After return of the Taliban, ArtLords continue artistic crusade for peace in Afghanistan
Driven by the transformative power of art and a desire to promote the artists who translate that power, artist and activist Omaid Sharifi co-founded ArtLords in 2014 to help convert the negative psychological impact of blast walls on the people of Kabul into a positive visual experience.
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Concerts to Watch
JazzNOW: A Musical Journey with South African Vocalist NALEDI
Join a remarkable musical odyssey with South African vocalist NALEDI as she shares songs from her debut album, BATHO, at the next JazzNOW event from GBH Music and JazzBoston on February 8 in Fraser Performance Studio.
Music & Culture Events
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In PersonVirtual
GBH Music Presents: The Boston Symphony Chamber Players
Experience a live performance by one of the world's most distinguished chamber music ensembles. The Boston Symphony Chamber Players, the BSO's first-chair string and wind players, visit GBH's Fraser Performance Studio this May 16 at 7:30 pm to perform for a limited in-person audience. The performance will also stream at Classical.org and be available on-demand. In celebration of Serge Koussevitzky's 150th birthday, the concert salutes the former BSO Music Director's profound impact on the music of his time.
Brian McCreath, producer and host of CRB Classical 99.5's Boston Symphony Orchestra broadcasts from Symphony Hall and Tanglewood, hosts the event. Tickets for both the in-person and virtual experiences are available for free.
Boston Symphony Chamber Players Program
Serge KOUSSEVITZKY Second movement (Andante) from Double Bass Concerto, and Valse miniature, for double bass and piano
Walter PISTON Quintet for flute and strings
Olivier MESSIAEN Abîme des oiseaux from Quartet for the End of Time, for solo clarinet
Jean FRANÇAIX Dixtuor, for winds and strings
Featured Musicians
Alexander Velinzon, violin
Lucia Lin, violin
Cathy Basrak, viola
Blaise Dejardin, cello
Edwin Barker, bass
Elizabeth Rowe, flute
John Ferrillo, oboe
Bill Hudgins, clarinet
Richard Ranti, bassoon
Richard Sebring, horn
Randall Hodgkinson, piano
Tickets for both the in-person and virtual experience are available for free.
You have two ticket options:
* In-person experience from 7:30-10pm, includes dessert post-reception or
* Virtual ticket from 7:30-9pm. The performance can be streamed for free with an advanced RSVP
Please note by registering for this event your name and email will be shared with GBH.
Photo Credit: Robert Torres
This event is presented with support from Comcast Xfinity Internet.
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In Person
Ulysses Quartet at the BPL (5/22)
Join GBH Music in welcoming the Ulysses Quartet as its first-ever quartet in residence with a free performance at the GBH Studio at the Boston Public Library on Wednesday, May 22, at noon.
The Ulysses Quartet's season-long partnership as quartet in residence furthers GBH Music's ongoing effort to connect with listeners of all backgrounds and ages. The partnership will span over fifty performances and events throughout the year, including with the Boston Public and Massachusetts schools. The Ulysses Quartet’s residency at GBH is made possible by a generous contribution from the Mattina R. Proctor Foundation.
Registration is encouraged for this free event.
Photo credit: Lara St. John
This event is presented with support from CRB and the Ulysses Quartet.
The Ulysses Quartet’s residency at GBH is made possible by a generous contribution from the Mattina R. Proctor Foundation. -
In PersonVirtual
The Music of Civil Rights, from Strange Fruit to The Roots
Music has always been central to the African American quest for freedom. The Civil Rights struggle and its music provided some of America’s most powerful calls of hope, moral clarity, and equity.
During the 19th century, spirituals such as Steal Away carried coded protest. In the 20th century, protest became explicit. In the 1930s Ethel Waters sang an anti-lynching song that shocked Broadway and Billie Holiday bravely recorded the stinging song Strange Fruit. Duke Ellington’s long career spoke for racial respect and civil rights in such pieces as Black Beauty and [Martin Luther] King Fit the Battle of Alabam’.
As political action picked up and in the 1950s and 1960s, We Shall Overcome became the clarion anthem of the Civil Rights movement and central to America’s moral quest for “a more perfect Union.” Old songs like This Little Light of Mine took on new meaning and fresh songs appeared such as If You Miss Me from the Back of the Bus. Black and white activists alike sang Bob Dylan’s Blowin’ in the Wind. And great artists—such as Sam Cooke (A Change is Gonna Come), The Impressions (People Get Ready), James Brown (Say It Loud), Nina Simone, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, on up to The Roots—all sang to advance respect and equality.
Dr. John Edward Hasse, long-time music curator at the Smithsonian and Duke Ellington’s biographer, plays stirring video clips of these songs that inspired, motivated, and advocated for what Martin Luther King called for in his “I have a dream” speech: that we all be judged not by the color of our skin, “but by the content of our character.” He will also play works by W.C. Handy and Duke Ellington that helped lay the musical foundation for the Civil Rights movement.
Bookselling information
For in-person attendees, Trident Booksellers & Cafe, one of our community bookstore partners, will provide copies of Hesse's book Beyond Category: The Life and Genius of Duke Ellington for purchase and facilitate an author signing from 7 - 7:30 PM following the the audience Q&A. Zoom webinar attendees and any patrons wishing to order copies online may do so from Bookshop dot org by visiting this link.Partner:Boston Public Library
Culture in the News
How locally filmed 'Challengers' made Boston disappear into the background
It was up to location manager Mark Fitzgerald to find local places that could fill in for Atlanta, New York, and California.
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'One Last Word' finds the comedy in what happens when you tell someone how you really feel
Author Suzanne Park's new rom-com is a novel centered around a Korean tech entrepreneur — and what happens when her new app accidentally sends intimate messages to all the important people in her life. -
Indian-Canadian musician Kiran Ahluwalia is 'shedding her shame' in new album 'Comfort Food'
Ahluwalia says there can be a 'kind of loneliness' in dissenting from Hindu fundamentalism. -
From ancient art to K-Pop, 'Hallyu! The Korean Wave' celebrates South Korea's global influence
The new "Hallyu! The Korean Wave" exhibit at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts opened last month. It highlights South Korean global influence through vivid pop culture and historical pieces.
GBH Music
Open Studio with Jared Bowen
You & Julia
“You & Julia” is a series that celebrates the legacy of Julia Child. Top chefs share their favorite stories, recipes, kitchen hacks, and other culinary tasks that they learned from the unforgettable chef, exploring how her contributions to the culinary world still resonate with cooking today. In the spirit of Julia, we encourage viewers to “be fearless, and above all have fun” by following along at home.
More Culture Programs
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A Star-Studded Performance of "Edelweiss"
The cast of "Rodgers and Hammerstein's 80th Anniversary" perform "Edelweiss."| 2:28 -
Patrick Wilson Performs "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin"
Patrick Wilson performs "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin" from "Oklahoma."| 2:36 -
Sneak Peek at Rodgers & Hammerstein's 80th Anniversary
Enjoy a sneak peek from the star-studded concert.| 0:30 -
Broadway Stars' Earliest Memory of Rodgers & Hammerstein
Audra McDonald, Michael Ball, Daniel Dae Kim discuss their earliest memory of R&H.| 1:59