Poster snow winter
snow fall winter pine tree
g.naharro
Performance Today®

Celebrating the Season

Episode Playlist

Hour 1

Michael Praetorius: "Dances from Terpsichore," from "Christmas Vespers"
Apollo's Fire with conductor Jeannette Sorrell

Stephen Bulla: "Rhapsody on Hannukah"
The United States Marine Band with conductor Lieutenant Michelle Rakers
Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, Vienna, Virginia

Traditional (Arranged by Mark Summer): "Channukah, O Channukah"
The Turtle Island String Quartet
MPR Studios, St. Paul, Minnesota

William Beckstrand: "Winter Solstice Carol"
The National Lutheran Choir and Bell of the Lakes Handbell Choir with conductor David Cherwien
Basilica of St. Mary, Minneapolis

Antonio Vivaldi: "Winter" from "The Seasons," Op. 8, No. 4
Violinist Cynthia Roberts with Apollo's Fire and harpsichordist and conductor Jeannette Sorrell
St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Cleveland Heights, Ohio

Archangelo Corelli: Concerto Grosso in G Minor, Op. 6, No. 8 ("Christmas Concerto")
Musicians from the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
New York Society for Ethical Culture, New York City

Rene Clausen: "Nunc Dimittis"
The St. Olaf Orchestra and Choirs with conductor Sigrid Johnson
Skoglund Auditorium, Northfield, Minnesota

Hour 2

Giacomo Puccini: "Un Bel di Vedremo" from "Madama Butterfly"
Cynthia Miller, ondes martenot, with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields and conductor Neville Marriner

Steve Barnett: "For the Miracles"
The Dale Warland Singers with conductor Jerry Rubino
Wooddale Church, Eden Prairie, Minnesota

Max Bruch: Andante con moto from "Eight Pieces for Clarinet, Viola, and Piano," Op. 83
Clarinetist Todd Palmer, violist Hsin-Yun Huang, and pianist Stephen Prutsman
Spoleto Chamber Music Festival, Charleston, South Carolina

Giacomo Puccini: "Chrysanthemums" for String Quartet
Violinists Gary Levinson and Stefan Milenkovich, violist Nokuthula Ngwenyama, and cellist Ani Aznavoorian
Bravo! Vail Valley Festival, Beaver Creek, Colorado

Leroy Anderson: "Sleigh Ride"
The Spivey Hall Children's Choir with conductor Martha Shaw and pianist Judy Mason
Spivey Hall, Morrow, Georgia

Josef Suk: "Meditations on 'Saint Wenceslas'" for String Quartet
Violinists James Ehnes and Martin Beaver, violist Kirsten Johnson, and cellist Clive Greensmith
Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival, Bridgehampton, New York

Peter Tchaikovsky: Selections from "The Snow Maiden," Op. 12
The State Symphony Orchestra of Russia with conductor Mark Gorenstein
Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, West Palm Beach, Florida

Michael Praetorius: "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming"
Trio Medieval
Fitzgerald Theater, St. Paul, Minnesota

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Latest Performance Today® Episodes

VIEW ALL EPISODES

Latest Performance Today® Episodes

Music for a 'dearly beloved brother'

Music for a 'dearly beloved brother'

Johann Sebastian Bach wrote only one piece of keyboard music that was programmatic, meaning it tells a story. The 19-year-old Bach composed this piece for his older brother Johann Jakob when he left home to join the Swedish Army band as an oboist. On today's show, we'll hear Bach's musical description of the occasion: the Capriccio on the Departure of his most Dearly Beloved Brother.

1:59:00
PT Weekend: A special Piano Puzzler

PT Weekend: A special Piano Puzzler

PT Young Artist David Lai is a devoted fan of our weekly game, the Piano Puzzler. He submits his guesses every week and has even written Piano Puzzler-style pieces of his own. On today’s program, pianist David Lai joins Bruce Adolphe (in person!) at our St. Paul studio to see if he can guess this week's Piano Puzzler.

1:59:00
The GLISS Composition Residency

The GLISS Composition Residency

The GLISS Composition Residency offers trans-feminine composers a unique summer opportunity for mentorship and community building. Tune in today to learn more about the program and its founders on today’s show.

1:59:00
David Lai

David Lai

We're pleased to present pianist David Lai, one of our 2025 PT Young Artists in Residence. On today's show, David joins Fred Child for music and conversation at our Saint Paul studio.

1:59:00
PT Young Artist David Lai plays the Piano Puzzler

PT Young Artist David Lai plays the Piano Puzzler

PT Young Artist David Lai is a devoted fan of our weekly game, the Piano Puzzler. He submits his guesses every week and has even written Piano Puzzler-style pieces of his own. On today’s program, pianist David Lai joins Bruce Adolphe (in person!) at our St. Paul studio to see if he can guess this week's Piano Puzzler.

1:59:00
Inon Barnatan and Summerfest La Jolla

Inon Barnatan and Summerfest La Jolla

Pianist Inon Barnatan keeps busy as a musician, playing on the most prestigious stages around the world. He's also the Music Director of Summerfest La Jolla in California. On today's show, we'll hear a stunning performance at a stunning location—Inon Barnatan and violinist Augustin Hadelich play a piece by Camille Saint-Saens at Summerfest La Jolla.

1:59:00
Composer Viet Cuong

Composer Viet Cuong

In 2022, composer Viet Cuong found himself at his father's bedside in the ICU. He played some of his compositions—music he knew his father loved—and hoped that the sound, or "sine waves," would reach his father's consciousness. Cuong realized that his love for his father and his passion for music were inseparable. Join us for a concert at the University of Georgia to hear “Vital Sines” by Viet Cuong.

1:59:00
PT Weekend: Meet Victor Ni

PT Weekend: Meet Victor Ni

We're pleased to introduce you to clarinetist Victor Ni, our next 2025 PT Young Artists in Residence. On today's program, Victor joins Fred Child for music and conversation in our Saint Paul studio. Plus, Bruce Adolphe joins us for this week’s Piano Puzzler.

1:59:00
Augustin Hadelich and the St Louis Symphony

Augustin Hadelich and the St Louis Symphony

Once troubled by pre-concert jitters so intense that he needed a push to get on stage, violinist Augustin Hadelich has discovered a new sense of calm. Breathing exercises have transformed his performance experience, making the stage feel like home. On today's program, Agustin Hadelich and the St. Louis Symphony play music by Samuel Barber.

1:59:00
Julio Medaglia

Julio Medaglia

Composer Julio Medaglia was born in São Paulo, Brazil, in 1938. He studied conducting in Germany for ten years before returning to Brazil to conduct and compose. For 30 years, he hosted a daily radio show in São Paulo that sounded similar to PT, combining concert highlights and contemporary music. On today's show, we'll hear the Imani Winds play Julio Medaglia's 'Belle Epoque en Sud-America,’ including a really fun movement named "Crazy Baby Clarinette!"

1:59:00
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About Performance Today®

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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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