Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz pays tribute to Irving Berlin, arguably the greatest American song writer, on the occasion of his 100th birthday. Schwartz will review a new recording of Berlin songs performed by Elizabeth Welch.
Rock historian Ed Ward profiles the brief regional revival of a cappella singing in the mid-60s. Some of the groups included The Five Fashions from Stanford, Conn., The Q-Tones from Philadelphia, and the Zircons from the Bronx.
Book critic John Leonard reviews The New Confessions, a novel by the British writer William Boyd. Boyd's earlier novels include Stars and Bars and An Ice Cream War.
Nigerian novelist Chinua Achebe. Achebe is one of Africa's foremost writers. His earlier works include Things Fall Apart, A Man of the People and Arrow of God. His latest work, his first novel in 25 years, is titled Anthills of the Savannah.
Novelist Elizabeth Benedict. Her second novel, The Beginner's Book of Dreams is a coming of age story about a young woman contending with her moody, alcoholic mother, and her dreamer schemer father. Benedict's first novel was titled Slow Dancing.
Orchestrator and composer Jonathan Tunick. Though best known for his orchestrations of Stephen Sondheim musicals like "Sweeney Todd" and "Into the Woods," Tunic is increasingly gaining recognition for his own compositions.
Television Critic David Bianculli previews this week's "American Playhouse" presentation on PBS titled "The Trial of Bernhard Goetz." Goetz was acquitted last year of assault charges stemming from his shooting of four black youths in a New York City subway car after, Goetz contended, the youths tried to rob him. The trial, which dominated the New York City press for several weeks, was known as "The Subway Vigilante" trial.
Jazz Critic Kevin Whitehead reviews a CD reissue of the recordings of tenor saxophonist Don Byas. The recording is titled "Don Byas on Blue Star," and captures the highlights of his recorded work during the period between 1947 and 1952.
Actress Melanie Mayron. She currently appears in the ABC television program "thirtysomething" as Melissa, the photographer. Her films include "Girlfriends" and "Missing." She stars in and co-wrote the new film "Sticky Fingers."
Singer Susannah McCorkle performs a tribute to composer Irving Berlin, who turns 100 on May 11. McCorkle will perform tributes to Berlin each week at this time throughout the month.
Biologist Daniel H. Janzen's dream is to create a tropical forest in the northwest of Costa Rica. Janzen is a professor at the University of Pennsylvania. (Interview by Marty Moss-Coane)
Ken Tucker pokes fun at the notion that the video cassette revolution would spawn legions of avid movie collectors. Increasingly, he argues, the movies available for home rental are either teen comedies or movies you can see on late-night TV.
Novelist and theater and film director Elia Kazan. He directed Marlon Brando in "On the Waterfront," and James Dean in "East of Eden." He was a member of the Group Theater and co-founded the Actors Studio with Lee Strasberg.
John Rothchild. His new book, A Fool and His Money is a personal account of his adventures as an average investor trying to figure out the complexities of the stock and commodities markets.
Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews "Babette's Feast," a Danish film based on a story by Isaak Dennison. The film won the Oscar this year for Best Foreign Film.
Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new recording that features the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Sir Charles Mackerras performing Mozart serenades.
Rock star, teen throb and matinee idol Rick Springfield. Springfield, who starred in the popular daytime soap "General Hospital," has a new album, his first in three years.
Poet Mark Halliday. He'll read "Memory Sampler," a poem he composed in an attempt to dispose of a whole series of troubling past experiences. Halliday is an English professor at the University of Pennsylvania. His first volume of poetry is titled Little Star.
Israeli novelist Amos Oz. He lived on a kibbutz for many years and is a veteran of the Six-Day War in 1967 and the Yom Kippur War in 1973. His books include A Perfect Peace, In the Land of Israel and his new book, Black Box.
