Today marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of composer Richard Wagner, a titan of classical music. But what is it about Wagner's music that has made it so appealing to so many people for so long? Opera lover and writer Will Berger joins host Fred Child to tackle that question. He says the answer hovers around the intersection of brilliance and humanity. Celebrate Wagner's anniversary with Will Berger, with Bruce Adolphe and with music on Wednesday's Performance Today.
Also, in honor of Wagner's bicentennial you can listen to the entirety of the Ring Cycle here from Classical MPR.
Episode Playlist
Hour 1
Richard Wagner: Tannhauser: Entry of the Guests (arr. Arthur Frackenpohl)
Canadian Brass
Will Berger on Wagner: Gods And Monsters: 5 Unforgettable Wagner Moments
Richard Wagner: Siegfried Idyll
Dallas Symphony Orchestra; Jaap van Zweden, conductor
Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas, TX
The Piano Puzzler
Tom N. from Lynn Center, IL
Richard Wagner: Pilgrim's Chorus (from Tannhauser) (arr. Paul J. Christiansen)
National Lutheran Choir; Gregory Aune, guest director
St. Andrew's Lutheran Church, Mahtomedi, Minnesota
Wagner: Pilgrims' Chorus (from Tannhauser)
Canadian Brass; Members of the Berlin Philharmonic; Members of the Bayreuth Festival Players;
Hour 2
Richard Wagner: Romanza (Albumblatt) (Album Leaf)
Elissa Lee Koljonen, violin; Robert Koenig, piano
Richard Wagner: Overture to the Flying Dutchman
North German Radio Symphony Orchestra; Thomas Hengelbrock, conductor
Laeiszhalle, Hamburg
PT Young Artist-in-Residence: Timothy Kantor, violin
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Violin Sonata No. 21 in E minor, K. 304
Timothy Kantor, violin; Clare Longendyke, piano
Maud Moon Weyerhaeuser Studio, St. Paul, MN
Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 5 in C# Minor, Mvmt V. Rondo Finale
Aspen Festival Orchestra; Robert Spano, conductor
Benedict Music Tent, Aspen, CO
Love the music?
Show your support by making a gift to YourClassical.
Each day, we’re here for you with thoughtful streams that set the tone for your day – not to mention the stories and programs that inspire you to new discovery and help you explore the music you love.
YourClassical is available for free, because we are listener-supported public media. Take a moment to make your gift today.
Your Donation
About Performance Today®
To find a station near you on our Stations Listings page, click here.
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.
Hosted by Valerie Kahler, 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.
How do I leave a comment?
Send us a comment here.