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In his Portsmouth Point Overture, English composer William Walton captures the colorful, bawdy sights and sounds of an 1811 Thomas Rowlandson painting of the same name. Joann Falletta conducts the Juilliard Symphony at New York's Lincoln Center.

Choreographer Paul Taylor is one of the giants of modern dance. Even as his Paul Taylor Dance Company is marking its 50th season with a tour to all 50 states, Taylor is at home, planning his next move. Hear NPR's Jennifer Ludden.

NPR's Karen Grigsby Bates examines Muhammad: The Last Prophet, a new animated film depicting the life of the prophet Muhammad. She speaks with Mark Pinsky, who writes about religion in popular culture, about how the film's vision of Islam could affect Muslim and non-Muslim audiences.

Five obscure female fiction novelists and the nonfiction 9/11 Commission Report are among the unconventional nominees for this year's National Book Awards. The panel is mum until they give the awards out on Nov. 17, but book critics and publishing industry watchers have their predictions. NPR's Lynn Neary reports.

Trumpeter Jon Hassell began to create what he dubbed "Fourth World" music in the 1970s. He defines it as "a unified primitive/futuristic sound combining features of world ethnic styles with advanced electronic techniques."

Oscar-winning actress Jane Fonda is back on the big screen for the first time in 15 years. She's chosen a comic role, opposite Jennifer Lopez, in Monster-in-Law. Critic Shawn Levy of The Oregonian offers his view of the film, and Fonda's return.

Madeleine Brand talks with actor Ricky Gervais about his new HBO comedy Extras, in which he plays a struggling actor. Gervais is best known as the annoying boss on the acclaimed BBC series The Office.

Mike Rowe, host of Dirty Jobs, a new TV series, learns first-hand about dirty work. He brings a gung-ho viewpoint to work that is often overlooked -- and he manages to see the bright side: "If you're a sewer inspector for instance, in San Francisco, it's a pretty good job," with good city benefits, he says.

American audiences may know Brazilian musician Seu Jorge best for his film roles. He appeared in the City of God and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. But in Brazil, Jorge is a popular singer and songwriter. Chris Nickson reviews his new CD, Cru.

Blogs have gained currency as a buzzword among the tech-savvy. But for commentator Catherine Seipp, a Web diary isn't just a fad: It's a compulsion. The adoption of the medium by celebrities made her wonder why anyone else does it.