In 1938, composer Paul Hindemith fled Nazi Germany and later came to the U.S. One of his first projects here was to write a ballet based on themes by Carl Maria von Weber. Weber's tunes were charming but insubstantial. But Hindemith took that music of limited possibilities and turned it into something spectacular. His Symphonic Metamorphosis on Themes by Weber is in today's show, in a performance by the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Episode Playlist
Hour 1
Robert Schumann: Third movement from Kreisleriana, Op. 16
Mitsuko Uchida, Piano
Arthur Honegger: Pacific 231
The BBC Symphony Orchestra, Oliver Knussen, conductor
The BBC Proms, London, England
Frank Bridge: There is a Willow Grows Aslant a Brook
The BBC Symphony Orchestra, Oliver Knussen, conductor
The BBC Proms, London, England
Robert Schumann: Two Piano Pieces for Children Big and Small, Op. 85
Lena Neudauer, violin, Robert Kulek, piano
GAIA Chamber Music Festival, Thun, Switzerland
Robert Schumann: Excerpts from Fantasiestucke, Op. 73
Martin Kuuskmann, bassoon, Robert Kulek, piano
GAIA Chamber Music Festival, Thun, Switzerland
Anonymous: Pestry Zbornik (Tabulatura Miscellanea)
Solamente Naturali, Milos Valent, director
Boston Early Music Festival, Boston
Alan Hovhaness: Macedonian Mountain Dance
Sahan Arzruni, piano
First Congregational Church of Berkeley, Berkeley, California
Hour 2
Paul Hindemith: Four Pieces for Two Bassoons
Milan Turkovic and Daniele Damiano, bassoons
Edvard Grieg: Ved Mannjevningen, from Sigurd Jorsalfar, Op. 22
Arve Tellefsen, violin, Sveinung Bjelland, piano
Bergen International Festival, Bergen, Norway
Edvard Grieg: Blegnet, Segnet (With traditional Norwegian folk song: Herr, Ole)
The Oslo Chamber Choir, Liv Ulvik, soloist, Hakon Daniel Nystedt, conductor
Maud Moon Weyerhaeuser Music Studio, St. Paul
Edvard Grieg: Kivlemoyane (The Kivle Maidens)
Einar Steen-Nokleberg, piano
Paul Hindemith: Symphonic Metamorphoses on Themes by Carl Maria von Weber
The Los Angeles Philharmonic, Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor
Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles
Richard Wagner: O du Mein Holden Abendstern, from Tannhauser
The Los Angeles Philharmonic, Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor
Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles
Richard Wagner: The Ride of the Valkyries, from Die Walkure
The Los Angeles Philharmonic, Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor
Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles
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American Public Media’s Performance Today® is America’s most popular classical music radio program and a winner of the 2014 Gabriel Award for artistic achievement. The show is broadcast on hundreds of public radio stations across the country, including at 1 p.m. central weekdays on Minnesota Public Radio. More information about our stations can be found at APM Distribution.
Performance Today® features live concert recordings that can’t be heard anywhere else, highlights from new album releases, and in-studio performances and interviews. Performance Today® is based at the APM studios in St. Paul, Minnesota, but is frequently on the road, with special programs broadcast from festivals and public radio stations around the country. Also, each Wednesday, composer Bruce Adolphe joins host Fred Child for a classical musical game and listener favorite: the Piano Puzzler.
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