Claude Debussy once tried his hand at painting, but decided music had a much better way of depicting the glint of sunlight on water, the ever-changing undulations of the sea, and the smell of a salty mist shimmering in the air. In today's show, Esa-Pekka Salonen leads the New York Philharmonic in Debussy's masterpiece for the senses, "La Mer," or "The Sea."
Episode Playlist
Hour 1
Jean Sibelius: First movement from Suite in E for Violin and Piano, JS 188
Pekka Kuusisto, violin, Raija Kerppo, piano
Michael Praetorius: Two Dances from the Late Renaissance
The Georgia Guitar Quartet
Hugh Hodgson Concert Hall, Athens, Georgia
Vince Guaraldi: Linus and Lucy
The Georgia Guitar Quartet
Hugh Hodgson Concert Hall, Athens, Georgia
Dietrich Buxtehude: Suite in D Minor, BuxWV 222 and Toccata in G, BuxWV 165
Francesco Tristano Schlime, piano
Gilmore International Keyboard Festival, Kalamazoo, Michigan
Dietrich Buxtehude: Puer Natus in Bethlehem
Joseph Payne, organ
Jean Sibelius: The Way of the Lover, from Rakastava, Op. 14
The YL Male Voice Choir, Matti Hyokki, director
Orchestra Hall, Minneapolis
Jarkko Kiiski: Joulun Kieli (The Language of Christmas)
The Lahti Symphony Orchestra and Lahti Laulupuu Choir, Osmo Vanska, conductor
Jean Sibelius: Two Pieces for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 77 (Serious Melodies)
Pekka Kuusisto, violin, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Thomas Dausgaard, conductor
Roy Thomson Hall, Toronto, Ontario
Jean Sibelius: Finlandia, Op. 26, No. 7
The Toronto Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Sibelius Festival Chorus, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Thomas Dausgaard, conductor
Roy Thomson Hall, Toronto, Ontario
Hour 2
Claude Debussy: Morning of a Festival Day, from Images for Orchestra
The Los Angeles Philharmonic, Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor
Niccolo Paganini: Caprice No. 6 in G Minor for Solo Violin, Op. 1
Thomas Zehetmair, violin
Francois Couperin: Pieces de Clavecin, Book 3, Ordre 15 in A Minor (Musette de Taverny)
Edwin Swanborn, harpsichord, Robert Stallman, flute, Karl Bennion, cello
Claude Debussy: La Mer (the Sea)
The New York Philharmonic, Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor
Avery Fisher Hall, New York City
Marin Marais: L'Arabesque
Ensemble 1700, Dorothee Oberlinger, director
Herne Early Music Days Festival, Herne, Germany
Robert Schumann: Arabesque in C, Op. 18
Yefim Bronfman, piano
Avery Fisher Hall, New York City
Claude Debussy: Arabesque No. 2
Musicians from the Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival
Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival, Bridgehampton, New York
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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.
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