Soundcheck

French Connection

Thursday, July 12, 2007

Music charts in France used to be dominated by tunes imported from the U.S. Now, native artists are claiming their space under the sun. In light of Saturday's Bastille Day, we look at what is hot in French music. Also: Pharaoh's Daughter is a band whose music evokes a wide gamut of sounds and places: from Hasidic Brooklyn to '70s psychedelia, from an Israeli seminary to smoky Turkish bars. They perform live in studio. And finally: a look at classical music's answer to Deadheads: Wagner fans.

Listen to the whole show

La musique d'ete

French music is more than retro café tunes and sappy love ballads. Today, we look at the wave of new French artists who are shaking up that country’s pop charts – and coming to a Bastille Day party near you.

Pharaoh's Daughter

Pharaoh's Daughter is a six-piece ensemble that blends Jewish music with world beat. The group performs live in the studio today.

Pharaoh's Daughter's Web site

"The Ring and I: The Passion, The Myth, The Mania"

As a primer for the Lincoln Center Festival's new Kirov "Ring Cycle" which opens this weekend at the Met, we present a capsule version of WNYC's award-winning special "The Ring and I: The Passion, The Myth, The Mania," hosted by Radio Lab's Jad Abumrad.