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Soundcheck

Thursday, June 05, 2008
  • Placido Domingo
    (ARIS MESSINIS/AFP/Getty Images)

    Iron Man Domingo

    Plácido Domingo was recently named greatest tenor of all time, according to a poll of leading music critics. He's certainly one of the world's busiest musicians. Today, Domingo talks about a career conducting, directing, and singing, and about his new album of Spanish street songs known as coplas. Later: Classical guitarist Gyan Riley was following in some big footsteps when he left home. His father just happens to be Terry Riley, one of the most influential composers of the late 20th century. But he's carved out a niche of his own as he demonstrates today with a live performance in our studio.

Placido Domingo

Tenor Placido Domingo is at home both in the world’s great opera houses but also in vast stadiums and on the pop charts. His new album is a collection of coplas, the popular Spanish street songs he heard as a child. He joins us to talk about it and to name who will be the next Pavarotti.

Our blog: John Schaefer on Placido Domingo

Placido Domingo conducts three performances of Tosca with the Los Angeles Opera beginning Jun. 11 at 7:30pm.

Placido Domingo's Website

Night Life on the Sea Shore

Brighton Beach is a fun summer destination -- and it's not just for sun-bathing and chess-playing on the boardwalk. When the sun goes down, nightclubs are packed with locals, mostly émigrés from Russia and Ukraine. There, through music, performers have recreated the old country...in the new. Daniela Gerson has more.

Gyan Riley

Gyan Riley grew up listening to music by his father, minimalist composer and pianist Terry Riley, and Indian classical pieces. He incorporates both and many other sounds as a classical guitarist and composer. He joins us with a live performance.

Gyan Riley performs tomorrow Jun. 6 at Baruch College's Engelman Recital Hall at 8pm.

Gyan Riley's Website

The Swell Season in The Greene Space

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Joshua Bell in The Greene Space

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