NPR Staff

The mind behind the music of Inception, Gladiator and more says he was looking for someone who would take his prompt and "ignore it as much as possible." He and the winner joined NPR's Rachel Martin.

"Jazz improvisation is supposed to be the highest form of communication," says the 83-year-old sax legend, who is about to release the third volume in his prized Road Shows series.

Performing Eartha Kitt's music, the jazz singer says, isn't just hero worship: It's a window into how power, seduction and vulnerability intertwine.

The Ukrainian-born pianist revived her stalled career by uploading videos of herself to YouTube. After millions clicked, she landed a record deal. Her new album features film music by Michael Nyman.

Early music specialist Jordi Savall explores different periods and cultures, mashing them together for surprising results. His new project finds fruitful varieties all in one spot: the Balkans.

In a first for the Metropolitan Opera, Kristine Opolais made two major-role debuts in the space of 18 hours. The Latvian soprano sang leads in Madama Butterfly and La Bohème back to back.

When violinist Yevgeny Kutik's family left Minsk for the U.S. in 1990, they were stripped of most of their belongings. He was stunned at what his mother, a music teacher, fought to keep.

Adams speaks with NPR's Arun Rath about a large-scale work inspired by the women in Jesus' life.

One of the most talked-about names in jazz, the 32-year-old trumpeter is more auteur than star. In an extended interview, he explains why it's crucial to let his collaborators think for themselves.

After being stored under a bed for a half-century, a $16 million violin is now in the hands of Anne Akiko Meyers, who's recorded Vivaldi's vivid Four Seasons.