Classical music

Composer and performer Meredith Monk tells Fresh Air's Terry Gross about her approaches to writing music, singing and live performance.

Classical singer Marni Nixon is best known for dubbing vocals for musical films like West Side Story, My Fair Lady, and The King and I. She tells Terry Gross about expanding the audience for opera and concert music.

Minimalist composer Steve Reich explains his approach to writing music.

Soprano Beverly Sills retired from singing in 1980 at the age of fifty, but still works in opera as the director of the New York City Opera. Rather than traveling abroad to hone her craft, she studied and built a career in America.

In order to develop a sizable repertoire as an orchestral soloist, Soltzman has had to transcribe several classical pieces written for other instruments.

Composer Peter Schickele invented the fictitious, forgotten son of J.S. Bach and writes music under that name. Schickele believes that a more lighthearted approach to classical music could expand the genre's audience.

Soprano Beverly Sills retired from singing in 1980 at the age of fifty, but still works in opera as the director of the New York City Opera. Rather than traveling abroad to hone her craft, she studied and built a career in America.

Composer Richard Wernick works with the Philadelphia Orchestra to expand their repertoire and incorporate contemporary works by living composers.

Fresh Air jazz critic Francis Davis reviews a new recording of a 1924 arrangement of the Gershwin classic, which emphasizes the piece's jazzier elements.

Rilling has devoted his life to performing Baroque music, focusing on sacred music and the compositions of J.S. Bach.