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Soundcheck

Thursday, November 10, 2005
  • Bill Viola, Night Journey, 2005, video installation - photo by Kira Perov
    Bill Viola, Night Journey, 2005, video installation. (Kira Perov. Image courtesy of James Cohan Gallery, New York)

    Ring Bearers

    Composer Howard Shore was influenced by ancient mythology when writing the film score to "The Lord of the Rings," Peter Jackson's film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's trilogy -- just as Richard Wagner was when he wrote his "Ring" Cycle 150 years ago. This weekend the Collegiate Chorale performs excerpts from Wagner's "Ring" and Shore's "Lord of the Rings Symphony," a six-movement work created from the movie scores. Joining us to discuss Rings past and present are Shore, Collegiate Chorale director Robert Bass, and soprano Christine Goerke, who performs live in the WNYC studio. Also on the show: a conversation with video artist Bill Viola, who has collaborated on a new production of Wagner's "Tristan and Isolde" with director Peter Sellars.

Bill Viola

The video artist Bill Viola discusses creating a Tristan und Isolde for the 21st century.
» Bill Viola Web site

» James Cohan Gallery Web site

Ring Cycles

Composer Howard Shore, conductor Robert Bass and soprano Christine Goerke discuss the parallels between Wagner's Ring and Tolkien's.
» Collegiate Chorale Web site
» OneRing.net

Introducing our Video Contest

Soundcheck

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

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: Stephanie McKay

Soundcheck

The local singer-songwriter performs "Jackson Avenue," a nostalgic toast to her childhood in the South Bronx.

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.