Stafford Dean and Catherine Malfitano analyze their characters in "The Marriage of Figaro" and aspects of opera. They also discuss their upbringings, musical influences, and the future of opera. The original show opened with a recording of the Overture from "The Marriage of Figaro", which has been removed from this recording for copyright reasons.

Studs interviews Jabbo Smith and presents some of his musical performances. The musical pieces are removed from this edited version of the original recording. Smith shares the story of his childhood in the Jenkins Orphanage and how he came to learn music there. He discusses the songs he wrote and people he played with throughout his career and how he came out of retirement in Holland on the trombone.

Earl "Fatha" Hines discusses various musicians he's worked with including Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker, and Dizzy Gillespie. He remembers that bands became bigger after needing to add members to play bigger venues because people liked to dance. He also talks about how he liked to work to create shows and his approach to jazz composition. Music is played throughout: "Weather Bird" with Louis Armstrong, "My Monday Date", "Cavernism", "Boogie Woogie On St. Louis Blues", "Rosetta", and "Second Balcony Jump". Music has been removed from this file for copyright reasons.

Conductor Christopher Keene and composer Gian-Carlo Menotti discuss how they became aware of each other and meeting to discuss a collaboration. They talk about spending time in Spoleto, Italy for the Festival of Two Worlds, a summer music and opera festival created by Gian Carlo Menotti. The two also discuss creating art in all forms, including music. Music is played to start and to end: "To This We've Come" sung by Eileen Farrell from Menotti's opera "The Consul" and the allegro from Menotti's "Piano Concerto", with Earl Wild as the pianist.