Classical music is a tricky thing. Over the past century, its overriding sense of elitism—the notion that the only way to experience it is in a “perfect” performance by a major performer—has created a ...

The participatory journalist George Plimpton did many things. He boxed against Sugar Ray Robinson. He tried his hand as a high wire circus performer. But he said the scariest thing he ever did was ...

For hundreds of centuries, raga has formed the backbone of Indian classical music, offering a guideline for musicians to improvise when performed live. Ragas—which roughly translates to “coloring”—are ...