A symphony orchestra at the Library of Congress commemorated NATO's 75th anniversary with an evening of music from its member countries. The songs symbolize hope and solidarity in trying times. Geoff Bennett has a look and a listen for our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders…

A first in the fashion world is putting a burgeoning sector on the map. A fashion show in Santa Fe, New Mexico, featured clothing created by Indigenous designers from the U.S. and Canada. Special correspondent Megan Thompson had a front-row seat for our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/f…

Every year for 50 years, some 500,000 students from across the country have competed in National History Day, using arts to portray their researched stories. Jeffrey Brown spent a day with the finalists to see how they defined turning points in history. It's part of our series, Art in Action, exploring the intersection of art and democracy and for …

San Jose, in California's Silicon Valley, has pledged to go carbon neutral by 2030. To do this, leaders are enlisting help from an unlikely source, the arts sector, in a first-of-a-kind program in the country. Jeffrey Brown traveled there to see how artists can help a city meet its climate goals. It's part of our coverage on art and climate change …

Prominent musicians from George Gershwin and Miles Davis to John Lennon were also crossover artists in another medium. The Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart is now on that list. He's combining his music and paint and fans are flocking to see his art. Special correspondent Mike Cerre reports for our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is suppo…

Reality TV dominates television today. It's estimated that almost 80 percent of adult viewers watch reality TV shows. But how did we get here? Amna Nawaz spoke with Emily Nussbaum, author of the new book, "Cue the Sun!" that traces the rise of reality television and its broader impact on society. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newsh…

This pride month, the city of Detroit plays host to a pioneering exhibition thought to be the first queer international art biennial. "I'll Be Your Mirror: Reflections of the Contemporary Queer," showcases more than 800 works from 170 artists from across the world. Special correspondent Christopher Booker has the story for our arts and culture seri…

An artist, activist, community builder and teacher. LaToya Ruby Frazier's art-making ideas come together in her first retrospective exhibition. Jeffrey Brown has a look for our series, Art in Action, exploring the intersection of art and democracy and for our ongoing arts and culture coverage, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/…

It's officially summer, which means it's a great time to go to the movies. This season had a slow box office start with "Furiosa" and "The Fall Guy'' underperforming expectations. Jeffrey Brown looks ahead with Aisha Harris of NPR and Mark Olson of the Los Angeles Times. It's for our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https…

Whether you're on vacation at the beach or find yourself with a little more time for reading, summer is always a good time to pick up a new book. Jeffrey Brown has recommendations from two News Hour regulars for our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders…

Graphic novelist Raina Telgemeier has been described as "like the Beatles for teenagers." Her popular books depict feelings and emotions young people may not want to talk about with adults, like adolescent anxiety, loneliness and embarrassment. John Yang sits down with Telgemeier to discuss her work and her legions of fans. PBS News is supported by…

Dr. William Lynn Weaver, a renowned surgeon, helped integrate a Knoxville high school in 1964. Even in those difficult times, he felt safe and supported thanks to his father, Ted Weaver, who worked long hours as a janitor and chauffeur. In this animated feature from our partners at StoryCorps, Dr. Weaver remembered his father's influence in this 20…

The legend of Bigfoot has captured the public's imagination for decades since news of purported sightings began spreading around the country. But a recently opened art exhibition in Oregon offers a new way of thinking about the mythical creature also known as Sasquatch. Special correspondent Cat Wise reports for our arts and culture series, CANVAS.…

In 2022, Steve McQueen, a British-born son of Caribbean immigrants, was knighted for his work as a filmmaker and artist, the two worlds in which he's achieved commercial and critical success. His latest work takes his art in yet a new direction. Jeffrey Brown spoke with McQueen for our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - htt…

When Stephen Sondheim died in 2021, he was remembered as one of musical theater's all-time greats, creator of such works as "Sweeney Todd" and "A Little Night Music." But one of his musicals, "Merrily We Roll Along," never achieved that success. Now it has. The show, actors and director, Maria Friedman, are all up for Tony Awards. Jeffrey Brown has…

Actors, experts and community members are turning to a classic play to address contemporary trauma and tensions from the pandemic. Jeffrey Brown has a look for our new series, Art in Action, exploring the intersection of art and democracy and for our ongoing arts and culture coverage, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/…

It has been said that public art is a reflection of how we see the world and the artist's response to our time and place. Pamela Watts of Rhode Island PBS Weekly introduces us to an artist who has often combined those concepts literally. It's part of our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/…

For decades, families who have had loved ones kidnapped overseas have often had to work with consultants to get their relatives freed. Negotiating with kidnappers, terrorists and hostile countries is a murky and secretive world. One of the leading hostage negotiators has stepped into the limelight and written a book about it all. Nick Schifrin spok…

The "Talking Pictures" art show in Hudson, New York, plays off the previous prolific career of Michael Lindsay-Hogg. He was at the creation of some of the biggest music moments of the 1960s and 70s. Famed director Peter Jackson has remastered Lindsay-Hogg's original "Let It Be" film for Disney+. Special correspondent Christopher Booker takes a look…

There's a new, original voice in the world of poetry. Indigenous New Zealander Tayi Tibble's poems about what it means to be a young Māori woman have resonated with audiences far beyond her home in the Pacific. Jeffrey Brown met up with the acclaimed poet in New York City as part of our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - ht…

The end of the school year often means year-end concerts for student orchestras and choirs. For high school music educator Annie Ray, it's time to look back on a busy year that included a Grammy award and look ahead at her vision of what education should be. Ali Rogin sits down with Ray for the latest installment of our "Weekend Spotlight" series. …

Anna May Wong was a pioneering actress considered to be the first major Asian American film star, despite the limits imposed by Hollywood's racism. As this year's Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month draws to a close, we bring you her story as part of our "Hidden Histories" series. PBS News is supported by - https://w…

In its early days, "Black Twitter'' became a driving force in defining pop culture, creating trending hashtags, unforgettable memes and sparking social justice movements. A Hulu docuseries looks at its history, impact and legacy. Amna Nawaz discussed "Black Twitter: A People's History" with director Prentice Penny. It's part of our arts and culture…

She's a novelist turned naturalist. New York Times best-selling author Amy Tan has turned her intense gaze to the world of birds and shared her private drawings and musings in a new book. Jeffrey Brown joined Tan at her Northern California home to discuss "The Backyard Bird Chronicles" for our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported …

Bill Maher is often a controversial figure in the world of politics and culture. He's positioned himself as the ultimate truth-teller who takes equal pleasure in punching at the left and the right. Maher is taking stock of his decades of commentary in his new book, "What This Comedian Said Will Shock You." Geoff Bennett sat down with Maher for our …

“That is at the core of what Janáček is about. He’s not trying to create opera that feels completely out of touch from everyday people.” Detroit Opera’s Artistic Director Yuval Sharon, who staged this multimedia production of The Cunning Little Vixen as its Detroit Opera premiere with these performances, chats with host Arthur White and our Music D…

“Everyone here plays an important role, but one of the main characters is the orchestra.” Music Director Roberto Kalb describes the work it takes to bring The Cunning Little Vixen to the Detroit Opera House stage for the first time; while Czech specialist Timothy Cheek helps the pre-opera talk audience to pronounce the composer’s name - Janáček - h…

"How can I 'animate' the ideas of a particular work?" Detroit Opera Artistic Director Yuval Sharon talks with Director of External Affairs Arthur White about the process for his production of The Cunning Little Vixen before its Detroit Opera premiere on Saturday May 11.By Detroit Opera

Host Arthur White chats with Detroit Opera's Artistic Director Yuval Sharon about the Detroit Opera premiere of this work and his production; and Music Director Roberto Kalb about bringing this renowned composer's work to Detroit. Arthur also talks with Czech specialist Tim Cheek about the language and the revolutionary use of a prose libretto.…

"This is really the millennial opera" says scholar Dr. Naomi André in our Pre Opera Talk from the final performance of Breaking the Waves. Director of External Affairs Arthur White chats with Dr. André about celestial voices and Music Director Roberto Kalb talks with conductor Stephanie Childress about her process leading these performances.…

What do ABBA, Brahms, and Mazzoli all have in common? They're all on Stephanie Childress' playlist! Listen to her chat with Detroit Opera Music Director Roberto Kalb during the Pre-Opera Talk before Breaking the Waves.By Detroit Opera

Artistic Director Yuval Sharon talks with composer Missy Mazzoli and librettist Royce Vavrek before the premiere of Breaking the Waves in Detroit on April 6, 2024By Detroit Opera

Director of External Affairs, Arthur White talks with Breaking the Waves composer Missy Mazzoli and Associate Artistic Director Christine Goerke.By Detroit Opera

“Before the Sunday matinee and final performance, Yuval Sharon, Detroit Opera's Gary L. Wasserman Artistic Director, talks with Director of External Affairs Arthur White about his experience producing works by John Cage and how no two performances are ever the same.”By Detroit Opera

Yuval Sharon, Detroit Opera's Gary L. Wasserman Artistic Director, talks with Director of External Affairs Arthur White about John Cage's experience with silence, and producing Europeras and chance operations.By Detroit Opera

Before the premiere of Detroit Opera's Europeras 3 & 4, Arthur White talks with Detroit Bureau of Sound artist and cactus virtuoso Zac Bru, who explains compositional use of silence in music; and marks the 49th Anniversary of the World Premiere of John Cage's Child of Tree by performing is live on amplified cactus. The piece premiere right across t…

“Ok, if we were to say ‘no traditional production’, what would you do?” Stage director Matthew Ozawa talks with Detroit Opera Gary L. Wasserman Artistic Director Yuval Sharon about his concept behind his production of Madame Butterfly, before the final performance at the Detroit Opera House. Hosted by Director of External Affairs Arthur White.…

Before the second performance of our new production of Madame Butterfly, Director of External Affairs, Arthur White talked with the President of Verdi Opera Theater of Michigan John Zaretti about the origins of the opera’s creation, and Japanese-born conductor Kensho Watanabe about his history with the opera.…