NPR: Deceptive Cadence https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129702125 Deceptive Cadence un-stuffs the world of classical music, which is both fusty and ferociously alive. en Copyright 2024 NPR - For Personal Use Only Story API Shim 1.2.24 Fri, 22 May 2026 17:57:57 -0400 https://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/primary/npr_generic_image_300.jpg?s=200 NPR: Deceptive Cadence https://www.npr.org/sections/deceptivecadence/ What did the beginning of time sound like? A new string quartet offers an impression Nokuthula Ngwenyama's <em>Flow </em>is on a 13-city tour of performances by the celebrated Takács Quartet. Wed, 17 Jan 2024 05:11:44 -0500 https://www.npr.org/sections/deceptivecadence/2024/01/17/1225142459/composer-uses-string-instruments-to-make-a-sound-suggesting-origins-of-the-unive https://www.npr.org/sections/deceptivecadence/2024/01/17/1225142459/composer-uses-string-instruments-to-make-a-sound-suggesting-origins-of-the-unive Flow.'/>

Nokuthula Ngwenyama's Flow is on a 13-city tour of performances by the celebrated Takács Quartet.

]]> Olivia Hampton Napoleon's piano lends authenticity to Ridley Scott's biopic British composer Martin Phipps discusses how he used an 1808 French piano that once belonged to Napoleon in the score for Ridley Scott's biopic of the one-time emperor. Mon, 04 Dec 2023 05:04:25 -0500 https://www.npr.org/sections/deceptivecadence/2023/12/04/1216905501/napoleons-piano-adds-authenticity-to-the-music-of-ridley-scotts-movie https://www.npr.org/sections/deceptivecadence/2023/12/04/1216905501/napoleons-piano-adds-authenticity-to-the-music-of-ridley-scotts-movie Museum of Music History to the Cobbe Collection of historic instruments outside London.'/>

British composer Martin Phipps discusses how he used an 1808 French piano that once belonged to Napoleon in the score for Ridley Scott's biopic of the one-time emperor.

]]> Olivia Hampton Finding a place at the Met, this opera sings in a language of its own <em>Florencia </em>gives star Ailyn Pérez a rare chance to sing in Spanish. As the bilingual daughter of Mexican immigrants, she learned early on that language had the power to shape her experience and voice. Mon, 27 Nov 2023 12:15:12 -0500 https://www.npr.org/sections/deceptivecadence/2023/11/27/1214845596/finding-a-place-at-the-met-this-opera-sings-in-a-language-of-its-own https://www.npr.org/sections/deceptivecadence/2023/11/27/1214845596/finding-a-place-at-the-met-this-opera-sings-in-a-language-of-its-own Florencia en el Amazonas. '/>

Florencia gives star Ailyn Pérez a rare chance to sing in Spanish. As the bilingual daughter of Mexican immigrants, she learned early on that language had the power to shape her experience and voice.

(Image credit: Ken Howard)

]]> Luis Trelles A disciplined plea for peace – and quiet – from composer Arvo Pärt A new album of music by the 88-year-old Estonian mystic seems to put an arm around you and whisper, "In troubled times, music can help." Fri, 10 Nov 2023 12:28:46 -0500 https://www.npr.org/sections/deceptivecadence/2023/11/10/1211620917/a-disciplined-plea-for-peace-and-quiet-from-composer-arvo-part https://www.npr.org/sections/deceptivecadence/2023/11/10/1211620917/a-disciplined-plea-for-peace-and-quiet-from-composer-arvo-part

A new album of music by the 88-year-old Estonian mystic seems to put an arm around you and whisper, "In troubled times, music can help."

(Image credit: Luciano Rossetti)

]]> Tom Huizenga From opera to breakdancing and back again: Jakub Józef Orliński fuses two worlds Polish countertenor and breakdancer Jakub Józef Orliński talks about his new album with Il Pomo d'Oro orchestra. Mon, 16 Oct 2023 05:06:31 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/deceptivecadence/2023/10/16/1203697995/from-opera-to-breakdancing-and-back-again-jakub-jozef-orli-ski-fuses-two-worlds https://www.npr.org/sections/deceptivecadence/2023/10/16/1203697995/from-opera-to-breakdancing-and-back-again-jakub-jozef-orli-ski-fuses-two-worlds

Polish countertenor and breakdancer Jakub Józef Orliński talks about his new album with Il Pomo d'Oro orchestra.

(Image credit: Monika Rittershaus)

]]> Olivia Hampton After 12 years, pianist Awadagin Pratt rediscovers his sweet spot Absent from the recording studio for more than a decade, the restless musician has commissioned six composers for his new album. Fri, 25 Aug 2023 13:07:14 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/deceptivecadence/2023/08/25/1195487418/after-12-years-pianist-awadagin-pratt-rediscovers-his-sweet-spot https://www.npr.org/sections/deceptivecadence/2023/08/25/1195487418/after-12-years-pianist-awadagin-pratt-rediscovers-his-sweet-spot STILLPOINT is the first album in 12 years from pianist Awadagin Pratt.'/>

Absent from the recording studio for more than a decade, the restless musician has commissioned six composers for his new album.

(Image credit: Rob Davidson)

]]> Tom Huizenga Minimalism: a story told in 8 pulses In their new book <em>On Minimalism</em>, musicologists William Robin and Kerry O'Brien capture the lesser-known stories of the musical movement and its development, era by era. Thu, 20 Jul 2023 16:10:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/deceptivecadence/2023/07/20/1188809648/interview-on-minimalism-documenting-a-musical-movement https://www.npr.org/sections/deceptivecadence/2023/07/20/1188809648/interview-on-minimalism-documenting-a-musical-movement

In their new book On Minimalism, musicologists William Robin and Kerry O'Brien capture the lesser-known stories of the musical movement and its development, era by era.

(Image credit: The Museum of Modern Art)

]]> Noah Caldwell Remembering André Watts, the American pianist who opened doors of possibility The pianist, who died last week, was an inspiration to a generation of Black and brown musicians who followed in his pioneering footsteps. Mon, 17 Jul 2023 15:28:28 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/deceptivecadence/2023/07/17/1188166323/remembering-andre-watts-the-american-pianist-who-opened-doors-of-possibility https://www.npr.org/sections/deceptivecadence/2023/07/17/1188166323/remembering-andre-watts-the-american-pianist-who-opened-doors-of-possibility

The pianist, who died last week, was an inspiration to a generation of Black and brown musicians who followed in his pioneering footsteps.

(Image credit: CBS Photo Archive)

]]> Lara Downes Ted Hearne's choral work 'FARMING' raises food for thought The composer, in a new collaboration with the Grammy-winning choir The Crossing, uses the words of Jeff Bezos and William Penn to explore connections among farming, colonialism and capitalism. Sat, 08 Jul 2023 07:53:38 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/deceptivecadence/2023/07/08/1186575606/ted-hearnes-choral-work-farming-raises-food-for-thought https://www.npr.org/sections/deceptivecadence/2023/07/08/1186575606/ted-hearnes-choral-work-farming-raises-food-for-thought FARMING, takes its texts from Jeff Bezos and William Penn to explore connections between farming, colonialism and capitalism.'/>

The composer, in a new collaboration with the Grammy-winning choir The Crossing, uses the words of Jeff Bezos and William Penn to explore connections among farming, colonialism and capitalism.

(Image credit: Peter English)

]]> Nate Chinen The voice of Jessye Norman soars again in trove of unreleased recordings A new collection of recordings finally freed from the vaults offers a chance to hear one of opera's greatest artists sing Wagner, Strauss, Berlioz and more. Fri, 24 Mar 2023 11:22:11 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/deceptivecadence/2023/03/24/1162391332/jessye-norman-unreleased-recordings https://www.npr.org/sections/deceptivecadence/2023/03/24/1162391332/jessye-norman-unreleased-recordings

A new collection of recordings finally freed from the vaults offers a chance to hear one of opera's greatest artists sing Wagner, Strauss, Berlioz and more.

]]> Tom Huizenga