It has been an ongoing mission of the Festival to take a serious look at pop music and this year is no exception. American hip-hop is explored through the music of Haitian-born, U.S.-based star Wyclef Jean and Senegalese hip-hop trio Daara J. Too far afield for Lincoln Center? "There is a real excitement," exclaims Redden, "to finding out about that which you don't know; people will feel a kind of ease in coming to a hip-hop concert at Lincoln Center that they wouldn't feel in, say, a club. That provides us with an opportunity to say 'this is worth listening to; it will teach you something about your own tastes.'"

-Robin Tabachnik