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William Kapell Recordings Turn Up Down Under

He was one of the most promising pianists of his generation when a 1953 plane crash ended his life at the age of 31. But thanks to an enterprising Australian music lover, a new two-CD set captures Kapell at the peak of his career.

Uneasy in Love: Mozart's 'Cosi fan tutte'

Deceptively complex, Cosí fan tutte is a comic farce that often leaves romantically inclined listeners more than a little bit queasy. The libretto springs plenty of jokes, but Mozart's music tells you to hold on to your heart — you never know which way the romantic winds might blow.

Passion in Portland: Oregon Chorus Sings 'Aida'

Thousands of Americans lead double lives, working by day and singing their hearts out at night as members of an operatic chorus. NPR's Ketzel Levine goes behind the scenes of the Portland Opera Chorus as it prepares for a production of Aida.

Cabbies Rewarded for Returning $4 Million Violin

Grammy-nominated Philippe Quint left his $4 million Stradivarius in a Newark taxi last month. His driver brought the instrument back. Quint showed his gratitude Tuesday by playing a private concert for taxi drivers and their families.

Classical Teens: Making Music in Maryland

From the Music Center at Strathmore in Bethesda, Md., an award-winning teen quartet plays Debussy, a young baritone sings Vaughn Williams and a 15-year-old violinist plays music from a Saint-Saëns concerto. This show originally aired on October 3, 2007.

Samuel Barber's Summertime Idyll

With the apple-pie wholesomeness of a Norman Rockwell painting, but with a touch of melancholy, Barber created an American classic when he composed Knoxville: Summer of 1915. Carolyn Sampson sings it in concert with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra.

Reinventing Opera: Rameau's 'Castor and Pollux'

In the 1730's, Rameau's boldly emotional new operas nearly caused riots among the conservative music lovers of Paris. The unabashedly passionate drama Castor and Pollux is one of his best.

The Double Life of Mike Kelley (Polar)

By day, Mike Kelley is a professional viola instructor and performer, based in a sedate corner of rural New Hampshire. By night, Kelley Polar, electronic dance musician and "cosmic space traveler," is anything but.

Teen Singers Shine in Houston

This week, talented teen voices ring out in the home of Houston Grand Opera. From the Wortham Theater Center, a 17-year-old soprano sings Copland, three Texan "spirits" sing a scene from Mozart's Magic Flute. And, for the grand finale, all the young musicians join to perform music from Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel.

Chinese Composer Gives 'Turandot' a Fresh Finale

For 84 years, opera buffs have puzzled over how Italian composer Giacomo Puccini meant to finish one of his best-loved works, Turandot. Now, a young Chinese composer has put a new spin on the famous opera set in a mythical China.