The label has reissued the complete recordings of the maestro, which include over 80 releases. Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews three boxed sets featuring works by Beethoven, Brahms, and Verdi.
Book critic John Leonard reviews the memoirs of Andrei Sakharav, a Russian scientist and political dissident who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1975. Leonard says the book is more than autobiography -- it's a guide for global citizenship.
Film scholar Douglas Gomery has a new essay in the anthology Seeing Through Movies, in which he discusses the history of the movie theater, and how theater owners designed the audience experience over the decades.
The band, comprising brothers Dorsey and Johnny, as well as guitarist Paul Burlison, were contemporaries of Elvis, and released several memorable records. But their music was constantly overshadowed by other artists. Rock historian Ed Ward has this profile.
Environmentalist Michael Oppenheimer says that rising temperatures could cause international crises like wildfires and food shortages. He has a new book about ways to curtail this trend on the individual, corporate, and governmental levels, called Dead Heat.
While network TV takes a break until the fall, cable channels premiere fresh programming for subscribers. Critic David Bianculli reviews Fear, a made-for-TV movie on Showtime, starring Ally Sheedy as a psychic who investigates serial killers.
Lomax, along with his father, used portable recording equipment to capture regional American music -- including the songs of African Americans, prisoners, and the legendary Woody Guthrie. This effort eventually led to the founding of the American Folklife Center.
The newest crop of trumpet stars are in their 20s; Wheeler is four decades older -- which may account for why he hasn't gotten more attention. Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead says that his beautiful tone is unmatched, and his distinctive solos have a saxophone-like quality. Tucker reviews two of Wheeler's albums on the ECM label.
Davidson's act earned him a spot on the sketch comedy show In Living Color, starring the Wayans brothers. He grew up in Washington, DC and began performing at a topless club. Davidson's comedy special will soon air on the Showtime network.
Along with bandmate Stephen Stills -- and occasionally Neil Young -- Crosby and Nash have been writing and recording folk rock songs with distinctive, tight harmonies. Their career began in the 1960s, and has weathered addiction and personal conflict. Crosby, Stills & Nash have a new album called Live It Up.
Ken Tucker reviews the first solo album by the Electric Light Orchestra and Traveling Wilburys alum. Known for his past complex and often sterile music, Lynne has since adopted a looser, rougher style that's big on charm.
Commentator Leslie Savan says that American corporations have a vested interest in breaking into Soviet Bloc markets -- and they're spreading their capitalist message through TV ads.
Journalist Randy Shilts just returned from the latest International AIDS Conference in San Francisco. He says there is a revitalized push for the development of new drug treatments and a vaccine. Yet there have been protests against the volunteer-based model of AIDS outreach and treatment. After eight years, Shilts plans to stop reporting on the disease.
Film critic Owen Gleiberman says the original Die Hard succeed in part because it was tightly plotted and plausible -- for an action movie. But it's hard to imagine Bruce Willis's John McClane fighting terrorists throughout the sprawl of Washington, D.C.
Linguist Geoff Nunberg says that the attention paid to how people talk says more about class status and regionalism than a decline in effective communication. He explains.
Shortly after Ray Charles endured a family tragedy, he started to go blind. His mother feared for his future, but Charles was able to make a career in music. Rock historian Ed Ward describes how Charles, who was steeped in the tradition of Nat King Cole, developed his own unique voice.
Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews two new recordings of pianist Dubravka Tomsic on the Stradivari label. He says the CDs, released after a series of successful recitals by Tomsic, are filled with fireworks, even on the slower, delicate pieces.
Lee says his substantial height kept him from landing leading man roles. During his long-running career, he's appeared in over 150 films. Lee made a name for himself in horror, playing both Dracula and Frankenstein's monster. He's starring in the forthcoming sequel to Gremlins.
Murray is one of the few cello players working in jazz. She says class and cultural differences between black and white communities can explain why fewer African American children learn classical instruments. She appears on Muhal Richard Abrams' new album, The Hearinga Suite.
Book critic John Leonard says Joseph Wambaugh's police thrillers vary in quality, though they're all enjoyable. The writer's newest book, The Golden Orange, about an ex-cop in Southern California, is a return to form.
