CitySpace At Home: A Little Night Music
Ready for a musical snack? We’ve welcomed some truly amazing singers, songwriters, composers and musicians to CitySpace. From hip-hop to opera and broadway to gospel, the performances below are sure to give you comfort if you're having a bad day or get you on your feet if you're in the mood to dance. Mixed in are some powerful conversations with topics ranging from coping with grief to the portrayal of race in musical theater.
Matthew Aucoin in conversation with Radio Open Source host Christopher Lydon
In an evening of music and conversation, composer/conductor Matthew Aucoin was joined by Radio Open Source host Christopher Lydon and members of American Modern Opera Company (AMOC), the ensemble co-founded by Aucoin and Zack Winokur. Aucoin discussed his influences and inspirations, before performing with AMOC’s two violinists, Keir GoGwilt and Miranda Cuckson.
Shaina Taub In Conversation with Here & Now co-host Robin Young
Robin Young, co-host of Here & Now, moderated conversation and perfomance with award-winning songwriter Shaina Taub. For the past few years, Taub has starred in her musical adaptations of Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" and "As You Like It" at the Delacorte Theater as part of the Public Theater's Public Works initiative. She has collaborated with Elton John on music for the upcoming musical "The Devil Wears Prada."
On Point's Meghna Chakrabarti and Blue Heron
Meghna Chakrabarti, host of On Point, joined classical vocal ensemble Blue Heron for a conversation about their multimedia performances of Guillaume de Machaut’s "Remede de Fortune," a 14th-century poetic manual for finding happiness in the face of the suffering caused by outrageous, indifferent Fortune. A feast of poetry, song, dance and visual art animated by a surprisingly Zen-like philosophy.
Alisa Amador (with opener Noah y Maurizio)
After popular shows at Club Passim and a recent tour in Spain, Alisa Amador brought her soulful blend of rock, jazz, alternative folk and latin music to Cityspace. With her poetic lyrics, and syncopated rythms, her music is likely to make you cry, laugh and dance all within this one set.
Falling Out of Time: A Conversation with Osvaldo Golijov and The Silkroad Ensemble
Three years ago, renowned composer Osvaldo Golijov sat down on a park bench in Tel Aviv to read David Grossman’s "Falling Out of Time." Part play, part poem, part fable, the book narrates a journey “out of time” as parents grieve the death of their child. Drawing on Grossman’s powerful text, Golijov conceived a musical interpretation for 13 artists of the Silkroad Ensemble. Here & Now co-host Robin Young joined Golijov for an immersive conversation about "Falling Out of Time" with excerpts performed by the Silkroad Ensemble.
The ARTery's Massachusetts Favorite of the Tiny Desk: Frances Forever (with opener All The Time Always)
254 singers/bands from Massachusetts entered NPR's Tiny Desk Contest last year. The ARTery, WBUR's arts and culture team, hosted a concert featuring a performance from Frances Forever, the artist chosen as their favorite Tiny Desk Contest entry from Massachusetts.
Sing Out Strong: Immigrant Voices
Presented by White Snake Projects, Sing Out Strong: Immigrant Voices featured new songs inspired by stories and experiences of Boston area immigrants. Composers (from Peru, Latvia, India, China, Taiwan and Mexico) and writers (from Haiti, Vietnam, Brazil, the Dominican Republic and China) were paired up to amplify these stories through song and to celebrate the contributions of immigrant artists to our city and culture. Reporter Shannon Dooling moderated a panel of immigration experts after the show.
David Byrne in Conversation with Here & Now co-host Robin Young
In advance of the premiere of David Byrne's "American Utopia" in Boston, the innovative pop/rock icon appeared in conversation with Here & Now co-host Robin Young to discuss the show. The show, which made its way to Broadway, marks a major cultural milestone in the worlds of music and theater as Byrne shares the spotlight with a diverse ensemble of 11 musical artists from around the globe.
Who Should Sing "Ol' Man River?" Portraying Race Through Musical Theatre and the Concert Stage
This community discussion looks at how race has been portrayed in musical theatre and the concert stage over the years, and addresses the broader topic of how race relations continue to be an undercurrent of American music.
Rocka My Soul: Gospel Music from the Church to the Stage
To mark the 60th anniversary of Alvin Ailey’s dance masterwork “Revelations,” which took spirituals, gospel hymns and blues as its inspiration, we hosted a discussion exploing the ongoing impact of African American musical legacies on contemporary performing arts. The event, moderated by arts and culture reporter Cristela Guerra, featured performances from The Joyspring Community Choir, directed by Jonathan Singleton.
