As the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s celebration of Nonesuch Records’ 50th anniversary, Nonesuch Records at BAM, began with a series of unforgettable concerts from Philip Glass and Steve Reich with Timo Andres and Nico Muhly, and from Brad Mehldau and Chris Thile, earlier this week, NPR’s All Things Considered took a look back at the label’s history and its evolution over the decades, talking with Nonesuch President Bob Hurwitz (who celebrates his own 30th anniversary with the company this year as well), founder Jac Holzman, and artists Thile, Randy Newman, and Jeremy Denk.

"Sometimes good things come in small packages," says NPR’s Jeff London. "The label became a force in the recording industry by pioneering electronic music, world music, launching the ragtime revival and becoming a place where contemporary classical composers had a home. Now an industry powerhouse, Nonesuch still operates like an independent record company."

You can listen to the All Things Considered piece at npr.org.

The New York Times—whose music critic Nate Chinen had previewed Nonesuch Records at BAM, saying the series "reflects the broad curiosity and high standard of a label that has had notable successes ... with no guiding criteria other than instinct and taste"—has a review of Tuesday's opening night concert in the series from The Philip Glass Ensemble and Steve Reich and Musicians.

"The program," Times music critic Anthony Tommasini, "brought together two composer-performer collectives that have shaped contemporary American music."

It was a special night indeed, from the start, when "the audience that packed the house on Tuesday applauded and cheered with delight when Mr. Glass and Mr. Reich walked onstage," to the close after a performance of Reich's Music for 18 Musicians.

"When played with the authority and beauty of this performance, the piece engages your musical intellect as you focus on wondrous musical details, while at the same inviting you to turn off the part of your brain that wants to understand music that way," writes Tommasini. "The ovation was enormous."

The last of three Nonesuch Records at BAM performances from Philip Glass and Steve Reich takes place at the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House tonight , while down the street, at the BAM Harvey Theater, soprano Dawn Upshaw and pianist Gilbert Kalish perform music by George Crumb and Charles Ives, with an opening performance by Fred Sherry and a post-show artist talk with Upshaw, Kalish, Sherry, and Bob Hurwitz. Also this evening, as part of the related Nonesuch Records on Film series, BAMcinématek presents a screening of Luca Gudagnino's 2009 film I Am Love, introduced by composer John Adams, whose music provides the film's score.

There's much more to come from both Nonesuch Records at BAM and Nonesuch Records of Film through late this month. For details, visit bam.org.