Leonard Bernstein Audio

If you’ve ever dreamed of leading an orchestra on stage, there's a new video game to satisfy your urge. The UBS Virtual Maestro allows would-be Leonard Bernsteins to lead their own "virtual orchestra" via an electronic Wii controller. As the game currently tours concert halls across the U.S., we hear from one of its developers, Yuri Ivanov. And there's another reason for conductors to be concerned for their job security: On Tuesday night, Asimo, a 4-foot-3-inch Hondo robot led the Detroit Symphony in a performance of "The Impossible Dream" from "Man of La Mancha." Detroit Free Press music critic Mark Stryker tells us about it. Our blog : John Schaefer on "toying" with musical skills Tell us : Are music simulators good or bad for music? Can they spark new interest, or do they "cheapen" the study of music?

If it's too loud, you're too old. That's the old rock ‘n’ roll saying. But many believe veteran experience counts in running arts organizations. Others say fresh blood is needed at a time when the arts need to reach younger audiences. In this week's "Soundcheck Smackdown," Lee Rosenbaum, a veteran cultural journalist who blogs for Artsjournal.com; and Barry Hessenius, author of the study "Involving Youth in Nonprofit Arts Organizations," square off on the topic. Tell us : Which quality is more important for the leader of an arts organization: youth or experience? Why? Our blog : John on arts-world vets and rookies.

Director Scott Hicks helmed the 1996 film "Shine," about pianist David Helfgott. He joins us to talk about his new documentary: "Glass: A Portrait of Philip in Twelve Parts." The film traces a year in the composer’s life as he stages an opera, writes his eighth symphony and takes his annual ride on the Cyclone.

Composer Ned Rorem is best known for his song settings, as well as diaries with barbed observations about prominent musicians. Poet J.D. McClatchy has written eight opera librettos, for such composers as William Schuman and Elliot Goldenthal. Rorem and McClatchy join us in advance of the New York premiere of their opera "Our Town," based on Thornton Wilder's classic American play. The Juilliard Opera Center will stage the opera "Our Town" at the Peter Jay Sharp Theater on Wed. Apr. 23 and Thurs. 24 at 8pm, and Sun. Apr. 27 at 2pm.

Miklos Rozsa was one of Hollywood's most celebrated composers. His work on film noir classics in the 40's and epic films in the 50's was, and still is, well known. But it turns out Rozsa had another composing life.

After months of preparation, the New York Philharmonic is in North Korea on a concert visit that many hope will help thaw relations with the U.S. Host John Schaefer reports from Pyongyang on the concert.

To the music world and the world in general, Leonard Bernstein was a great, multi-talented figure. But here in New York, as WNYC's Sara Fishko tells us, he was our conductor. Five New York Philharmonic players have strong memories...

Indispensable greatness in music, novels, and cake. Kurt talks with jazz legend Herbie Hancock and novelist Ian McEwan. Hancock is up for album of the year at the Grammy’s, and the cinematic adaptation of McEwan’s novel Atonement just won the Golden Globe for Best Picture. We discover the strange tormented stateside life of Viennese composer Gustav Mahler. And a baker praises the one appliance she could never do without: the KitchenAid mixer.

We consider Gustavo Dudamel and the resurgence of the flashy, rock star conductor as seen through the eyes of John Rockwell — who can’t help but recall other giants like Valery Gergiev and Leonard Bernstein .

There's always a major orchestra looking for a permanent conductor, it seems. Though as Sara Fishko tells us, there's still an orchestra out there that plays without a conductor altogether.