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People of Northwest Public Radio

Sueann Ramella

Morning Edition Host & Producer

Thom Kokenge

All Things Considered Host & Producer

Robin Rilette

Music Director & Classical Music Host

Kerry Swanson

Station Manager

Gillian Coldsnow

Assistant Manager of Programming and Operations

John Paxson

News Director

Steve Reeder

Classical Music Host

Music + Culture

Henri Dutilleux, Leading French Composer, Dies At 97

Credit Pierre Verdy / AFP/Getty Images

Henri Dutilleux, a leading French composer and unique voice in new music, has died at age 97.

By Tom Huizenga

Originally published on Thu May 23, 2013 2:09 pm

9:08 am

Tue May 21, 2013

Gods And Monsters: 5 Unforgettable Wagner Moments

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Credit Ken Howard / Metropolitan Opera

The Valkyries, led by Brunnhilde (soprano Debra Voigt, lower left), are the warrior maidens of Richard Wagner's epic Ring cycle.

Credit Ken Howard / Metropolitan Opera

Eric Owens plays the greedy dwarf Alberich, displaying his golden ring, in Wagner's Das Rheingold.

Credit Ken Howard / Metropolitan Opera

Mark Delevan as Wotan and Deborah Voigt as his daughter Brunnhilde in Wagner's Die Walküre.

Credit APF/Getty Images

Peter Seiffert and Katarina Dalayman as the title characters in Tristan und Isolde, Wagner's cosmic tale of love.

Credit Getty Images

Klaus Florian Vogt sings the role of Walter the brash, young game-changer in Wagner's Die Meistersinger.

Credit Ken Howard / Metropolitan Opera

Parsifal (Jonas Kaufmann) lifts the Holy Grail as Gurnemanz (Rene Pape) looks on, in a recent Metropolitan Opera production of Wagner's final opera, Parsifal.

By Tom Huizenga

Originally published on Wed May 22, 2013 1:02 pm

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William Berger on 'Parsifal'
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William Berger on 'Das Rheingold'
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William Berger on 'Die Walküre'
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William Berger on 'Tristan und Isolde'
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William Berger on 'Die Meistersinger'

How much do you know about Richard Wagner? Probably two unfavorable facts: He wrote very long, grandiose operas and was Hitler's favorite composer. As true as they are, those simple examples barely hint at the complexity of this endlessly creative and confounding artist.

3:54 pm

Fri May 17, 2013

Paula Poundstone - A Comedic Mind

Comedian Paula Poundstone

By Thom Kokenge

Paula Poundstone is regularly heard on NPR’s news quiz program Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me as a popular guest panelist. A stand-up comic since 1979, Poundstone has won multiple wards, and was recently inducted into the Comedy Hall of Fame. She tells Thom Kokenge in this extended interview why Facebook is like the children’s game Duck-Duck-Goose, and provides some behind-the-scenes stories of Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me.

www.paulapoundstone.com

8:40 am

Fri May 17, 2013

Polly Want An Ostinato?

Credit Pablo Helguera

By editor

Got an idea for a classical cartoon or a reaction to this one? Leave your thoughts in the comments section.

Pablo Helguera is a New York-based artist working with sculpture, drawing, photography and performance. His new book is Helguera's Artunes. You can see more of his work atArtworld Salon and on his own site.

11:31 am

Thu May 16, 2013

Andris Nelsons Named Music Director Of The Boston Symphony

Credit Marco Borggreve / courtesy of the Boston Symphony Orchestra

Conductor Andris Nelsons, the newest music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

By Anastasia Tsioulcas

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12:50 pm

Wed May 22, 2013