Articulate
Season 9
Articulate connects audiences to the human stories behind art, offering a trustworthy, visually stimulating, never ordinary take on classical, contemporary, and popular art forms. From acclaimed musicians and best-selling authors to designers changing the way we live, each episode explores what great creative thinkers and doers can tell us about who we are, who we’ve been, and who we might become.
Where to Watch Season 9
26 Episodes
- Transformers
E4TransformersThe world-renowned pianist, conductor and activist Daniel Barenboim is dedicated to making real change in the world through music. In the songs of Tift Merritt, the stuff of everyday life is ripe for the picking. For the interdisciplinary artist Vivek Shraya, creativity is at the heart of self-discovery. - Pioneering Spirits
E5Pioneering SpiritsDaniel Libeskind believes that architecture is, fundamentally, an act of optimism and of selflessness. The composer Missy Mazzoli is a trailblazer- undeterred by obstacles, undaunted by the salacious. For more than seven decades, the photographer Elliott Erwitt has been lauded for his humor and visual wit. - The Standouts
E6The StandoutsAt a young age, Ani Liu had to disguise her art as science. Now she combines them. Howard Jacobson is now a pillar of English literature and society. But this was never anything he would have predicted. Historically, repertoire for the double bass has been extremely limited. The acclaimed performer, collaborator, and composer Edgar Meyer is out to change that. - Andrew Bird Concert Show
E7Andrew Bird Concert ShowFor the last 20 years, talent has allowed Andrew Bird to mostly write his own ticket. Now, he's coming up with some of his finest work yet. Join us for a full-length episode of Articulate featuring new music by Andrew Bird and personal insights into his life...so far. - The Right Left Turns
E8The Right Left TurnsFor the past 40 years, Arthur Yorinks has been the power behind the throne for many of America's most significant artists. But his work stands on its own. Karen Russell's stories live in a space between the everyday and the surreal. Jason deCaires Taylor's greatest assets are underwater. All of his sculptures are entrusted to the oceans. - Staying the Course
E10Staying the CourseBill T. Jones has lived through tragedy and triumph to become an elder statesman of dance. A decade on, the British pop star Lily Allen is still as forthright as ever- in her lyrics and her personal life. When companies need help refining or defining their identity, they call Michael Bierut. - Self Inventors
E11Self InventorsThomas Heatherwick is the wunderkind of large-scale 21st century design. He is equally revered and resented. The writings of Alice McDermott uniquely express a particular form of Irish-American identity. For more than 4 decades, Dean Friedman has been reinventing himself creatively. But at heart, he's still a singer-songwriter. - Of Page and Stage
E12Of Page and StageThe works of playwright Sarah Ruhl rewrite history, and document tragedies from her own life. Michelle Dorrance is an embodiment of the history of tap dance- a uniquely American art form. Along with Hunter S.Thompson, Ralph Steadman is the Godfather of Gonzo journalism- a famous irreverent form. - Patricia Racette Concert Show
E13Patricia Racette Concert ShowOn this Articulate, we explore the life and art of Patricia Racette- a supremely talented singer and storyteller. Racette has been a celebrated opera leading lady for more than three decades, both on America's premier stages and in great opera houses around the world. But one thing that has set her apart as a performer is her love of a good yarn. - What Matters Most
E14What Matters MostMarina Benjamin writes to parse the questions that loom largest in her life. It's a self-examination, yes. But never self-obsession. Stefan Sagmeister has spent the past 40-odd years demonstrating how graphic design can make even the most abstract ideas tangible. And he does it with his own unique style-his own idiom. Donald Nally, conductor of the groundbreaking chamber choir, The Crossing, doesn't just want audiences to listen-he wants them to think about real-world issues and events. - Self, Aside
E15Self, AsideStephanie Blythe was one of the fastest rising stars in opera when an anxiety disorder threatened to take her down. But she refused to let it be her undoing. The story of Gradiva, a sculpture that came to life, captured public imagination at the start of the 20th century. Today, the artist Diana Al-Hadid has resurrected her. As a young singer-songwriter, Nick Lowe was preoccupied with looking cool and getting famous. But, as Tori Marchiony reports, he didn't REALLY find his groove until he dropped the act. - Through the Fire
E16Through the FireThe Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall realized she was becoming a pop music cliché: on top, but unhappy. Tori Marchiony reports that it was then she decided it was time to change. Pam Tanowitz is among the finest choreographers in modern dance. But she refuses to put her feet up. Natasha Trethewey coped with the tragedies of her young life by turning them into exceptional poetry. But those wounds will never fully heal. - The Headliners
E18The HeadlinersAaron Sorkin is best known for his award-winning screenwriting: A Few Good Men, The West Wing, Moneyball, The Newsroom. But his first love is the theater. Singer, instrumentalist, and folk historian Rhiannon Giddens is on a musical mission: to remind us of what we all share, regardless of who we are or where we're from. - Power Through Purpose
E19Power Through PurposeJohn Darnielle has excelled as a front-man, songwriter, and author by overcoming an innately self-destructive personality. As a grownup, Elizabeth Acevedo realized that the books she needed as a child still didn't exist. So she wrote them herself. Meg Saligman's large-scale murals are difficult to grasp close-up. But the stories they tell are in the details. - From the Top
E20From the TopThe best-selling author Jonathan Safran Foer writes to interrogate his own past and all of our futures. Today, the superstar graphic novelist Nate Powell is known for beautifully rendered comics with a strong moral core. But, as Tori Marchiony reports, for more than a decade he was dedicated to serving those with developmental disabilities. The Venezuelan-born conductor Gustavo Dudamel is on a mission to sow harmony, in the concert hall and beyond. - Life's Work
E21Life's WorkTori Marchiony profiles former U.K. Poet Laureate Sir Andrew Motion. He's five decades in and still finding room to grow. Among the most highly regarded jazz pianists of his time, Vijay Iyer has made his instrument of choice an instrument of discovery. Susan Choi's books reflect her skepticism of authority. As Tori Marchiony reports, the National Book Award-winning author even questions the credibility of the characters she creates. - The Exceptionals
E22The ExceptionalsBilly Collins is one of the best-selling poets alive. Perhaps because his works effortlessly magnify the small details that make life worth living. The conductor Gemma New has followed opportunity around the world. As Tori Marchiony reports, a decade in, she's finally arrived. The award-winning writer Ming Peiffer forges works for stage and screen that deconstruct her own observations and experiences of life today. Sometimes that means embracing an unhappy ending. - Beyond the Status Quo
E23Beyond the Status QuoThe highly distinguished musician, Esperanza Spalding does more than just make music-she's trying to change the world. Lee Child left his former life behind to author an unlikely hero: Jack Reacher, a vagrant vigilante who reaps justice for the underdog. Over the course of the past two decades, Child and Reacher have sold millions of books worldwide. The award-winning tenor, Nicholas Phan explores the world in song, merging cultures while uncovering immense value in all of our differences. - By the Horns
E24By the HornsWorld-renowned architects Tod Williams and Billie Tsien are united in vision and practice-in their lives together and in their work-a strong foundation for their partnership and buildings. Carmen Maria Machado is self-assured and outspoken, turning a mirror not only on herself but on society's unchallenged biases to create immersive fiction. - Wayfinders
E25WayfindersBefore she was a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Elizabeth Strout spent decades finessing her unique narratives, often using her own upbringing as a touchstone. The celebrated violinist Pamela Frank was at the height of her career when she suffered a life-altering injury. After nearly a decade, she's playing again, with newfound purpose. Rennie Harris and street dance grew up together. Today, he's celebrated as the pioneer of hip-hop dance theater, but it took a while before he ever got paid. - The Roots of Creativity
E26The Roots of CreativityInternationally renowned Scottish violinist Nicola Benedetti was cast into the spotlight at age 16. Forced to grow up in the public eye, she often struggled. Now in her 30s, she looks back on those years with wry humor. The award-winning author Maaza Mengiste writes of an Ethiopian home she left behind, dismantling preconceptions and bringing to light some of that country's rich past. Once a wanderer pursuing creative endeavors, Dick Boak followed his instincts and created a role in the evolution of the Martin Guitar company, all the while becoming an ever more skillful artisan himself.
