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A century ago, an abandoned young woman took the stage at La Scala in Milan, Italy, and the world met Madame Butterfly, Giacomo Puccini's most famous opera heroine. Her story, set in Japan around 1900, is a tragic one of innocence betrayed. But as NPR's Ketzel Levine reports, Madame Butterfly lives on through an immortal musical score.

Pixar Animation and the Walt Disney Co. announce they will end the 12-year partnership that has produced such hit movies as Toy Story, Monsters Inc. and Finding Nemo. The two firms failed to agree to the terms of a new contract. Analysts see the split as a blow to Disney, which has struggled recently with its own animated films. Hear NPR's Kim Masters.

An artist in Cologne, Germany, is working to memorialize individual victims of the Nazis. He's embedding thousands of small concrete blocks, each topped by a brass plate, in sidewalks across the country. Each of these so-called "stumbling blocks" bears the name, and fate, of one person killed by Adolph Hitler's regime. Kyle James reports.

In The Office, British comedian Ricky Gervais plays David Brent, a buffoonish, self-involved but affable office manager at a dismal paper supply office called Wernham Hogg, in the London suburb of Slough. Gervais created the faux documentary and co-writes and directs the series, which appears on the BBC and has a small cult following on BBC America. The 61st annual Golden Globe Awards ceremony is tonight, and Gervais is up for a Golden Globe award in the Lead Actor category. He speaks with NPR's Liane Hansen.

NPR's Liane Hansen speaks with composer, singer and cellist Robert Een about his new CD, Mystery Dances. The longtime collaborator of New York composer Meredith Monk has written music for film, theater, and dance, often inspired by the music and sounds of distant cultures.

Tom Moon reviews music from British hip-hop sensation Dizzee Rascal. Moon says that no British hip-hop import has had much success in the states, but Dizzee may be the one to break through, with his CD Boy In Da Corner.

A judge rules the Barnes Foundation's art collection should not be moved from suburban Philadelphia, unless trustees can provide hard data to support the move. The world-renowned art is worth $20 billion, but the foundation says it needs to relocate downtown to avoid bankruptcy. Joel Rose of member station WHYY reports.

The celebrated New Yorker writer Mavis Gallant published two collections of stories at the end of last year. She still lives alone in Paris and, in the words of Russell Banks, she still packs a lifetime into one short story. Frank Browning profiles her.

Robert Plant's fascination with the blues goes back to his early days as lead singer for Led Zeppelin. Plant says the roots of that uniquely American art form may be traced to the deserts of Western Africa. He tells NPR's Renee Montagne about the connection he discovered at the Festival in the Desert, a gathering of nomads and musicians in Mali. Hear an extended interview and songs from the 2003 festival CD.

Bob Seger was a legend on Main Street before he hit the national scene in the 1970s. Now he's out with a second greatest hits compilation, and he's heading to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. NPR's Bob Edwards caught up with the rocker on songs past and present.