About Performing Arts

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was one of the most influential musicians of his time. Opera and classical music expert Saul Lilienstein offers a rich view of Mozart’s most important accomplishments, from his beginnings as a child prodigy in Salzburg to becoming one of the leading musicians of the Classical period.

In his acclaimed What Makes It Great? series, beloved educator and former NPR music commentator Rob Kapilow explores a great musical masterpiece with the audience. This evening features music by Mozart.

Since 1959, our hearts have been alive with the songs and the story of one of the most enduring musicals of all time. American music specialist Robert Wyatt showcases the making of the stage and screen versions of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s beloved work.

Jonathan Rosenberg of Hunter College delves into the singular and complex relationship of classical music and political ideology in 20th-century America. He examines how in the decades that spanned two world wars and the Cold War, classical musicians, singers, composers, and conductors could find themselves celebrated as cultural ambassadors or ostracized for their nationality or political beliefs.

There’s no more iconic holiday performance in New York than Radio City Music Hall’s famed Christmas Spectacular. And there’s no better way to see the precision dancing of the Rockettes than from prime orchestra seats in the fabulous art deco theater where the show has been a tradition since 1933. A behind-the-scenes tour of the Music Hall adds to the experience.

The musical life of the White House during Theodore Roosevelt's administration was rich and diverse, and some of the era's most noted pianists performed on a one-of-a-kind instrument in the East Room: an elaborately decorated and gilded Steinway piano. In a program at Decatur House, musicologist Elise Kirk offers an overview of Roosevelt-era music, highlighted by a performance on a replica of the original piano.

In his acclaimed What Makes It Great? series, beloved educator and former NPR music commentator Rob Kapilow explores a great musical masterpiece with the audience. This evening features music from the American Songbook.

In his acclaimed What Makes It Great? series, beloved educator and former NPR music commentator Rob Kapilow explores a great musical masterpiece with the audience. This evening features music by Beethoven.