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Hear the group the Times of London has called "the world's most exciting string quartet" in music by Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich and Smetana, live from the intimate Weill Recital Hall.

As its name suggests, this quartet borrows from the folk-dance rhythms of Africa and the Middle East. But it also draws on the perspective of modern jazz. Hear a live recording.

The mere mention of Richard Wagner's name can be a lightning rod for controversy. Wagner the man was a scoundrel, but his music was far ahead of its time. Wagner biographer William Berger joins NPR's Lisa Simeone for an overview of the artist and his groundbreaking music.

The pianist hails from Yugoslavia, where he studied classically until Armed Forces Radio turned him into an ardent jazz fan. Vuckovich launched his jazz career in San Francisco in 1960, and has since carried his evocative and elegant music around the world.

The Houston Symphony brings a biting all-Shostakovich program to Carnegie Hall for the Spring for Music festival — including the very rarely heard satirical cantata The Anti-Formalist Rayok.

Led by new music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin, the the Philadelphia Orchestra shows off in virtuoso works by Ravel and Shostakovich, as well as a rarely heard concerto with an exceptional violinist.

The Nashville Symphony Orchestra brings a wonderfully weird program to Carnegie Hall, including the New York premiere of a new electric violin concerto by Terry Riley, with soloist Tracy Silverman.

The saxophonist came to the U.S. from Chile with little money and less command of English. But she did have some serious ability at the saxophone, which has now found footing in the New York scene.

A Chicago-based blues legend, Clearwater has just released West Side Strut, his first original recording in eight years. Hear his contemporary take on original "rock-a-blues" style and left-handed guitar playing in this performance from WXPN.

Two artists in prime musical condition, in terms of both careers and chops, play outdoors and back to back at the J&R Music Festival in New York. This program is dedicated to Lovano's longtime friend and bandmate, Dennis Irwin, who died earlier this year.