Scholars George Scheper and Saul Lilienstein look at the explosion of creativity in music, art, literature, philosophy, and science in late 19th- and early 20th-century Vienna. Included are Klimt, Schiele, Brahms, Strauss, Wagner, and others.

Writer and music historian Harvey Sachs looks at the world in which Beethoven composed his Ninth Symphony—a decade characterized by repression and ultra-conservative nationalism, and the burgeoning Romantic movement.

Through lectures highlighted by CD recordings and film clips, learn about the legendary songwriters, producers, and performers of films musicals—from The Jazz Singer to West Side Story and listen to the songs that have become classics.

Learn about the life, works, and influence of one of the most influential and controversial figures in Western music in this 8-session course led by popular Smithsonian lecturer and Washington National Opera CD commentator Saul Lilienstein.

Through discussion, demonstration, and performance, Rob Kapilow and his guest musicians take you deep inside major works of Mozart to help you hear where they came from, what makes them tick, and what makes them great.

Learn about the life and works of Sergei Prokofiev, a master of numerous musical genres and one of the greatest composers of the 20th century, in this seminar held at the Embassy of the Russian Federation and featuring live music performance.

Celebrate the donation of footage and artifacts from America's Funniest Home Videos with Vin Di Bona, the 39-year entertainment industry veteran and Emmy Award-winning executive producer in comedic reality TV shows.

Famous for its jazz and cocktails, enjoy a night in old New Orleans with John Edward Hesse, Phil Greene, and David Wondrich who swap tales, tunes, and insights about the city's legendary nightlife culture while sipping some Big Easy cocktails.

Explore the many technical complexities and challenges of producing and singing Wagner's operas, deconstruct the elements of his operas, and see how scenography, orchestra, and singing are as important as the action in telling the drama.

In this seminar, scholar/performer Kenneth Slowik examines Bach’s life and the glorious vocal and instrumental masterpieces he produced. The seminar concludes with a live performance of the Goldberg Variations, BWV 988.