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Performance Today®

Mozart's Clarinet Concerto

Of all Mozart's concertos for wind instruments, his clarinet concerto is arguably the finest. Gorgeous melodies, achingly beautiful harmonies. It's a perfect showpiece for what the instrument can do. Martin Frost plays Mozart's masterpiece, his one and only concerto for the clarinet. Plus, the harrowing story of how a near-fatal collision with a train taught Frost how to put work and rest into perspective.

Episode Playlist

Hour 1

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: A Musical Joke, K. 522
The Orpheus Chamber Orchestra

Johann Sebastian Bach: Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier (Dearest Jesus, we are Here) BWV 731
Erik Bosgraaf, recorder, Cordevento XL
The Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

The Piano Puzzler: This week's contestant is Drew Herman from Kodiak, Alaska

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Clarinet Concerto in A, K. 622
Martin Frost, clarinet, the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Richard Tognetti, leader
The Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Traditional: Klezmer Melody
Martin Frost, clarinet
The Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Hour 2

Antonin Dvorak: Slavonic Dance No. 9 in B, Op. 72
The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Fritz Reiner, conductor

Traditional (Arranged by Moses Hogan): Elijah Rock
The Morehouse and Spelman College Glee Clubs, Kevin Johnson, director
Atlanta Symphony Hall, Atlanta

Johannes Brahms: Piano Trio No. 2 in C, Op. 87
Christian Tetzlaff, violin, Tanja Tetzlaff, cello, Lars Vogt, piano
The Louvre, Paris, France

Hugo Wolf: Fruhlingschor (Chorus for Spring)
The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Westminster Symphonic Choir, Simon Rattle, conductor
Carnegie Hall, New York City

Antonin Dvorak: Slavonic Dance No. 8
The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Franz Welser-Most, conductor
Lucerne Festival, Lucerne, Switzerland

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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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