Donald Macleod talks to Joplin biographer Susan Curtis about how the Chicago World Fair and economic crisis of 1893 helped the ragtime craze to take hold, and the obstacles Joplin faced as an African-American composer aspiring to write an opera.

The Entertainer
Mimi Blais (piano)

Swipesy Cake Walk & Peacherine Rag
Scott Kirby (piano)

Easy Winners (arr. Brubeck)
Chris Brubeck (trombone / piano / bass guitar), Bill Crofut (banjo), Joel Brown (guitar) London Symphony Orchestra, Joel Revzen (conductor)

The Strenuous Life (arr Perlman)
Itzhak Perlman (violin), André Previn (piano)

Elite Syncopations (arr Perlman)
Matthew Trusler (violin), Wayne Marshall (piano)

Treemonisha (Act 1 excerpt)
Nos 6 - 10: The Sacred Tree, Surprised, Treemonisha's bringing up; Good advice; Confusion
Monisha ..... Betty Allen (mezzo)
Treemonisha ..... Carmen Balthrop (soprano)
Parson Alltalk ..... Edward Pierson (tenor)
Lucy ..... Cora Johnson (soprano)
Ned ..... Willard White (bass)
Remus ..... Curtis Rayam (tenor)
Chorus and Orchestra of Houston Grand Opera, Gunther Schuller (conductor). Show less