What stories do our monuments tell? What legacies do they embody? What memories do they cement? These questions will be explored at Washington DC's Kennedy Center this month through a collection of new operas, including one called "Rise", with music by Kamala Sankaram. Kamala joins Garrett to talk about her introduction to opera, what "Rise" is meant to relay to audiences, and how this work continues the push for more new music in traditional "classical" spaces. Scott highlights the educational advocacy of violinist Ezinma, Garrett unpacks a musical about a machine that turns Black people white, and the guys continue their celebration of Women's History Month with music by Julia Wolfe, Martha Wash, and more.

Playlist:

Mykhailo Verbytsky - "Shche ne vmerla Ukraina" (Ukrainian National Anthem)

Ezinma - "Ode To Hustle"

Black Thought - "Thought Vs Everybody"

Julia Wolfe - "Reeling"

SNAP! - "The Power"

Black Box - "Everybody Everybody"

C+C Music Factory - "Everybody Dance Now"

Martha Wash - "I'm Not Coming Down"

Bombay Rickey - "Megalodon"

Bombay Rickey - "Taki Rari"

Francisco Mignone - Concertino for Bassoon and Chamber Orchestra

More:

Kamala Sankaram: https://www.kamalasankaram.com

The Kennedy Center Presents "Written in Stone": https://www.kennedy-center.org/wno/home/2021-2022/written-in-stone/

Downbeat (Kira Rudik Honors International Women's Day): https://twitter.com/kiraincongress/status/1500962456763514883?s=20&t=SP3akLIePrwyJdZhTGH_bQ

Valery Gergiev, a Putin Ally, Fired as Chief Conductor in Munich: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/01/arts/music/valery-gergiev-fired-munich-ukraine.html

Ezinma Brings Music To Underserved Youth: https://www.thestrad.com/news/beyonces-violinist-launches-foundation-to-bring-classical-music-to-underserved-children/14537.article

A machine turns Black people white in the musical 'Black No More': https://www.npr.org/2022/02/14/1080160459/black-no-more-machine-musical-tariq-trotter

EU Official Calls Refugee Discrimination "Fake News": https://twitter.com/TNTVIRALUS/status/1499336460671107077?s=20&t=0mROEqSx7G6BntC0IrqVYA