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Soundcheck

Tuesday, October 05, 2004
  • Tenor Juan Diego Florez
    Juan Diego Flores (www.juandiegoflorez.com)

    Rossinian Romps and Tokyo Jazz

    As the opera world prepares for Luciano Pavarotti's retirement, fans are searching for the next legendary tenor. To some, anointed heir has been found: Juan Diego Florez. The 31-year-old Peruvian joins guest host Anthony DeCurtis to talk about what it’s like to be the new kid on the proverbial opera block, and about the parallels between Donizetti and soccer. We’re also joined by WNYC cultural producer Alicia Zuckerman, who recently spoke with stage director, Julie Taymor, who is perhaps best known for directing Broadway’s The Lion King. Her latest venture takes her down a different road, as the brains behind the Metropolitan Opera’s production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute. Rounding out the show, we visit with Grammy-nominated jazz piano phenom Brad Mehldau, whose latest album breaks down the walls separating Gershwin, Nick Drake, and Radiohead.

Introducing our Video Contest

Soundcheck

John Schaefer gives the lowdown on Soundcheck's music video challenge with the Fiery Furnaces.

In Studio: Los Amigos Invisibles

Soundcheck

The Venezuelan funk-rock band "Los Amigos Invisibles" was discovered by David Byrne in a Manhattan record shop. They perform live on Soundcheck.

In Studio: Angel Deradoorian

Soundcheck

The 22-year-old multi-instrumentalist performs live in our studio.

Cucu Diamantes Performs Amor Cronico

Soundcheck

Cucu Diamantes went from a tough childhood in Havana, Cuba, to an art school in Rome to underground New York City, where she co-founded the Latin alternative band Yerba Buena.

In Studio: The Decemberists

The Portland, Ore., band's latest album, "The Hazards of Love," is a concept album with a mythological flair. They joined Soundcheck to play live for a studio audience in WNYC's Greene Space.

Sound Off

Soundcheck

Throughout May, Soundcheck presents “Sound Off” a Friday series on the many aspects of noise in music and our lives. The series -- which coincides with “Better Hearing and Speech Month” -- looks at issues like New York’s noisiest neighborhoods, the latest research on iPods and hearing loss, and what happens when noise becomes a musical ingredient.