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Composer Henry Mancini penned some of the most memorable tunes of the modern era, including the Pink Panther theme. On this episode of Piano Jazz from 1985, Mancini talks about his muse (the movie screen) and performs several favorites, including "Days of Wine and Roses."

The world of music seems to have fewer and fewer borders these days. Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer and Zakir Hussain are players who regularly cross over into new frontiers. Now, all three have collaborated on an album called The Melody of Rhythm.

Gregor Piatigorsky, the Russian cello virtuoso, used to talk about "tasting the blood" of music -- music as destiny. "You are taken by it," he said. Piatigorsky also was taken by the works of art he collected. Samples of his collection -- along with his prized Stradivarius cello -- are on exhibit in Baltimore. NPR's Susan Stamberg reports.

Pink Martini's debut album, Sympathique, has been selling steadily, racking up a respectable 600,000 sales in the five years since its release. NPR's Ari Shapiro reports on the pressures on the band and its charismatic leader Thomas Lauderdale to avoid the sophomore curse of a second release that doesn't live up to the first.

Osvaldo Golijov melds different musical genres, from folk to electronic, into a highly personal style. Now the Argentinean-born composer has written an opera: Ainadamar.

Hugh Masekela devoted the prime of his life to the struggle of his lifetime –- ending apartheid in South Africa. Short in stature but great in presence, Masekela has that spark that continues to engage us. Masekela's band performs a concert at the Tanglewood Jazz Festival.

Music critic Tom Manoff says you needn't spend a fortune on classical music CDs for holiday gifts. Hear his top picks for inexpensive classics, from renaissance masses to 20th-century guitar concertos.

Composer Christian Horneman's limited but exceptional output has a flair for the theatrical.

Isbin's new album features collaborations with Vai, Stanley Jordan and Heart's Nancy Wilson.

Guitarist Tom Verlaine, best known for his work with the New York punk band Television, talks about his own work and shares some of his favorite recordings.