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Soundcheck

Friday, March 12, 2004
  • Joseph Volpe | Eugene Drucker
    Joseph Volpe | Violinist Eugene Drucker

    Met Life

    Joseph Volpe, the no-nonsense, Flatbush-born general manager of the Metropolitan Opera announced recently that he plans to retire in 2006. In his first broadcast interview since that announcement he sits down with host John Schaefer to discuss his rise from apprentice carpenter to become arguably the most powerful man in the performing arts world. During Volpe's four-decade tenure, the Met thrived both artistically and fiscally, all while he settled complex labor disputes and put big divas in their place. Also on the show is Eugene Drucker, violinist and founding member of the Emerson String Quartet. In the 1980’s, the quartet almost single-handedly attracted a new audience to the string quartet genre with its intrepid programming. This season it invites them along on further adventures in programs juxtaposing late Beethoven quartets with Haydn's "Seven Last Words of Christ on the Cross" and Bach's "Art of Fugue."

When I Missed the Boat

Soundcheck

How prejudice and second-guessing can cause you to miss some great music. Also, Juilliard-trained pianist Andy Russo joins us to share "Mix Tape," a collection of 14 classical arrangements of nuggets by Billy Joel, James Blunt, the B-52's, and others.

Johnny Flynn

Soundcheck

Johnny Flynn, a London-based singer-songwriter, performs songs from his new album, "A Larum."

Ahmad Jamal

Soundcheck

Pianist and composer Ahmad Jamal was a major influence on Miles Davis in the 50s. Today rappers sample his music. He joins us to discuss his latest album.