Sara Fishko

As we say good-bye to April, which is National Poetry Month, WNYC’s Sara Fishko listens to recorded poets, and asks, how do their speaking voices compare to their poems?

As World War Two was ending in the mid 1940s, John Huston began to make a film for the US Army on veterans who’d been psychologically damaged in battle. As WNYC’s Sara Fishko tells us, the film “Let There Be Light” was filled with gripping footage of ailing veterans.  But the film never saw the light of day until thirty-five years later.  Here is the next Fishko Files…

Fifty years ago last week, a now-famous classical concert turned into a musical battleground – with very instructive results. WNYC’s Sara Fishko tells the story, in this edition of Fishko Files.

To the world in general, Leonard Bernstein was a great, multi-talented figure. But to New Yorkers, he was the conductor of our home-town orchestra, the New York Philharmonic.  WNYC’s  Sara Fishko spoke to five NY Phil players who had strong memories of “Lenny.” (originally produced in 2000). 

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, as WNYC’s Sara Fishko tells us, it turns out Rozsa had another composing life.

A new staging of the play Death of a Salesman opened last night on Broadway, with incidental music by Alex North. The score goes back 63 years to the play’s original production.  In today’s Fishko Files, WNYC’s Sara Fishko has this appreciation of North’s musical gifts…

You have only two more weeks to see the “Photo League” photography show at the Jewish Museum, entitled “Radical Camera.”  As WNYC’s Sara Fishko tells us, the League was not just a convenient place to meet other photographers. The “Photo League” was organized around a way of looking at the world. Here is the next Fishko Files.

Pianist Murray Perahia, as WNYC’s Sara Fishko tells us, has found Bach -- late in a stellar pianistic career. He talks about Bach, harpsichords, Horowitz and musical storytelling in this Fishko Files episode (originally produced in 2000).

This Sunday, the Motion Picture Academy gives out its Oscars, and the silent film “The Artist” is nominated in ten categories.  As WNYC’s Sara Fishko tells us, that film is driven by a story engine that just won’t quit.  Here is the next Fishko Files…

Every musician is different; some love to play music that everyone knows, and others love to explore new musical horizons. In this archival edition of Fishko Files, Sara Fishko spoke to one pianist who has somehow managed to do both; and who's tried to open people's ears in the process (Produced during Pollini’s “Perspectives” series at Carnegie Hall, 2001).

Fifty years ago, in the simpler days of television, all three networks aired a tour of the White House led by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy. As WNYC’s Sara Fishko tells us, a stunning number of Americans tuned in and took notice. Here is the next Fishko Files.

Next week, a 1950s English play opens off-Broadway that was more than just a play, says WNYC’s Sara Fishko. It was a cultural landmark that shook English class consciousness to its foundations.  A trip to post World War II Britain –in this episode of Fishko Files.

We got word today that renowned jazz musician-turned-manager, John Levy, has died– just three months shy of his 100^th birthday. Levy made a profound impact on the jazz world. As a bassist he jammed, played and recorded with Ben Webster, George Shearing, Billie Holiday, Art Tatum and many other greats. But later, Levy took his love of jazz and applied it to the business side of music: He became the first African-American Jazz artist’s manager. His management roster featured Nancy Wilson, Joe Williams, Ramsey Lewis, and Shirley Horn, to name a few.

With the much praised film The Artist gathering steam this awards season, here’s a related “Fishko Files”:  WNYC’s Sara Fishko explores Charlie Chaplin and the power of silence and sound in film (Originally produced in December 2003).

This Saturday the Preservation Hall Jazz Band celebrates its 50^th anniversary with a performance at, of all places, Carnegie Hall.  As WNYC’s Sara Fishko tells us in this archival edition of Fishko Files (recorded in pre-Katrina New Orleans), Preservation Hall is about as far from Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center as a concert space can get. 

Actress Michelle Williams has received multiple nods this awards season for her portrayal of Marilyn Monroe in “My Week With Marilyn.” For WNYC’s Sara Fishko, it’s another in the chain of actresses trying to capture the essence of the iconic blond star of stars. Here’s “Marilyn,” a holiday highlight of this year’s Fishko Files…

Sometimes, says WNYC’s Sara Fishko, you have to be far away to see something clearly.  In this year-end edition of Fishko Files, thoughts on distance

Best of Fishko Files: The tradition of siblings singing together is as old as song. WNYC’s Sara Fishko looks at brothers, sisters and sibling harmony, in this edition of the Fishko Files...