Music

Italian tenor Vittorio Grigolo, performing on the Italian TV show "Domenica In" in May 2019.

Music & Culture

Vittorio Grigolo, A Prominent Tenor, Has Been Suspended For Alleged Misconduct

1:24pm September 24, 2019

by Anastasia Tsioulcas

The 42-year-old singer was removed from a Royal Opera tour of Japan after alleged sexual misconduct. Grigolo's suspension comes amidst a wider discussion about the subject in the opera world.

Koenjihyakkei's 2005 album Angherr Shisspa, just recently reissued, makes progressive music simultaneously challenging and fun.

Music & Culture

Viking's Choice: Japanese Prog-Rock, Heavy Shoegaze, Demented Dancehall

10:58am September 24, 2019

by Lars Gotrich

On this week's playlist, Koenjihyakkei's operatic punk-prog opus gets a vital reissue, Lacing bursts a sweet melody through cloudy shoegaze and a Swiss-Togo duo injects noise into the riddim.

Sister Rosetta Tharpe on tour in the U.K. in 1964.

Music & Culture

She Can Make That Guitar Talk

10:09am September 24, 2019

by Caryn Rose

Sister Rosetta Tharpe was a superstar of the pre-rock era, traveling the country in a customized bus and performing for tens of thousands, but never got press to match her stardom. What if she had?

Marin Alsop leads the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. On Monday, management and musicians announced a new one-year contract, ending a bitter labor dispute.

Music & Culture

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra And Musicians End Contentious Contract Dispute

10:04am September 24, 2019

by Tom Huizenga

The battle between management and musicians, which reached a low point with a June lockout by management, ended Monday with the ratification of a new one-year contract.

Clockwise from upper left: (Sandy) Alex G, Leonard Cohen, Soccer Mommy, Fran, Chastity Belt

Music & Culture

New Mix: Soccer Mommy, Chastity Belt, Leonard Cohen, (Sandy) Alex G, More

5:00am September 24, 2019

by Bob Boilen

This week's All Songs Considered includes an all-new song from the late Leonard Cohen, lyrically devastating work from (Sandy) Alex G, a battle of inner demons from Chastity Belt and more.

Opera singer Plácido Domingo performs in Szeged, Hungary, on Aug. 28. In a meeting on Saturday, the Metropolitan Opera's general manager discussed why he has not suspended or investigated Domingo, who has been accused of sexual misconduct by 20 women.

Music & Culture

Met Opera Chief: 20 Women's Accusations Against Plácido Domingo 'Not Corroborated'

10:41pm September 23, 2019

by Anastasia Tsioulcas

In a closed-door meeting with the company's chorus and orchestra, General Manager Peter Gelb argued that the Met has no reason to investigate the famed opera singer or to cancel his performances.

Composer Christopher Rouse, photographed in New York City in 2005.

Music & Culture

Remembering The 'Fast And Furious' Music Of Christopher Rouse

3:52pm September 23, 2019

by Tom Huizenga

Conductor Marin Alsop and composer Nico Muhly recall their friend and colleague who wrote deeply expressive music.

Identical twins Sara (left) and Tegan Quin began making music together as teenagers.

Tegan And Sara Find Pain — And Unexpected Joy — In 'High School'

3:47pm September 23, 2019

by Terry Gross

Music duo Tegan and Sara revisit their teen years and their early music in a new memoir and companion album. Listening back to the songs they wrote, Sara says: "I was struck by the joy in our voices."

Queue Listen Now

Paul Cauthen sits in the album's namesake room of the Belmont Hotel.

Music & Culture

Texas Country Rocker Paul Cauthen Preaches The Good, The Bad And The Prickly

12:18pm September 23, 2019

Faith may be a constant in the country music artist's new album, Room 41, but he's not hiding his demons. "I just try to write some lyrics that can maybe prick somebody's heart," Cauthen says.

Queue Listen Now

Rosanne Cash plays a Tiny Desk Concert (Amr Alfiky/NPR).

Music & Culture

Rosanne Cash: Tiny Desk Concert

11:57am September 23, 2019

by Lauren Onkey

Rosanne Cash has been making great records for forty years, but she's never played or written better music than she's doing right now.