WRTI Picks from NPR Music

The late-'50s detective series Peter Gunn was popular, but Henry Mancini's music for it became iconic. NPR's Linda Wertheimer finds out what makes the jazzy score so indelible.

For a family initially derided as crude, it sure spends a lot of time at the opera. Here's a sampling of embiggened classical music during The Simpsons marathon, which starts today on FXX.

While agreements with 10 more unions need to be reached by Tuesday night, the deal struck with two of the Met's major unions represents a major turning point in a bitter dispute.

The Pacifica Quartet explores the world of Soviet-era composer Dmitri Shostakovich. Watch the group play selections from his introspective cycle of string quartets.

A long career began suddenly as she replaced the lead in Madame Butterfly mid-performance. A Metropolitan Opera stalwart, she sang the lead in La traviata there more than anyone before or since.

Born in a moment of despair, as its creator was staring down hearing loss, Beethoven's Third Symphony is as odd as it is transcendent.

Think opera plots are tough to follow? Try wading through the complicated action offstage at the Metropolitan Opera. Here's who's involved — with perspective on disputes that aren't new.

Since its inception in 1954, the event has survived rainstorms, genre wars and a few near-riots. Producer George Wein says it survives for the same reason jazz does — the musicians love to perform.

One hundred years after the start of World War I, hear a range of pop and classical music from artists of the era. Some music reflects the war's violence, some gives solace.

With labor negotiations growing more strained, a lockout seems likely next week at the Metropolitan Opera. Management says payroll must be trimmed while unions want to curb production costs.