Susan Lewis

WRTI's Susan Lewis considers the life and work of George Gershwin, and one of  the great 20th-century master’s signature works, Rhapsody in Blue.

A summertime exhibition explores the centuries-old idea of a utopian place called Arcadia and how it influenced some of the key figures in the development of modern art. Gauguin, Cezanne, Matisse: Visions of Arcadia is at the Philadelphia Museum of Art through September 3rd.

Beethoven is in the air! The Philadelphia Orchestra, with The Philadelphia Singers and soloists, including AVA's Margaret Mezzacappa, wowed the audience at the Mann Center last Wednesday night with an intense performance of Beethoven's 9th symphony. WRTI's Susan Lewis explores the life and work of one of the world's most influential composers.

WRTI's Susan Lewis explores how the idea of "utopia" captivated the imaginations of early 20th-century artists, as the Philadelphia Museum of Art opens its new exhibition: Gauguin, Cezanne, Matisse: Visions of Arcadia.

At the heart of the show are three monumental canvases, each an acknowledged masterpiece and each, in its own distinctive way, a powerful response to the Arcadian tradition: Paul Cézanne’s enigmatic The Large Bathers; Paul Gauguin’s Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?; and Henri Matisse’s Bathers by a River.

The use of collage as a form of fine art is traced to 1912, when early 20th-century artists Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque began gluing objects onto their paintings.  WRTI's Susan Lewis considers the evolution of collage as fine art and as a socially relevant form of personal and political expression.   

It was 100 years ago that legendary conductor Leopold Stokowski stepped onto the podium as music director of The Philadelphia Orchestra. WRTI's Susan Lewis considers the legacy of Stokowski, who is credited with shaping the distinctive "Philadelphia Sound."

As the National Collage Society presents its 28th Annual Juried Exhibit at Ursinus College's Berman Museum of Art in Collegeville, PA, WRTI's Susan Lewis explores the medium of collage. The exhibition runs from June 9th to August 12, 2012.

Flutist Mimi Stillman founded her own chamber ensemble, Dolce Suono, in 2005.  In its seven seasons, Dolce Suono has performed 23 premieres by leading composers, while still embracing the classic Baroque repertoire.  WRTI's Susan Lewis looks at how this innovative chamber group is using a range of music, played in this intimate form, to connect with music lovers of all ages.

WRTI's Susan Lewis looks at the life and legacy of Charles Dickens as the Free Library of Philadelphia continues its year-long Dickens celebration with special exhibits and programming.

The Philadelphia-based chamber music ensemble, founded in 2005 by flutist Mimi Stillman (the group's artistic director), is profiled by WRTI's Susan Lewis. Information Here