In a 1962 interview, Leopold Stokowski discusses his founding of the American Symphony Orchestra with WNYC's Seymour Siegel, calling for more emphasis on the arts. 

Washington Post classical music critic Anne Midgette shares some of her musical favorites from the past year -- including a dancing orchestra (seriously, watch the video). And, she takes aim at some opera crossover artists who aren't living up to their own hype. 

The borough of Queens is probably the most diverse place on earth, in terms of the amount of languages spoken and the sheer diversity of immigrants living there. “1001 Voices: A Symphony for Queens” is Frank London’s mammoth piece for orchestra, ethnic instruments, actors, visual projections, and a 190-piece choir; the work examines our changing ideas of migration and home. The composer joins us along with the writer and actor Judith Sloan to talk about their collaboration.

What type of program would get you to come to see an orchestra at Carnegie Hall - or any venue, for that matter? New York Magazine music critic Justin Davidson joins us for this focus group-like approach to programming classical music - and filling concert halls.

It's not the first, and it might not be the last either; the Philadelphia Orchestra filed for bankruptcy over the weekend, showing that even the country's most celebrated symphonies are feeling both short term and long term economic pain. In existence for 111 years, the orchestra played an instrumental role in bringing the caliber of U.S. classical music up to that offered overseas, and is listed among the top seven in the nation. But everything from high rent at the organization's Kimmel Center to disputes over musicians' benefits and sagging ticket sales has left the Orchestra with a $5 million deficit this year. Are orchestras on the verge of extinction? 

The 18th New York African Film Festival kicks off Wednesday with the documentary “Kinshasa Symphony,” a film about the Democratic Republic of Congo’s only symphony orchestra.