Bartees Strange. Denison Witmer. The Sun Ra Arkestra's Marshall Allen. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson welcomes Nate Chinen of Philadelphia's WRTI to discuss the best new releases out on Valentine's Day. Featured albums: • Bartees Strange, 'Horror' • Denison Witmer, 'Anything At All' • Marshall Allen, 'New Dawn' • Sullivan Fortner, 'Southern Nights' • John Patitucci, 'Spirit Fall' Check out our longer list of albums out Feb. 14 and stream our New Music Friday playlist at npr.org/music. Credits: • Host: Stephen Thompson • Guest: Nate Chinen (WRTI) • Producer: Simon Rentner • Editor: Otis Hart • Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed • Vice President, Music & Visuals: Keith Jenkins

Stradivarius violins often sell for millions. There's a long history behind them, and violinists who swear they sound better than modern ones.

Morgiane, perhaps the oldest opera by a Black American, finally receives its full public performance, shedding light on the forgotten heyday of opera in New Orleans.

Beyoncé, who led all artists with 11 nominations, won the Grammy for album of the year. Kendrick Lamar won record and song of the year, and Chappell Roan won best new artist.

The unpredictable 67th Grammy Awards were filled with surprising wins for artists including Beyoncé — with her first album of the year win — as well as multiple wins for Kendrick Lamar and awards for rising stars like Chappell Roan and Doechii.

Reflecting on a transformative residency program, the jazz vocalist now nominated for her first Grammy Award says her album Journey in Black reflects "the expansiveness of the Black experience."

In his album Amours Interdites (Forbidden Love) French pianist David Kadouch explores music by gay composers who concealed their sexuality in societies that wouldn't otherwise accept them.

On his new album, the British keyboardist offers both engaging and entertaining contemporary works for the misunderstood instrument.

From Twin Peaks to his films to his own recording career, the director understood how much sound mattered — not only to the audience, but to the characters in his stories.

In celebration of what would have been Martin Luther King Jr.'s 96th birthday, pianist Lara Downes examines how musicians have followed in his footsteps, and faced the cost of taking a stand.