists And A Cold War Idol
The Texan pianist who captured America by conquering Moscow has died at age 78. The first classical musician to sell a million albums, he went on to mentor generations of young artists through the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.
Exiled From Iran, A Singer Makes The Case For Beauty
In the Islamic Republic, a woman is typically not allowed to sing solos in public unless she performs for an all-female audience and is accompanied by an all-female band. The Iranian singer known as Hani is pursuing her dream in Iraq.
Atoms For Peace: Thom Yorke's Electronic Shadow-World
Inside the famously fevered head of the Radiohead lead singer, the ghosts and phantoms are still working overtime. Hear a review of his new project.
Ben Goldberg's Variations: Two New Albums From A San Francisco Jazz Staple
Known for his work in New Klezmer Trio, clarinetist Ben Goldberg has just released two new albums for different quintets: Subatomic Particle Homesick Blues and Unfold Ordinary Mind.
Richard Thompson: The Acoustics Behind 'Electric'
For nearly half a century, the British guitarist and songwriter has created music that's both beautiful and haunting. Here, Thompson discusses his new album, Electric, and performs selections from it live in the studio.
Aretha Franklin Before Atlantic: The Columbia Years
Franklin found her voice in songs such as "I Never Loved a Man" for Atlantic Records in the 1960s. Before Atlantic, however, Franklin recorded for Columbia, and in those early recordings you can hear the legend just beginning to emerge.
Remembering World-Renowned Classical Pianist Van Cliburn
American classical pianist Van Cliburn died Feb. 27, 2013 at the age of 78. Cliburn rose to fame in 1958, when he won the first International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow at the age of 23. NPR's Neal Conan remembers Cliburn with a song.
Women Of Grunge Reclaim Rock History In 'These Streets'
Two years ago, the 20th anniversary of Nirvana's Nevermind sparked a slew of retrospectives about the Seattle grunge scene. But those narratives left something out: the influence of women. A new play by Gretta Harley and Sarah Rudinoff aims to update the historical record.
The Floacist: A Soul Poet Says Yes To Moving On
Natalie Stewart, best known as half of the British duo Floetry, discusses that group's breakup and her new solo album.