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The Torch

12:27 pm

Mon August 13, 2012

Olympics Closing Ceremony: Both Well-Received And Anger-Inducing

Credit Thomas Coex / AFP/Getty Images

Fireworks explode at London's Olympic Stadium during the closing ceremony of the Summer Olympics. The gala has gotten good reviews — with the exception of those troubled by NBC's presentation.

By Bill Chappell

Originally published on Mon August 13, 2012 4:09 pm

Music

10:56 am

Mon August 13, 2012

Louisiana: Ingredients For Musical Melting Pot

By editor

Originally published on Tue August 14, 2012 12:28 pm

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Transcript

JACKI LYDEN, HOST:

For many years here at NPR, Gwen Thompkins was an editor and then went to East Africa as a correspondent. She's always had a great ear, so perhaps it's not surprising that her brand-new music radio show called "Music Inside Out with Gwen Thompkins" listens to music in a revealing way. The show is from Gwen's hometown, New Orleans, and every week she talks to people in Louisiana who have devoted their lives to music - songwriters, musicians, producers, you name it.

Gwen Thompkins joins us now from WWNO in New Orleans. Congratulations.

Classics in Concert

10:40 am

Mon August 13, 2012

Tanglewood At 75: A Gala Concert

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Credit Hilary Scott / courtesy of the Boston Symphony Orchestra

Yo-Yo Ma offered a graciously warm performance of Tchaikovsky's Andante Cantabile for cello and strings with student musicians.

Credit Hilary Scott / courtesy of the Boston Symphony Orchestra

Violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter gave a vigorous reading of one of the showiest works in the repertoire: Sarasate's Carmen Fantasy, which she played with the student artists of the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra.

Credit Hilary Scott / courtesy of the Boston Symphony Orchestra

Nelsons led a sharp and colorful performance of Ravel's La Valse, the composer's pungent commentary on the Viennese waltz and the society from which it came.

Credit Hilary Scott / courtesy of the Boston Symphony Orchestra

Emanuel Ax, a longtime friend of Tanglewood, teamed up with the young musicians of the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra and conductor Stefan Asbury in two movements from Haydn's Piano Concerto No. 11 in D Major.

Credit Hilary Scott / courtesy of the Boston Symphony Orchestra

James Taylor, who has made summertime performances at Tanglewood one of his staples in recent years, sang three standards with the Boston Pops and conductor John Williams.

Credit Hilary Scott / courtesy of the Boston Symphony Orchestra

Yo-Yo Ma offered a gracious and warm performance of Tchaikovsky's Andante Cantabile for cello and strings with the Tanglewood fellows.

Credit Hilary Scott / courtesy of the Boston Symphony Orchestra

On this evening, 33-year-old Latvian conductor Andris Nelsons made his Tanglewood debut; within the classical music business, many are talking about Nelsons as a prime contender to succeed James Levine as the BSO's music director.

By editor

Originally published on Tue August 14, 2012 12:48 pm

PROGRAM:

Copland, Fanfare for the Common Man

Bernstein, Three Dances from On the Town

"Over the Rainbow," "Shall We Dance" and "Old Man River" (with James Taylor)

Tchaikovsky, Andante cantabile for cello and strings (with Yo-Yo Ma)

Sarasate, Carmen Fantasy (with Anne-Sophie Mutter)

Two movements from Haydn's Piano Concerto No. 11 in D Major (with Emanuel Ax)

Ravel, La valse

Music Interviews

3:59 pm

Sun August 12, 2012

The Very Best: A Would-Be Lion Chaser's Backup Plan

Credit Niall Kenny / Courtesy of the artist

Esau Mwamwaya and Johan Karlberg perform and record as The Very Best.

By editor

Originally published on Mon August 13, 2012 3:51 pm

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How do a Swedish producer and a Malawian singer end up collaborating? The partnership that became The Very Best was sparked several years ago, when Johan Karlberg stopped into a London secondhand store that was run by the Malawi-born Esau Mwamwaya, and the two started talking music.

Music

3:59 pm

Sun August 12, 2012

The Olympic Soundtrack: A Story Of National Pride

By editor

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It's a moment of pride and glory when athletes hear their country's national anthem ringing out at the medal ceremonies of the Olympic Games. Host Guy Raz talks to freelance journalist Alex Marshall, whose writing a book on the history of national anthems, about some of the patriotic tunes.

First Listen

9:33 am

Sun August 12, 2012

First Listen: Yeasayer, 'Fragrant World'

Credit Anna Palma

Yeasayer's new album, Fragrant World, comes out August 21.

By Stephen Thompson

Originally published on Thu August 23, 2012 1:13 pm

Audio for this feature is no longer available.

Music Interviews

1:03 am

Sun August 12, 2012

The Zombies: Reaching Across Decades

Credit Courtesy of the artist

The Zombies' Colin Blunstone and Rod Argent in the studio. The band's latest album is titled Breathe Out, Breathe In.

By editor

Originally published on Sun August 12, 2012 8:40 am

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The Zombies' third studio album, Odessey and Oracle, spawned what may be the band's best-known song, "Time of the Season." But the record wasn't a big success when it first came out in 1968. In fact, The Zombies' original lineup disbanded before Odessey and Oracle even came out.

Pop Culture

2:59 pm

Sat August 11, 2012

Misadventures In Reporting: My Brush With Bieber

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Credit Brendon Thorne / Getty Images

Justin Bieber was raised in Stratford, Ontario. When he returned to the town and played at his old busking spot outside the Avon Theatre, NPR's Bob Mondello was sitting six blocks away, oblivious.

Credit Kevin Winter / Getty Images

Justin Bieber was raised in Stratford, Ontario. When he returned to the town and played at his old busking spot outside the Avon Theatre, NPR's Bob Mondello was six blocks away, oblivious.

By Bob Mondello

A Blog Supreme

11:44 am

Sat August 11, 2012

Branford Marsalis On Sensitive Musicians And The First Family Of Jazz

Credit Courtesy of Marsalis Music.

Branford Marsalis spoke with NPR about modern jazz, his family, and his new album, Four MFs Playin' Tunes.

By editor

Originally published on Tue September 18, 2012 4:13 pm

Saxophonist Branford Marsalis, oldest son of New Orleans pianist and educator Ellis Marsalis, released an album with his quartet this week. He spoke to weekends on All Things Considered host Guy Raz about the failings of modern jazz, his hopes for the next generation and leaving New York City to move back to the South.

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