The Culture Show Podcast

What should reparations in Boston look like? A new report from Embrace Boston suggests that repairing generations of inequality and inequity will take more than monetary amends. It will take a wholesale and holistic approach, which includes amplifying and integrating Black History, black representation and the Black Boston of today into the arts and culture landscape. Imari Paris Jeffries, President and CEO of Embrace Boston joins us for that conversation. From there, ahead of this Sunday’s Oscars, it’s screen time with the projectionists at Somerville Theater. We get a behind-the-scenes look at a rare art in cinema amid a world that is going digital. Finally, is Artificial Intelligence putting the A-I in Architecture? Mahesh Dass, President of Boston Architectural College, joins us to talk about the emerging reliance of AI in architecture, design and construction.

Coming up on The Culture Show: scaling down Ibsen’s sprawling five act play to a mere 75 minutes. That’s the challenge writer, director and composer Bill Barclay took on when the Boston Symphony Orchestra commissioned him to downsize Peer Gynt, a giant of a play with incidental music composed by Edvard Grieg . This adaptation premiered at the BSO in 2017, now Barclay is back with an updated version of Peer Gynt. He joins us ahead of its performances at the BSO. After that, to encounter the work of artist LaToya Hobbs is really to enter into it. She is a painter and a printmaker whose themes are expressions of motherhood, home and cultural identity. Her monumental series, “Carving Out Time” Is intimate, deeply personal and utterly relatable. Hobbs joins us to discuss her work and its contemporary resonance. Finally, we continue our Oscars coverage with a look at “Maestro” and the burden that biopics have to get it right.

Father Columba Stewart. He is a Benedictine monk and scholar who travels the most volatile parts of the world to rescue and protect ancient documents. As we continue our series of conversations with the people on the frontlines of conflict zones saving art, culture and heritage sites from ruin, Father Columba joins us to talk about his mission. From there it’s the battle of the book. The Boston Public Library hosts an annual debate, asking which of the books from 100 years ago are most relevant today. We’ll get a preview of the books facing off for relevancy supremacy. Finally, Cambridge-based bestselling author Stephen McCauley is here to talk about his latest book, “You Only Call When You're in Trouble.” Brimming with McCauley’s characteristic wit and withering observations of human behavior–it tells the story of family bonds, and why we tend to load up on the louses in our lives.

“The Band's Visit” is one of the most captivating musicals about…nothing. The Tony-winning show follows the adventures of a touring Egyptian band stranded in an Israeli village. With nowhere for the musicians to stay, the locals take them in for the night. The overriding sentiment of “The Band’s Visit” is captured in the song Something Different: Quote, “Nothing is as beautiful as something that you don't expect.” I talk to the man behind those words, David Yazbek, the composer and lyricist for the hit musical. From there, What does it mean to be at sea? Literally, it means to be away from land. Figuratively it means to have no path. It means confusion and disorientation. This is what is captured in a 1915 Japanese work of art titled “Morning Sea.” Writer Gish Jen describes the experience of seeing this expanse of ocean as overpowering and profound.

We cross into the underworld by way of “Eurydice.” It’s a hell raising opera, truly. With music by Matthew Aucoin and based on the play “Eurydice,” by Sarah Ruhl, it’s a retelling of the myth of Orpheus, from the perspective of his bride. In this adaptation we follow Eurydice’s descent into the underworld, where her encounters are humorous, and heartbreaking–especially when she reunites with her father…a bond that proves hard to break. Eurydice had its Metropolitan Opera premier in 2021. Now it’s in Boston by way of Boston Lyric Opera which debuts a new orchestral arrangement. Matthew Aucoin and Sarah Ruhl join us for a preview. From there, it’s mixologist Marsha Lindsey–she’s been raising a glass, literally–to mark Black history month by serving up cocktails made with Black owned spirits. Finally, we leap into Leap Year with Edgar B. Herwick III.

Understanding American history means knowing Black history. And in Boston, that history has been made more visible by way of the African American Trail Project. Tufts University professor Kerri Greenidge joins us to talk about what went into mapping historic African-American sites in Boston and beyond. From there, it’s into the wild world of artist Raqib Shaw. He uses porcupine quills and enamel to create landscapes that are electrified by color. They are lush, opulent and ornate. But, his paintings are also always beset by a lurking menace. With an exhibition now on view at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, he joins us to talk about his work. Finally, this weekend P-Town becomes Performance-Town by way of the 24 hour Play festival. It’s the ultimate challenge: can six playwrights, six directors and 21 actors create six new plays in the course of one day?

Coming up on The Culture Show: does Washington have policy down to a fine art? The White House convened its first-ever arts summit, working with artists and arts organizations on how the arts can enrich society–from public spaces to public discourse. Mary Grant, President of MassArt was there. She joins us for her take on that and more. From there, for Boston-based architect Daniel Steger, the phrase “location, location, location,” took on new meaning when his house landed a supporting role in the film “American Fiction.” He joins us to talk about getting this behind-the scenes look into Hollywood. Finally, casting directors can be central to the success of films, and now the Motion Picture Academy has decided they’re eligible to win an Oscar. We’ll talk to local casting director, Julie Arvedon Knowlton about what her work actually entails and what this honor means for the profession.

When Reginald Dwayne Betts was 16 years old, he was an honors student. He was also arrested for carjacking. Prosecuted as an adult, he spent eight years in a Virginia prison, existing among grown up men. What got him through those years behind bars? Books. Betts left prison a poet; he then became an Ivy League-educated Lawyer and now he’s on a mission to bring libraries into prisons with a first-of-its kind organization called “Freedom Reads.” It aims to radically transform access to literature for people behind bars. Ahead of his appearance tonight at The College of the Holy Cross, he joins us. From there, a timely production brings the legacy and political savvy of Golda Meir to life. We talk to actor Annette Miller about inhabiting Meir at a time when the region is in crisis. And to finish the show, we’ll be talking to Alisa Bunin from Aeronaut Brewing Company about their forthcoming Leap Day event.

It’s our arts and culture week in review. Beyonce does the Texas two step onto the country music charts, landing the top spot with her hit “Texas Hold Em. And despite his pathology of antisemitism, racism and homophobia, the artist formerly known as Kanye West makes a controversial chart-topping comeback with his latest album. And, some speculate that the song Hotel California is a metaphor for prison–a fitting interpretation given that the men charged with stealing the lyrics and other Don Henley manuscripts are now on trial. From there, it’s the BCU: Beatles Cinematic Universe. John, Paul, George and Ringo will each get their own biopic. Now comes the hard part: casting them! And, even though Bill Belichick is a man of no words, Apple TV managed to get the notoriously terse coach to speak in its new docuseries about the Patriots dynasty.

Summertime, and the living is easy. Or, if you’re Audra McDonald, you make it look and sound easy. The award winning singer and actor earned her fifth – of a record-breaking six– Tony awards for her portrayal of Bess in the Broadway hit “The Gershwins Porgy and Bess,” which was mounted right here at The American Repertory Theater. On Tuesday she returns to Boston in a one-night-only engagement at Symphony Hall, as part of Celebrity Series. She joins us for a preview. From there, Director Igor Golyak, founder of Needham’s Arlekin Players Theater, joins us to talk about why a convergence of theatrical productions grappling with antisemitism is resonating with audiences today. Finally, as Ukraine marks the second anniversary of being at war with Russia, we look at the nation’s perseverance by way of the Grand Kyiv Ballet, which is kicking off a 60-city national tour of Giselle, here in Boston.

Boston Poet Laureate Porsha Olayiwola joins us to mark Black History Month. We’ll discuss her poem inspired by the book Beloved and a mother’s agonizing decision. From there, theater artist P Carl. He built a career, a marriage and a life as queer woman. But all the while he had a yearning to become more fully realized. For him that meant transitioning to another gender. He wrote about the transformation in his 2020 memoir, “Becoming a Man,” which he’s now adapted for the stage in a play making its world premier at the American Repertory Theater. He joins us to talk about seeing his life, brought to life on the stage. Finally, we meet the people behind an event turning the silver screen into a silver scream: The Dead of Winter Horror Festival.

I’m Jared Bowen, this is The Culture Show. In Gish Jen’s latest book, “Thank You Mr. Nixon,” Jen writes about US-China Relations. Today she joins us from Shanghai, using her recent cultural experiences as a window into East-West relations, from the Broadway hit, “Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812,” to a blockbuster of a show featuring Leonardo da Vinci. From there we talk to two renowned Boston artists: Stephen Hamilton and Napoleon Jones-Henderson. They’ve been orbiting each other for years, including showing their work in the same museum exhibition, but now they are finally converging, collaborating on an art installation commissioned by Roxbury Community College on the occasion of its 50th anniversary. We’ll talk to them about what it means to create together. Finally, we head to Gloucester to visit the nation’s oldest art colony with an overview of their annual members show.

It’s hard to imagine Boston’s Institute of Contemporary Art without the visionary Jill Medvedow, but that’s what we have to do–she’s stepping down at the end of the year. We’ll talk about her legacy and what’s next. After that, co-host Callie Crossley pores over the history of cocktails and how modern day mixology and classic concoctions are rooted in centuries of African American history.

It’s our arts and culture week in-review and we’ll start with some Friday afternoon quarterbacking: looking at the cultural touchdowns that were made during last week’s Super Bowl, from Queen Bee creating country controversy with her two new songs, to Ben Affleck and the DunKings releasing a single and selling out their Dunkin’ inspired tracksuits along the way. How do you like them donuts? From there, using a 32-ton Swiss Bank safe, A Russian artist is holding works by Picasso, Rembrant and Warhol–threatening to destroy them if Julian Assange dies behind bars. Plus Notre Dame’s new spire has been unveiled, marking a milestone in the cathedral’s restoration. And renewing a debate about historic preservation versus modern interpretation. Finally, the man in the mirror is Jaafar Jackson. With uncanny similarity, Michael Jackson’s nephew plays the gloved one in the new biopic.

From the poetry of Phyllis Wheatley, to the technicolor tapestries of Napoleon Jones-Henderson, to Terry Lynne Carrington’s contemporary beats, Boston’s Black art and culture is everyone’s art and culture. It’s also central to Boston’s Black History which is the city’s history. With Embrace Boston’s Imari Paris Jeffries leading the way, we’ll observe Black History Month, with a focus on the importance of Black art and culture. Then it’s all about fashion. Fashion as armor, fashion as language, fashion as identity. theo tyson, the Fashion Arts curator at the Museum of Fine Arts, joins us to talk about how clothing is central to the social fabric. Finally, the Worcester Art Museum offers a cure for the winter blues, by giving new meaning to wall flowers. We’ll get a preview of their Flora in Winter events–a four day floral takeover.

Composer Joseph Schwantner’s “New Morning for the World” is bold and buoyant and as eloquent as the words it honors–from selected texts by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.. This Friday at Symphony Hall, the attorney, author, and civil rights activist Anita Hill will be making her orchestral debut, narrating Dr. King’s words in Boston Conservatory Orchestra's Black History Month concert, which includes Schwantner's composition. We’ll talk to Anita Hill about the power of Martin Luther King’s writing and how –despite our ever turbulent times–his message can still help to keep hope alive. After that, Lunar New Year celebrations continue by way of the Pao Arts Center. This Sunday there will be a convergence of activities from dance to drawing to puppet-making, not to mention other other celebrations along the way. Joining us for a preview is Cynthia Woo, the director of the Pao Arts Center. Finally, it’s time for AI: Actual Intelligence with Pedro Alonzo and a conversation about how Mexico has become one of the world’s top art destinations.

Artist Wu Tsang goes deep on Moby Dick, literally and figuratively with an immersive film installation that takes us into the depths of the ocean. But her interpretation of Moby Dick is from the whale’s perspective. Entitled “Of Whales,” on view at the ICA starting February 15th, it’s part of Wu Tsang’s Moby Dick trilogy, which premiered at the Venice Biennale two years ago. We’ll talk to the artist about her decision to take the Moby Dick plunge. From there we continue our conversation about preserving art amid wartime with a focus on Ukraine. Now living between Massachusetts & Ukraine, Oleksandra Kovalchuck is working to save the art and history of her homeland. And finally, it’s New England on the biggest screen. We’ll talk to director Daniel Ferguson about his documentary, The Heart of New England, now on view at the Museum of Science’s Mugar Omni Theater.

The US Military and the Smithsonian have revived a version of “the monuments-men.-”-- the group of soldiers and military personnel who recovered cultural artifacts and artworks looted by the Nazi regime during World War II. In the 21st century, modern warfare has wreaked havoc on cultural institutions and heritage sites from Bagdahd, to Kiev, to Gaza and beyond. We’ll talk to Cori Wegener, whose work at the Smithsonian is dedicated to preserving and rescuing cultural heritage sites and artifacts. From there, we talk to the playwright Francisco Mendoza about his new work, “ Machine Learning,” now onstage at Central Square Theater. Centered on the fractured relationship between a father, son, and a robot– the play explores society’s codependent relationship with technology, leaving us to ask ourselves if we’re the ones who need to be reprogrammed. Finally, ahead of Valentine's Day, we’re getting a booklovers’ guide to romance with GBH’s arts and culture reporter and associate producer Haley Lerner.

Seiji Ozawa led the Boston Symphony Orchestra for nearly 30 years. Taking it from the 20th to the 21st century. He was a force–a maverick whose awesome talent for interpreting music stopped legends like Bernstein cold–making Ozawa one in his own right. WCRB’s Brian McCreath joins us to remember the maestro, the man, his musicality and his legacy in Boston and the world over. From there, it’s Greek to AI. In a first, Artificial Intelligence has interpreted the text of bound papyrus scrolls. Then, how the Super Bowl became so much more than football by morphing into a super-sized, nacho-flavored cultural force. And finally, Austen’s powers–Jane that is. Hallmark is devoting an entire month of Valentine’s Day movies inspired by “Sense and Sensibility” and beyond.

For Nadia Liu Spellman and her mother Sally Ling, food is family. Sally Ling is behind one of the first fine dining Chinese restaurants in America. Her famed spot, named Sally Ling’s was a fixture in Boston, where celebrities like Julia Child and Yo-Yo Ma would feast. As an investment banker, Ling’s daughter Nadia Liu Spellman came to realize she couldn’t leave the family business, or that it wouldn’t leave her. Ten years ago she launched Dumpling Daughter, which now has several locations in and around Boston. They join us to talk about how cuisine and culture are intertwined and how all of us can authentically eat our way to a full Lunar New Year experience.. From there, the world can truly be your oyster by way of Island Creek in Duxbury. At their raw bar, you can now take a free tour of their hatchery and peak inside the inner workings of their caviar packing room. Michelle Wong, the Brand Marketing Manager of Island Creek Oysters, joins us to take us deep into oyster culture. And finally, cocktail guru Jonathan Pogash shakes things up with some Valentine’s Day inspired concoctions.

In the latest adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, the star crossed lovers get that much closer to the stars– leaping, bounding, backflipping and flying high by way of the 7 Fingers circus troupe. In this spin on Shakespeare, the doomed romantics don’t need cupid's wings to soar above a common bound, because they’ve got a trapeze. I’ll talk to Aerial Emery, one of the hip-swiveling performers, about the US premiere, now onstage at The Cutler Majestic Theater. From there we enter the year of the dragon through Chinatown. To get a jump start on Lunar New Year, Julia Swanson leads the way, taking us on a tour of the public art hiding in plain sight. And, it’s time for AI: Actual intelligence. Mahesh Daas, president of the Boston Architectural College, says robots and artificial intelligence are striding into all walks of life, changing architecture and design along the way.

Clothes don’t make the man, they make the movie. Now that we are deep into Oscars season, who better to talk two than Academy Award-winning costume designer –and Springfield native – Ruth E. Carter. She won her first Academy Award for her work in “Black Panther,” where she created the Afrofuturist aesthetic of Wakanda. Four years later, she became a superhero in her own right, earning her second Oscar for her work in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” She made history with the win, not only as the first Black woman to receive two Academy Awards, but as the first person to win for both the original and the sequel of a movie. Last month, I caught up with Pakistani-born artist Salman Toor at the Rose Art Museum when his exhibition titled “No Ordinary Love” had just opened. On view through February 11th, we’re bringing you special coverage from our day with Salman Toor. On Sunday, Boston Mayor Michele Wu’s free admission pilot program began. On the first and second Sunday of each month, Boston Public Schools students and their families have free admission to a handful of arts and culture institutions. Culture Show producer Kate Dellis was there to gauge the turnout. Finally, South African vocalist NALEDI is bringing songs from her debut album to GBH Music’s upcoming JazzNOW event. She’ll be joining us to preview her performance.

Playwright Samuel D. Hunter writes about existential struggles. A rising star, he became widely known for “The Whale,” the critically acclaimed play that he adapted to the Academy Award-winning movie starring Brendan Frasier. In his latest work, “A Case for the Existence of God,” Hunter revisits the existential questions that shadow us: what is the point of sorrow? Where do we find the common ground on which we can build relationships? And how can we manifest hope amid despair? With his play now in Boston by way of SpeakEasy Stage Company, Hunter joins me to talk about this deeply moving production. After that, I’ll sit down with poets Diana Khoi Nguyen and Cindy Juyong Ok to discuss their latest collections of poetry. They’ll be discussing their work alongside local poet Sandra Lim tonight, February 5th, at 7:00 at the Harvard Bookstore. Finally, The Boston Comic Arts Foundation is launching a new series: Picture and Panel– a monthly graphic novel event produced in partnership with Porter Square Books and Aeronaut Brewing Company. The debut event is a discussion between writers Rosemary Mosco and Dan Nott titled Hidden Worlds. I speak with Zach Clemente, the President of the Board of Directors for the Boston Comic Arts Foundation.

It’s our arts and culture week-in-review. First up, it’s pumpkin soup for the protester’s soul. The Mona Lisa is the latest masterpiece to be slimed in the name of environmental activism. Is this an effective tactic or just weak sauce? Then, it’s a pyramid scheme: an extreme makeover of Egyptian ruins is outraging archaeologists. From there, with Sundance wrapping up, we look at its sway in the film industry and its funky alternative film fest: Slamdance. And we remember Chita Rivera, who danced and sang her way to an incomparable legacy. Plus, it’s STILL rock and roll to Billy Joel who just released his first single in 17 years. Finally, Huey Lewis was a pinch hitter, Michael Jackson’s pet snake rattled Lionel Ritchie and Eddie Murphy had better things to do…it’s all in a new documentary about the making of “We Are the World.” That’s next on The Culture Show.

Tina Turner, The Sex Pistols, David Bowie….to have seen these legends perform –and hundreds of others– is one thing. To make a career out of covering them, interviewing them and in some cases sharing ribald moments with them… is another. And that has been the life of writer Jim Sullivan. He’s observed and experienced so much of the Rock and Punk scenes that he needed to write a second anthology. He joins us to talk about “Backstage and Beyond, Volume 2 - 45 years of Modern Rock Chats and Rants.” Then we’re hitting the high note with countertenor Reginald Mobley. He’s had a whirlwind of a year, from a crowning achievement–performing at King Charles’ coronation– to earning a Grammy nomination for his latest album. Finally, we’re getting uncorked with an overview of this year’s Boston Wine and Food Festival.

The British artist and filmmaker Steve McQueen forced us to look at the atrocities of slavery in his film, “12 Years a Slave.” An offshoot of that undertaking is “Lynching Tree,” a photograph of a large oak tree, which McQueen took while on location in America’s south. At first glance, it presents as a tranquil landscape. Until you recognize the tree has survived centuries and was used for lynchings on the Deep South plantation on which it’s stood. The image had a profound effect on Boston Foundation President Lee Pelton when he encountered it at the Yale Center for British Art. He then worked with Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Director Peggy Fogleman to bring it here. They both join us to talk about the installation. From there we preview Black History month on film, with Lisa Simmons of the Roxbury International Film Festival and program manager at Mass Cultural Council. Last weekend, puzzle enthusiasts convened in St. Paul, Minnesota for the largest competition of its kind in the nation, where 500 teams assembled to put their speedy puzzling to the test. I’ll sit down with Tiffany Medieros, a nationally ranked jigsaw puzzle competitor.

Among the English courses being offered at Harvard this semester there’s “Sex, Gender and Shakespeare;” an exploration of British romantic poetry titled “Keats Isn't Dead” and a course that goes deep on Swift. No, not the satirist Jonathan Swift, but the singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. In a class titled “Taylor Swift and Her World.” Professor Stephanie Burt is bringing an analytical approach to the lyrics of Taylor Swift, her musical precursors and other writers who are Swift’s literary kindred spirits. We’ll talk to her about why she loves Swift’s music and what it means to bring academic rigor to the Taylor Swift Era. From there, Company One Theatre is kicking off their 25th season, with a new model where tickets are free OR people pay what they can. How they’re making it work when other theaters are just trying to make it is next on The Culture Show. In 2014, Mount Auburn became the first cemetery in the United States to establish an artist residency program, which supports the creation of new work by contemporary artists who have been inspired by their experience at Mt. Auburn. Joining us to talk about the program and the imminent deadline is Julie-Anne Whitney, Public Events Producer at Mt. Auburn Cemetery.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg secured a legacy as a crusader for women’s rights. Later in life she secured another legacy…as a vaunted cultural icon. She is forever associated with hip-hop as the “Notorious RBG,” her first gender discrimination case inspired the biopic, "On the Basis of Sex," and now she is the subject of the one-woman show, “All Things Equal: The Life and Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsburg.” Ahead of its limited run in Boston, I talk to actor Michelle Azar about assuming the persona of RBG. From there, writer Raj Tawney. Growing up in a multicultural household, his coming-of-age story happened in the kitchen, helping his mother and grandmother cook recipes from their homelands. Themes of food, memory, and identity come together in his new memoir, “A Colorful Palate: A Flavorful Journey through a Mixed American Experience” Finally, I’ll be joined by Cerise Lim Jacobs, an opera maker and the founding artistic director of White Snake Projects, which is producing the second annual “Shout Out Boston!”

It’s our arts and culture week in review. First up, the Oscar nominations –the surprises, usual suspects, and snubs that are sparking controversy in Barbieland. Plus, an exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art featuring nude performance artists intending to pose questions about comfort levels, instead resulted in assault allegations. From there, Jon Stewart is jumping into the 2024 race, resuming his role on The Daily Show for what seems like an inevitable Trump and Biden rematch. But will his return feel more like an “also ran?” Then we offer an amuse-bouche with a look at the local James Beard Awards semifinalists. Finally, how tone deaf is Hollywood? Now musicians are threatening to strike if the movie industry doesn’t secure streaming residuals and protections from AI.

During her State of the City address, Mayor Michelle Wu made the personal policy. She talked about how formative it was, as a Chicago kid in a family of few resources, to be able to attend museums for free. Exposure to a vast universe of art and ideas that could transport her to other places–both real and imagined - changed her life. Now she is working to do the same for children here. She joins me to discuss a pilot program, kicking off next month, that will give Boston Public School students and their families free admission to a handful of local arts institutions. But first, actor Danny Burgos is here to talk about performing in “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” and about his personal life, which has had a major plot twist of its own. He’ll break down how being a full- time nurse informs his work on the stage and why being an actor makes him a better RN.

We’re wrapping up our series of interviews with the ICA’s 2023 Foster Prize Winners with artist Venetia Dale. As a metalsmith and sculptor, Dale’s work looks at objects— their utility, people’s relationship to the things in their lives—what they need, what they delight in, and what they’ve relegated to the junk drawer. Dale is also interested in the incomplete and the imperfect — themes that she’s been exploring since she became a mother–and an artist interrupted. Then we segue into a Celtic Sojourn. The Burren is keeping the legacy of Brian O’Donovan alive by way of an ongoing legacy series. We’ll talk to local musicians Matt and Shannon Heaton about their upcoming performance. Finally, independent curator Pedro Alonzo is here to talk about Keith Haring and how his influence lives on today in the street art that is breathing life into our public spaces and shaking us out of our complacency.

The battle between the bomb and the blonde bombshell is over. Barbenhiemer has officially uncoupled with Oppenheimer dominating Barbie, earning 13 Oscar nominations. Arts and entertainment reporter Joyce Kulhawik joins me to sort through this, the snubs, surprises and snoozers. And, will the Grammys ever create a category for best song recorded by a state auditor? If so, Diana Dizoglio’s newly mastered release “This Is The Time” could be a winner. The auditor joins me to talk about her relationship to music and how singing has made her voice known –and heard–on Beacon Hill. And finally, we feel the Burn. This Thursday the whiskey will be flowing and the Haggis will be steaming as people celebrate the Scottish Poet Robert Burns. The British Consul General to New England, Peter Abbott joins us for an ultimate Robert Burns explainer and to preview an upcoming event that not only celebrates Burns but elevates Scottish Culture.

Shostakovich’s opera, “Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk.” It made its premiere in 1934 and became an overnight sensation. Then it all but vanished after Stalin banned it from what was then the Soviet Union and he sent Shostakovich into a state of fear that he would be arrested. Now the Boston Symphony Orchestra brings the piece to Symphony Hall this week, before playing Carnegie Hall. In between rehearsals, I caught up with the BSO’s conductor Andris Nelsons, and their head of artistic planning, Tony Fogg, for a behind-the-scenes look at this hugely ambitious undertaking. From there we look at a reworking of the classic ballet Raymonda. Boston Ballet’s artistic director Mikko Nissinen joins me to talk through what it took to scale the grand ballet down to one act. And along the way, ahead of tomorrow’s Oscar nominations, GBH’s Haley Lerner takes us through the cameo appearances Greater Boston and its bookstores have made in some of the likely nominees.

First up, What do the alternative rock band R.E.M have in common with hip-hop giant and superproducer Timbaland? They’re both among this year’s Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees. We’ll take a listen to the lyrics that have landed them this honor. Then it’s onto the lost and found department, from a priceless Picasso going up in flames to a stolen Picasso being recovered after a months long covert police operation. We’ll look at the value of physical artworks in an age of digital dominance. Plus the Oscar nominations are coming and it’s a paradox of choice thanks to a blockbuster of a year, from Oppenheimer to the box office blonde bombshell that is Barbie. Finally, the Bay State wins big time at the Emmys. With a handful of Massachusetts natives claiming awards this week – we’ll take a beat to bask in their reflected glow.

When it comes to reality TV is there really such a thing as too many cooks in the kitchen? We’ll ask Chef Jason Santos, who enters another season of Hell’s Kitchen as Gordon Ramsey’s sous chef. But that’s not all he’s up to, as chef and owner of a string of celebrated famed restaurants including Buttermilk & Bourbon, he joins us to talk about how he’ll continue to boost Boston’s flavor profile by way of a new restaurant slated to open this Summer. From there it’s artist Robert Freeman. In 1981 he painted “Black Tie, ” The painting shows a gathering of Black Americans at a formal event. Set in a segregated America where black people forged their own place in society, it is fitting that “Black Tie” now hangs in Governor Healey’s office. In her commitment to create a sense of belonging and inclusion, she selected Freeman’s work to showcase the diversity of the Commonwealth. He joins me to talk about the work. Finally, Tony “Hamstank“ Hamoui is a professional music producer and educator. Tomorrow, from 2:00-5:00 at the Lab at Teen Central - he’s teaching “Music Production with Hamstank: Beats, Recording, Mixing & Mastering.” This will be at the Boston Public Library’s Copley Square branch. To learn more, go to the events page at BPL.org.

Just as cities were wrestling with America's history with slavery -- and the people and places tied to that past-- the legacy of Faneuil Hall came under scrutiny. Before slavery was abolished in Boston, slave auctions were held at Faneuil Hall. Artist Steve Locke proposed an installation to reckon with that. But after Boston’s NAACP chapter and others voiced their opposition to Locke’s proposal, he withdrew it and moved on, literally. Now he’s based in New York, but Boston just can’t quit him. He joins me to talk about his latest installation at MassArt and his upcoming appearance at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. From there co-host Callie Crossley talks to Sowmya Krishnamurthy about her new book, Fashion Killa, which connects how record labels, magazines, designers and models converged to make Hip-Hop a revolutionary force in fashion. Finally, it’s different keystrokes for different folks. The Boston Typewriter Orchestra is here to preview their upcoming concert.

The plight of public defenders. How do seven beleaguered lawyers offset the burden of their Family Defense caseloads? And a fear that the judicial system won’t deliver justice? AND the burnout that seems to be careening their way? They eat lunch. This isn’t stress eating. In the comedic play “Lunch Bunch’ the midday meal is a gathering where breaking bread is an act of affirmation. Only an hour-long, this production at the Apollinaire Theatre company, may be snack-sized but it’s packed with flavor. I’ll talk to two of the actors that bring this story to life. From there we continue our conversations with the ICA Foster Prize winners. Today it’s recipient Cicely Carew whose art celebrates movement, mindfulness, and color, and whose vibrant sculpture, which she describes as “Flying paintings.” are cloudbursts of something both ethereal and exuberant. Finally, it’s the public art program WINTERACTIVE, which gives new meaning to Clown around. We’ll get the lowdown from the organization bringing three months of interactive art to downtown Boston. Including those colossal clowns turning heads in Downtown Crossing.

Today marks the first anniversary of the unveiling of The Embrace on Boston Common. While the sculpture is a tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr., Coretta Scott King and their fight for civil rights, the enormity of it is also a testament to the design and architectural teams behind it. It was crafted by MASS Design Group in partnership with artist Hank Willis Thomas. Jha D. Amazi, a Principal at MASS Design Group joins us to talk about the Embrace undertaking and the power of memorials. From there we take a tour of the other public art dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr. that’s hiding in plain sight–from Brookline to the BU Campus. Julia Swanson of the Art Walk Project will lead the way. Finally, we make ourselves at home at The Culture House. The non-profit that turns empty storefronts into community spaces has launched a new pop up in Somerville’s Union Square.

The best things in life ARE free and in Boston, that includes the arts. This February Mayor Wu will launch a pilot, making a handful of arts and culture institutions free for Boston Public School students and their families. Could/Should this experiment become permanent? From there it’s a darker reality–in Massachusetts and beyond, natural history museums are reckoning with their collections of human remains. From how they acquired them to what it will take to repatriate them. And, we knew it was trouble when the New York Times published an opinion piece speculating on Taylor Swift’s sexuality. We’ll look at the backlash. Plus, AI takes the stage this week–from a George Carlin standup under the AI influence to all the new tech toys emerging from the Consumer Electronics Show. AND, is receiving an honorary Oscar an honor? Or an asterisk? Finally, we give respect to The Sopranos which premiered 25 years ago and forever changed our expectations of what TV could be.

It’s been nearly a year since The Embrace literally changed the landscape of Boston and challenged all of us to think about the purpose of public art. Now that we’ve moved on from the immediate reaction to this towering tribute to the Kings, what is The Embrace a commitment to and how is it shaping Boston beyond Boston Common? Imari Paris Jeffries, President and CEO of Embrace Boston joins me. From there, should opera be burdened with the reputation of being elite, arcane and unapproachable? After all, it is an ancestor of a very common genre of entertainment: the soap opera. And how does our relationship to opera in America compare to other countries? Are the latest local innovations and contemporary productions opening up the form? Dramatic soprano Jane Eaglen joins us for that. Finally, on Martin Luther King Day at the Peabody Essex Museum, something we like talking about this week: admission is …free.

The Boston Children’s Chorus is on a mission to give the city’s youth a voice by giving them the power to transcend social barriers by celebrating a shared love of music. Part of the mission includes the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute Concert. Ahead of this year’s event at Symphony Hall, we’ll talk to the chorus’ Executive Director Andrés Holder. Then, it’s an entirely different performance, one that literally makes concert goers a captive audience: Madonna’s Celebrate Tour. Why does she notoriously make fans wait hours before she takes to the stage to express herself? GBH’s Haley Lerner joins us to recap the Madonna experience at TD Garden. From there we’ll talk to Giselle Byrd, the newly appointed leader of Boston’s Theater Offensive, which makes art by and for queer and transgender people of color. Finally, we’ll increase your origami awareness by way of MIT’s Beyond The Fold event.

It’s been nearly a year since The Embrace –the larger than life tribute to Martin Luther King and Coretta Scott King–was unveiled on Boston Common. As we approach this anniversary, Tufts history professor Kerri Greenidge joins us to talk through the power of public art –how it can connect us to our history and introduce us to the people who have shaped who – and where – where–we are today. From there we look at how central memory, history and identity is to artist Yu-Wen Wu. Her work wrestles with immigration, examining what it means to assimilate, to be subsumed by another culture and to hold on to your roots. My conversation with her kicks off our series of interviews with the ICA’s foster prize winners. Finally, it’s the return of the Silver Screen. As we head into Oscar season, we look at how one beleaguered and beloved movie theater has rebounded with a Hollywood ending.

The pharaoh of the opera. Countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo has made a name for himself starring in the MET’s production of Akhenaten – earning a Grammy award along the way. He’s also figuratively found his voice and the freedom to have fun by collaborating with cabaret performer Justin Vivian Bond in their hit performance and accompanying album, “Only an Octave Apart.” Now Anthony Roth Costanzo is bringing it all to Boston –from cantatas to camp, in an upcoming Celebrity Series recital that ranges from Verdi to Barbra Streisand. From there, it’s flour power. James Beard Award winning chef Joanne Chang joins us to dish on all things baking. And the winner of the Moby Dick Marathon is….. Herman Melville. Who else could inspire hundreds of people to read aloud for 25 consecutive hours? Edgar B. Herwick III joins us for a recap of this epic undertaking.

They’ve attacked governments, utilities and retail…and now hackers are escalating their assaults on museums. A ransomware gang has targeted software, bringing down online collections along the way. Then, after only 24 hours in the public domain, the first iteration of Mickey Mouse goes to the dark side, starring in slasher films and horror games. We’ll look at what it means for him and other prominent works from 1928 that are now copyright free and open to adaptation. From there when it comes to the silver screen, has Hollywood been putting up a smoke screen? Even though Barbie was last year’s top-grossing film, a new study finds the film industry’s pledge to put more women and people of color behind the camera has been an empty promise. Finally, when the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie with pineapple, is that still amore? A pizzeria in Naples serves up a slice of controversy with its pineapple pizza.

One of the sectors hit hardest by the pandemic was the arts industry. By 2021 the prolonged closure cost Massachusetts close to 600 million dollars. Now that we’re on the other side of the shutdown, how are the arts sector and the creative ecosystem faring? Michael J. Bobbitt, head of the Mass Cultural Council, joins us for that and more. From there, a conversation about music as memory. The Boston Globe’s Jeremy Eichler joins us to talk about his new book, which looks at how four composers used classical music to not only articulate the unspeakable horrors of WWII but to also memorialize the victims of the Holocaust. Finally, it’s an adaptation of Moby Dick with strings attached. Told with 50 puppets, seven actors and video projections and in a minnow-sized 95 minutes, the artistic director behind this innovative show previews the upcoming ArtsEmerson production..

A Massachusetts marathon that might be more rigorous than Boston’s famed 26.2 mile road race - This is a 25-hour, non-stop epic endeavor where the equivalent of Heartbreak Hill is reading Herman Melville to a live audience at 2:00 AM, or even 3:00 AM. I’m talking about the annual Moby-Dick Marathon. Though it’s been centuries since a whaling ship sailed out of New Bedford, the literary legacy of Herman Melville enshrines New Bedford as a thriving whaling port where no end of Meville aficionados convene for this annual read-a-thon. Amanda McMullen, head of the New Bedford Whaling Museum joins us to talk about this upcoming winter ritual. From there we get a satirists’ take on the 2024 presidential race, with the comedy duo known as The Good Liars. If there is indeed truth in jest, their hijinks reveal some ugly–and uproarious realities about America’s powerful, political institutions. That’s next on The Culture Show. Stay with us.

Director Igor Golyak, founder of Needham’s Arlekin Players Theater, was born in Ukraine. Understandably, themes of displacement and war are often woven throughout his work. Now Golyak is embarking on a play recounting horrific real-life events: the massacre of 1600 Jews in a small Polish town in the summer of 1941. Titled, “Our Class,” it follows 10 Polish classmates — five Jewish and five Catholic —who grow up as friends and neighbors. But they turn on one another with life-and-death consequences. It’s a story with deep resonance today, From there, It’s telly time and an anglophile’s paradise for lovers of British TV. The forces behind GBH Drama are here to preview MASTERPIECE’s new season and to guide us through other can’t miss shows from across the pond streaming now on Acorn, BritBox and beyond. Grab your biscuits and put the kettle on. That and more is next on The Culture Show.

Content warning - discussion of domestic violence Today on our week-in-review, it’s the ghost of Christmas future haunting Hollywood. Will the double feature that was the actors’ and writers’ strikes take a toll on the film industry in 2024? Then it’s the stratospheric rise and fall of actor Jonathan Majors – a conviction on domestic assault charges has brought down the action film A-lister. With Marvel studios severing ties, is the film industry signaling a zero-tolerance policy for criminal behavior? Plus, after a 29-year run, Bryant Gumble’s “Real Sports” airs its final episode. Is this a final score for hardcore sports journalism? And first-time author Cait Corrain gives new meaning to “cooking the books.” The writer admits to creating fake profiles on Goodreads as a way to boost ratings for her forthcoming book. And if that wasn’t enough, she tried to take down other authors along the way. Finally, with Kwanzaa approaching, we’ll look at the origins of a holiday that was conceptualized as a celebration of community and African and African American Culture.

A story of a true underdog. Ricky the rescue chihuahua goes to Broadway for the role of a lifetime: playing Bruiser – the canine costar of Elle Woods, the rich ditz who charms her way through “Legally Blonde: The Musical.” Ricky might be small, but he steals the spotlight for a two-year run. Now “Legally Blonde” has landed in Boston. We’ll talk to Animal handler and actor, Brian Michael Hoffman, about getting a larger than life performance from the pint-sized pup, and how rescue animals really can have a true Hollywood ending. From there, we fast track it to Malden. Edgar B. Herwick III takes us to Charles Ro Supply Company. The nation’s largest model train store doubles as a museum and depot for train hobbyists and holiday shoppers. Finally, it’s radio on the rocks. We top the show off with Cocktail Guru Jonathan Pogash, and his recipes to solve your cocktail conundrums.

What does it mean to be at sea? Literally, it means to be away from land. Figuratively it means to have no path. It means confusion and disorientation. This is what is captured in a 1915 Japanese work of art by Hashio Kyoshi. Titled “Morning Sea” It’s a silk on silk embroidery of waves– these are aggressive, savage waves that create a sense of total turbulence. Writer Gish Jen describes the experience of seeing this expanse of ocean as overpowering and profound. At the time, Japan, which had deliberately kept isolated, was opening its ocean to trade. It was starting to westernize and the pillars of society that had anchored Japan were collapsing. Gish Jen joins us to talk about why this work of art resonates today and the hope art can give us amid these turbulent times. From there, it’s the FUN that art can bring us, we’ll talk to the creative forces behind a Provincetown inspired holiday album with a queer twist. Finally, the show wraps up with a call from Victor Infante, features editor of the Worcester Telegram and editor of the Worcester Magazine, who discusses the arts and culture scene in central Massachusetts.