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Soundcheck

Thursday, May 27, 2004
  • Salzburg Festival Quarter - photo by Fritz Haseke
    Salzburg Festival Quarter : The Hofstallgasse decorated with flags - a splendid theatre foyer (Fritz Haseke)

    More than Just Pops: American Orchestras and Austrian Escapes

    In recent years, major American orchestras have faced difficulties ranging from aging, graying audiences to financial strain. But summer is a time when they reach beyond their usual audiences and try something different. Or is it? Today, we get a perspective on American orchestras and their summer seasons with Philadelphia Inquirer music critic David Patrick Stearns. Then, for a comparison abroad we look at Austria’s Salzburg Festival, the venerable festival held in Mozart’s hometown that has become a destination for the boldest programming anywhere. We hear from our European correspondent Mariana Schroeder.

Best Live Performances of 2008

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We revisit memorable in-studio performances from Toumani Diabaté, Cat Power, Regina Spektor, and others.

The Year in Music and Branding

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Pop music and advertising go together like peanut butter and jelly. Grey Group music director Josh Rabinowitz shares his picks for the best song picks and ad campaigns of 2008.

Critics Week

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Music writers look back at the year's best pop, rock, hip hop, classical, jazz, Latin and world albums. Plus: the worst music of the year and the best online music. Read our critics' lists here. And don't forget to cast your vote in our best-albums poll.

Noteworthy New York

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We have invited musicians and artists to help us select their favorite cultural destination in the neighborhood where they live. From parks and coffee shops to bowling alleys and museums, the options are as diverse as our group of contributors.