Where are today's Cultural Dissidents?
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
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Vladimir Putin (L) speaks with the artistic director of the Mariinsky Theater, Valery Gergiyev (Getty Images)
In the past month, Russian conductor Valery Gergiev endorsed Moscow's military actions in Georgia. Meanwhile, China's top musicians performed at the Beijing Olympics. On today's show: what happens when musicians support authoritarian governments -- and where the dissidents have all gone. Also: Mexican-American singer-songwriter Lila Downs continues to honor the rich musical heritage of her homeland on her new album, "Shake Away." She shares it with us today.
A Delicate Dance of Music and Politics
The death last month of Russian author Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn brought to mind the long tradition of dissidents who take a stand against authoritarian governments. But lately, it seems the tides have turned: Conductor Valery Gergiev has been performing on behalf of Vladimir Putin. And countless Chinese artists worked in support ...
Lila Downs on Mexican Pride
Mexican-American singer Lila Downs has often tackled hot-button issues like immigration and feminism. So it's no surprise that in her new album, "Shake Away," she has included songs about minimum wage and nostalgia for the homeland. But it also has songs by Santana and Lucinda Williams, as well as a ...
Where have all the dissidents gone?
By a fluke of scheduling, we have Lila Downs, the Mexican-American singer, on today’s show, and Joan Baez, an earlier generation’s Mexican-American singer, on tomorrow’s program. Both have made their reputations as singers who refuse to shy away from hot-button topics. Forty years ago, Baez’s songs were a highly visible ...