NPR's Scott Simon speaks to Syrian-American composer Malek Jandali about the fall of the dictatorship in Syria and his hopes for his homeland's future.


How Syria's 'musician of the revolution' feels after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime

NPR's Scott Simon speaks with a legend of jazz, Herb Alpert, who has just released his 50th album. It is called "50."


Jazz legend Herb Alpert releases his 50th album

NPR's Scott Simon talks with composer Jeff Beal about his new collection of solo piano works, "The New York Etudes," and about living and working with multiple sclerosis.


Jeff Beal's new collection of solo piano work speaks to living with multiple sclerosis

NPR's Scott Simon talks with double bass player Christian McBride about his new album, recorded with fellow bassist Edgar Meyer. It's called "But Who's Gonna Play the Melody?"


A bassist duo brings out a new album called 'But Who's Gonna Play the Melody?' 

NPR's Scott Simon speaks with Max Raabe of the Palast Orchester, which keeps pre-World War II German jazz alive for modern audiences.


The Palast Orchester performs 1920s German jazz music once banned by the Nazis

NPR's Scott Simon asks mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade about her career and commitment to arts education. She has been inducted into the Opera Hall of Fame.


Frederica von Stade on being inducted into the Opera Hall of Fame

NPR's Scott Simon talks with conductor Marin Alsop about the 30th anniversary of "Too Hot To Handel" — a modern take on Handel's baroque classic, "Messiah."


'Too Hot to Handel', Marin Alsop's modern rendition of a holiday staple turns 30

Scott Simon talks with violist Mark Ludwig about his efforts to preserve - and play - the music written by some of the many musicians imprisoned and killed at the Terezin concentration camp.


Violist memorializes lost voices at Terezin concentration camp

NPR's Scott Simon talks to conductor Keri-Lynn Wilson of the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra about its second international tour.


Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra is embarking on its second international tour

Tenor Limmie Pulliam just made his Carnegie Hall debut at 47. He tells NPR's Scott Simon what pushed him away from singing and what twist of fate brought him back to the stage.


Scott Simon

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