Composer Mohammed Fairouz’s Orchestral Take on the Tahrir Square Uprising

Wednesday marks the anniversary of the start of the Egyptian uprising in Tahrir Square. Arab American composer, Mohammed Fairouz, who’s writing a concerto called “Tahrir for Clarinet and Orchestra.”

America’s love of “The Nutcracker”

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None of the original artists behind the ballet “The Nutcracker” are American. The music is by a Russian composer. The original choreographers were Russian and French, and the libretto was adapted from a story by a German writer. Yet the US seems to have made “The Nutcracker” its own. Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with Alastair Macaulay, chief dance critic for The New York Times, about the Nutcracker phenomenon in America. Download MP3

Video: The Hard Nut: A look back

American artists and Iceland

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Iceland has been one of the countries hardest hit by the economic crisis. One thing it still has going for it is its draw for American artists, writers and musicians. Writer Alissa Quart has the story. Download MP3

• Alissa Quart
• Olof Arnalds
• Roni Horn
• Eileen Myles

Guru

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The World’s Emma Kwesiga Lydersen meets up with US hip-hop legend Guru. He’s been touring the world and bringing home some musical souvenirs.

Russia and US on arms deal (4:45)

With the world’s attention trained on the global economy, little attention has been paid to a striking goal set by the Russian and American presidents: to rid the world of nuclear weapons. The World’s Alex Gallafent reports.